James Mayer says that if the subject involves electronic materials, then talk about thin films often is not far behind. When it comes to electronics and the production of integrated circuits, thin films are essential. Mayer directs the Center for Solid State Science at Arizona State University. He also is a Regents' Professor of Materials Science Engineering. At ASU laboratories, he and his colleagues have built a special ion beam microscope.
Ions are atoms or groups of atoms that carry a specific positive or negative charge.
Beams of ions can be used as tool to probe the tiniest nooks and crannies of all kinds of materials. ASU scientists use the precision instrument as a looking-glass for peering deep into the layered universe of thin films and materials at the atomic level. The ion-beam microscope allows researchers to focus the charged streams of atoms. They can do in-depth analysis by shining the ion beam on samples of all types of materials. Ion beam research is not something new for Mayer.