Annual Report 2007 - The Australian Nanotechnology Network

2.1 Groundwork for Helium Atom Focussing
The Cavendish scanning helium microscope (SHeM) consists of four components as
previously illustrated in Figure 1. At the beginning of the Fellowship research the SHeM
was configured with just the detector in series with the beam source, for skimmer/beam
characterisation. The configuration for atom focussing experiments requires the insertion
of the mirror stage shown in Figure 3.
The author was responsible for the construction and assembly of a large section of the
mirror stage, as well as the fabrication, assembly and computerization of the 4-axis
manipulator used to control the mirror motion, and the insertion of the mirror stage
generally. Along with a scanning aperture stage inserted between the detector and mirror,
the configuration assembled by the author will allow the mirrors themselves to be
characterised both in terms of reflectivity and focussing power. The final configuration is
shown in Figure 4, where the 4-axis manipulator has been installed and motorised.
Figure 3: Mirror stage for the SHeM with the manipulator removed.
Figure 4: Mirror stage for the SHeM with the manipulator, detector and scanning aperture
installed.
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