Spin manipulation and metrology specialist

About the role

The Nanoscale Device Characterization Division of the Physical Measurements Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology seeks a research specialist to study manipulation of atomic spin systems. These systems include adatom, molecules, and dangling bond structures on surfaces. Experiments will be conducted at dilution refrigerator temperatures using multi-modal scan probe measurements to probe and manipulate the spin systems. Experiments will be performed with and without a magnetic field. Electron spin resonance will be done with scanning tunneling microscopy on adatom and molecular systems.

Responsibilities

• Manipulate atomic spin systems using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) through vertical and horizontal atom manipulation.
• Research atomic-scale spin systems with at least three peer-reviewed publications.
• Evaporate dilute atoms in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) experiments on single isolated deposited atoms.
• Use radio frequency (RF) signals in STM and electron spin resonance (ESR) with STM on single atoms and/or molecules.
• Design, calibrate, and optimize RF delivery lines for low-temperature STM systems, including attenuation and impedance considerations.
• Minimize noise and thermal radiation in cryogenic RF measurement setups through filtering and attenuation strategies.
• Measure atomic spin dynamics, including relaxation and switching processes using STM-based techniques.
• Analyze, interpret, and publish experimental data of stochastic switching signals in atomically engineered systems.
• Handle cryogens, including liquid helium transfer, and maintain and operate a dilution refrigerator.
• Prepare atomically sharp probe tips for STM and AFM measurements.
• Operate a multi-modal measurements scanning probe system, including STM, AFM, and electrical transport measurements in a single system operating at ultra-low temperatures and in ultra-high vacuum.
• Develop and program LabVIEW VIs for STM measurements on the Nanonis SPM control system platform.
• Develop and program LabVIEW VIs and/or Python code for automatic data acquisition on monitoring systems for temperatures and pressures.
• Automate measurement routines for high-throughput STM experiments, including spectroscopy mapping, parameters sweeps, and automatic feedback loops based on incoming data.

Requirements

• PhD in experimental physics
• Five years of experience in manipulating atomic spin systems using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) through vertical and horizontal atom manipulation.
• Five years of experience in research of atomic scale spin systems with at least three peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience in dilute atom evaporation in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) experiments on single isolated deposited atoms.
• Five years of experience in using radio frequency (RF) signals in STM.
• Three years of experience using electron spin resonance (ESR) with STM on single atoms and/or molecules.
• Five years of experience in designing, calibrating, and optimizing RF delivery lines for low-temperature STM systems, including attenuation and impedance considerations.
• Experience in minimizing noise and thermal radiation in cryogenic RF measurement setups through filtering and attenuation strategies.
• Five years of experience in time-domain measurements of atomic spin dynamics, including relaxation and switching processes using STM-based techniques.
• Proven experience in analyzing, interpreting, and publishing experimental data of stochastic switching signals in atomically engineered systems.
• Five years of experience in handling cryogens, including liquid helium transfer.
• Three years of experience in the maintenance and operation of a dilution refrigerator.
• Research experience with SPM probe-based superconducting Josephson junctions.
• Five years of experience in operating a multi-modal measurements scanning probe system, including STM, AFM, and electrical transport measurements in a single system operating at ultra-low temperatures and in ultra-high vacuum.
• Experience in preparing atomically sharp probe tips for STM and AFM measurements.
• Experience with ultra-high vacuum (UHV) techniques, including assembly, types of UHV pumps, in-situ ion sputtering, reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) measurements, low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), and e-beam heating.
• Five years of experience in commissioning, troubleshooting, and optimizing ultra-low temperature STM systems, including vibration, electrical noise, and stability considerations.
• Five years of experience in developing and programming LabVIEW VIs for STM measurements on the Nanonis SPM control system platform.
• Five years of experience in developing and programming LabVIEW VIs and/or Python code for automatic data acquisition on monitoring systems for temperatures and pressures.
• Experience in automating measurement routines for high-throughput STM experiments, including spectroscopy mapping, parameters sweeps, and automatic feedback loops based on incoming data.