Piezeoelectric Vibration Isolation System

The department’s research uses Terahertz Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (THz-STM) to probe ultrafast quantum dynamics of materials down to the atomic scale. This experimental technique couples light pulses from femtosecond laser sources mounted on an optics bench to a scanning tunneling microscope sitting on the floor next to the optics bench. In order to achieve stable atomically-resolved images of a surface, it is crucial that the STM be completely isolated from vibrations in the floor of the lab. Any relative motion of the optics bench with respect to the frame of the STM system must be eliminated to ensure accurate coupling of the laser pulses from the optics bench to the STM instrument. It is also critical that the height of the STM instrument above the lab floor allows for easy access by researchers to the instrument and its components during operation. It has the following features that are required for this specific application: • Provides isolation at 0.6-6 Hz; • Six (6) Degree of Freedom Isolation with 5 to 10 dB at 1 Hz; and • Ninety percent (90%) Isolation (20dB) starting at 2 Hz. The Piezeoelectric Vibration Isolation System from Technical Manufacturing Corporation is the only truly “stackable” design which enables the department to mount instrument systems such as their existing STM instrument with passive isolators built into them that can be “stacked” on top of it.