Nanotechnology
With respect to nanotechnology our focus lies in the production of nanometer-sized defects on various kinds of surfaces. For the formation of such defects, highly-charged ions have been shown to be a suitable tool. Another possibility is the interaction of ultra-short and intense laser-pulses, which also modify the surface structure on a small length-scale.
The studies of friction on a nanometer-lengthscale, nanotribology, is a third major topic in nanotechnology, to which our group contributes.
Most of the investigations are carried out, using either our Ambient AFM, or a combined UHV STM/AFM, capable of providing highest resolution images in ultra-high vacuum environment.
Nanostructuring of surfaces by highly charged ion impact
A.S. El-Said, R. Heller, W. Meissl, R. Ritter, S. Facsko, C. Lemell, B. Solleder, I. Gebeshuber, G. Betz, M. Toulemonde, W. Möller, J. Burgdörfer, and F. Aumayr
Creation of Nanohillocks on CaF2 Surfaces by Single Slow Highly Charged Ions
Physical Review Letters 100 (2008) 237601 (1-4)
Review:
F. Aumayr, A.S. El-Said, W. Meissl
Nano-sized surface modifications induced by the impact of slow highly charged ions - A first review
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 266 (2008) 2729 - 2735