Material Research Laboratory
Materials Research Laboratory
The MRL Central Facilities operate as shared-user facilities, allowing researchers self-use after completing the necessary training
Center for Microanalysis of Materials
CMM is an integrated facility containing the full array of modern nanostructural and nanochemical analysis techniques including electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, STEM, high-pressure environmental cell TEM, high-temperature LEEM, focused ion beam microscopy), scanning probe microscopy (AFM and variable-temperature STM), surface microanalysis (SIMS, AES, XPS, imaging XPS, electrochemical XPS), x-ray scattering in all modes, and ion-beam spectroscopies (RBS, channeling, and NRA); these instruments are maintained, operated and developed by an excellent group of professional scientists who also teach instrument use, assist in interpretation of results and support the science on which the equipment is focused.
Laser and Spectroscopy Facility
The LSF provides access to a variety of lasers and instruments. Laser wavelengths range from 300 nm in the ultraviolet to 20μm in the mid-infrared. Line widths as narrow as 15 kHz and pulses as short as 10-13s are available. These sources are used to implement a variety of spectroscopic techniques, e.g. Raman, Brillouin, pump-probe, time-resolved photoluminescence, and sum-frequency generation. In addition to standard instruments, e.g. a spectrophotometer, the facility has several specialized instruments, including a spectroscopic ellipsometer which operates over the range 240 - 1700 nm, a combination atomic force microscope, confocal microscope, and near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM), one of only two in the U.S, which provides spectroscopic images with a spatial resolution of 50 - 100 nm, in addition to topography, and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer used to characterize samples in the mid- and far-infrared.
Center for Computation
CFC provides computing and networking facilities for the research community within the FSMRL. The computing environment is highly decentralized, allowing a broad range of computational services, including clusters of very fast virtual parallel machines for simulations of the dynamic behavior of materials and for theory development and modeling. Besides providing networking and computational support, CFC provides a full range of core services including email, web serving, file hosting, network backups, and consultation with faculty and staff on software and hardware purchases. A wide range of software packages is made available to the user community in addition to a well-rounded user room with workstations, printers, scanners as well as audio/visual equipment available for checkout.