Electron Microscopy at UK

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In this post I will be discussing what all I was able to learn about and see on my classes second field trip back to the ASTeCC lab at The University of Kentucky! Is trip was specific to the Electron Microscopy Center (EMC) at UK!


This machine that I am next to is an electron microscope that uses SEM. It uses a beam of electrons to detect and give an image of your sample. In this specific type of SEM, secondary electrons are used by atoms that are caused by its' electron beam that is detected by a secondary electron detector. With this type of machine it is very helpful if the sample is coated with a metal for better conductivity. The SEM operates at high pressures, which is better for biological samples. One draw back is that with a low vacuum, the resolution is not as good. 





This is an image taken of a beetle with an automated microscope! This type of machine is able to detect wavelength, which allows us to have this really amazing colors that would not be able to be seen with a SEM!



This is what is happening with a Dual Beam microscope, which gives very high resolution! We where shown how this uses a gallium ion beam to "mill" different samples. It has an electron beam and an ion beam. One is used for viewing and the other is for the actual milling that is taking place. This machine is able to work with and see things on the nanometer scale, as well as mill and produce 3D images. 

The Dual Beam is able to be used to analyze biological samples. One draw back is that with biological samples it is important to be careful because these samples are much more prone to being ruined. 



This specific trip to UK was definitely my favorite I was able to relate and see these machines being used with things that I am much more used to! It was also very nice to have the opportunity to spend a much longer time learning about this different machines, which also allowed for much more time to ask questions and better understand what we were seeing right in front of us! It was also very interesting to learn that the EMC is a cost recovery center and not for profit.
 

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