Ikerkuntza

Our research activity focuses on the the morphology and the electronic states in a diversity of nanostructures and low dimensional objects. We follow the Surface Science approach, namely Ultra-High-Vacuum (UHV) and in-situ (vacuum) substrate preparation and Molecular Beam (MBE) epitaxy. Our main experimental techniques include Angle-resolved Photoemission Spectrocopy (ARPES), X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). Photoemission, as well as Near Edge X-ray Absorption (NEXAFS) experiments are also carried out at different Synchrotron radiation facilities around the world: ALS in Berkeley, Elettra in Trieste and the SRC in Wisconsin.

The Lab currently features three different experimental setups:

• The STM Variable (30-800 K) Temperature STM (Omicron) setup, which consists of a double prep-measuring chamber includes all prepartion and characterization techniques, such as LEED.
• The ARPES system (SPECS Phoibos 150), including a close-cycle He-cooling manipulator (20 K), LEED and MBE.
• The XPS system (SPECS), with the required MBE and sample preparation side techniques.

We are currently setting up a new system that combines Surface Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (SMOKE) and a VT-STM (Omicron, 70-800 K) , and a new 1K- STS/STM/AFM system (SPECS) will be assembled during 2010.

The Lab facilities will occupy four differnt rooms at the new Materials Physics Center in San Sebastian, which will be organized as follows

Regular research activities are supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Basque Gouvernment and the University of the Basque Country Projects. Access to synchrotron facilities in Europe is supported by the European Union through Research Mobility Programs

Our main research lines are:

• Quantum well states in metallic films
• Electronic States in Vicinal Surfaces and Templates
• Step arrays in vicinal surfaces
• Periodic facets in vicinal surfaces
• Ag/Cu stripes
• 2D Superlattices
• Supramolecular self-assembly