Multipurpose high vacuum laser ablation/thin film deposition system

Abstract

An instrumental system is described that combines an apparatus for pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with a vacuum “suitcase” for transport of air-sensitive compounds. Laser ablation, plume diagnostics, and thin-film deposition are readily accomplished through a flexible design. The PLD apparatus consists of two cubes coupled via a bellows assembly and whose distance is easily changed pneumatically. For both the PLD apparatus and the vacuum suitcase, compact-design considerations have been implemented. Consequently, the footprint of the PLD apparatus is relatively small, and the vacuum suitcase can be transported easily between sites.

New getter pump for ultrahigh vacuum systems and transportable enclosure

“…Of course it is not possible to use a container with a turbomolecular pump since the system has to be compact, moveable, and independent of power sources. Others have already developed a vacuum suitcase for these needs: Gomlak et al 1 assembled an apparatus for pulsed laser deposition with a vacuum suitcase for transport of air-sensitive compounds; Messerli et al 2 used it for the transfer of samples for scanning tunneling microscope imaging, and Jiricek et al 3 used it to transport samples for molecular-beam epitaxy. There is also a commerical small portable system that answers to this demand.…”