Project Info

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy simulator

New X-ray tools at Mines have begun to come online for researchers with advanced capabilities and one-of-a-kind apparatus. There now exists two X-ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS) on campus with a list of ways to affect and probe fundamental physics and chemistry. This project seeks to expand and improve a fundamental XPS simulation tool based on work starting in a group at Harvard. This experience will incorporate exciting science from solid state physics and chemistry, as well as introductions to advanced vacuum science methods.

More Information

“https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_photoelectron_spectroscopy
https://faculty.chemistry.harvard.edu/friend-lab/resources/educational%20resources/xps-thin-film-analysis-simulator”

Grand Engineering: Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

Student Preparation

Qualifications

Ideally, solid state physics and any experience with MATLAB are the best qualifications for this.

Time Commitment

40 hours/month

Skills/Techniques Gained

Applying fundamental condensed matter physics to build a highly valuable simulator tool that will help others learn and apply XPS to their research. Communication skills will be developed so that the results can be discussed in other settings such as job interviews. Hands on mechanics of the XPS system are also an option for the interested student.

Mentoring Plan

Weekly one-on-one meetings and checkins will provide consistent feedback and progress for the project. While the project steps can overlap, the project plan includes an introductory phase where background information and skills are developed, with added crash course on solid state if the student has not yet had this in their course work. The second phase of the project is to understand how the experiments are carried out with the aim to inform how the simulator might “feel” to an advanced user of XPS. The last phase will be the core of the project, building and optimizing the XPS simulator.