Jan 9, 2011: Closer Look at Snow

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Beest

you can get Little desktop SEM's now, I think they are about $80K.

Um... no.

Thanks for the pictures, Beest, we like to keep those French honest.

[SPUCK]

Beest; How can you do this with an EM, doesn't the flake melt instantly?

[Beest]

Originally Posted by SPUCK

Beest; How can you do this with an EM, doesn't the flake melt instantly?

You chill the stage that the flake sits on, we have lot's of liquid nitrogen handy, and once it's in the EM it is in a vacuum so no heating by the air around it. The beam current is very low, pico amps, so nano Watts of heating power, not enough to melt them

[xoxoxoBruce]

I should think a vacuum would make it change state very quickly.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Beest

If you know how to maintain them they often give the old ones away, I knew a guy who had one in his garage.

My dad (Physics prof at a small college) used to get tons of old equipment from Bell Labs this way.

[SPUCK]

Thanks Beest. I thought the beam currents were way higher. Prolly new sensors need way less.