RQMP Research Seminar

Are we there yet? The need for speed!

Peter Grütter

Department of Physics
McGill University

It is well-established that Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) can determine the atomic structure of surfaces and molecules. I will give an overview of some of our current research aimed at achieving and measuring properties with ultrafast temporal resolution using AFM by combining fs lasers with UHV AFM. This opens the door to understanding charge dynamics at the relevant fundamental time and length scale on surfaces or in molecules, and in particular the role of defects.

As a second topic, I will discuss our most recent results on mechanically detecting single electrons, allowing us to perform electron energy spectroscopy of a single molecule on a metallic electrode interface. I will briefly touch on our future plans to adapt these methods to elucidate the energetics of organic charge transfer systems as well as quantum properties of single and coupled dopants in Si.