Our address:
Section of Electron Spectroscopy
Institute of Nuclear Research
of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
P.O.Box 51.
H-4001 Debrecen, Hungary
Location: Bem tér 18/c, Debrecen, Hungary
Electron spectroscopy - research, development and applications of electron spectroscopic methods
Surface research program
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Studies of effects of atomic environment on transitions of electrons bound in the innermost atomic shells, using resonant and non-resonant conditions of (hard X-ray photon) excitation and high energy resolution spectroscopy of the emitted electrons, observing and modeling these transitions in the case of semiconductors and systems of 3d transition metals, deriving information on the excitation processes reflected in the electron spectra and on the local structure of unoccupied electronic states (the related experiments are performed partly at the synchrotron radiation based on the HArd X-ray PhotoElectron Spectroscopy – HAXPES facility at HASYLAB/DESY).
- Studies of electronic and chemical structure of surface and interface layers of solids using X-ray induced photoelectron (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy - XPS, 'electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis' - ESCA) and Auger (X-ray induced Auger Emission Spectroscopy - XAES) spectroscopy, with a special emphasis on the local electronic and atomic structure surrounding the atoms emitting the signal electron. Recent papers: 10.1016/S0065-3276(07)00014-7, P21619
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Experimental and theoretical studies of fundamental processes of electron scattering in solids, derivation of physical parameters characterizing electron transport in the surface region of solids – important for interpretation of the measured XPS and Auger spectra as well as for quantitative surface analytical applications of electron spectroscopy – from measurements, analysis and modeling high energy resolution spectra of electrons (Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy - REELS, Elastic Peak Electron Spectroscopy - EPES, up to 10 keV primary electron energy) backscattered from solid surfaces. Recent papers: 10.1002/sia.2231 , 10.1016/j.elspec.2007.11.002 , 10.1016/j.susc.2008.02.008 , 10.1002/sia.2671 , 10.1016/j.susc.2009.03.007
Application of electron spectroscopic methods for chemical state resolved analysis of surface and interface layers of solids
- Study of corrosion resistance of passive layers
(including determination of their composition and chemical structure
with concentration depth profiles of the constituent elements)
developed on the surfaces of structural materials of nuclear power
plants (Pressurized Water Reactors).
Recent papers: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2005.09.013, 10.1016/j.electacta.2006.09.007, P21205, P21206 - Research of efficient semiconductor thin layer solar
cells (exploration
of the composition- structure-property relationship) for a better
understanding of the fundamental physical and chemical processes taking
place in the functional regions of these photovoltaic devices (in
cooperation with the Research Institute for Technical Physics and
Materials Science of the HAS). Recent
papers:
P19337
- Study of electronic structure and properties of nanomaterials Recent papers: 10.1002/sia.2727
Instrumental developments
- Research and development of electron spectrometers and excitation sources
The materials science program includes the following topics:
Research and development of semiconductor detectors
- Study of fundamental processes in semiconductor detectors
- Investigation of the X-, γ- and carged particle-response of Si(Li) Si-pin, Si-SDD and CdTe detectors. Improvement of their performance by analog and digital pulse shape discrimination
- Study of the radiation tolerance of Si-pin detectors used for charged particle detection
Research and development of scintillation detectors
- Investigation of spectral performance and fundamental processes in inorganic scintillators with special attention to electron energy loss in rare-earth based crystals
- Investigation and development of 3D position sensitive detectors
- Development of detector systems for medical imaging (stand alone and MRI embedded small animal PET, helical CT demonstrator, etc.)
- Development of a 4π solid angle, combined charged particle/γ-multidetector system for SPIRAL2 (PARIS collaboration)
X-ray laboratory
- Investigation of physical properties of nanopowders produced by high-energy ball-milling
- Application of X-ray related techniques to study the
structure and composition of materials:
- X-ray diffraction: characterization of granular and layered nanostructures
- X-ray fluorescence analysis: nondestructive elemental analysis
Cryophysics
- experimental study of electromagnetic properties of high temperature superconductors
- study of the physics of 'vortex matter' (vortices in superconductors in mixed state)
- study of magnetic properties of nanocrystalline alloys
- design and construction of cryogenic research equipments (cryostats, probes, magnets, SQUID-based devices)
- cryotechnical service
- distribution of liquid helium