Tescan Vega 3 Thermionic SEM

2024 Scholars Week Scientific Image Competition Best SEM Image Winner: "Radiolaria and Diatoms" by Amanda Florea

About

The Vega 3 is a workhorse thermionic tungsten filament SEM. With the addition of the Low Vacuum Secondary Electron Tescan Detector, this SEM is capable of high resolution secondary electron imaging at both high and low vacuum. The peltier-cooled stage can cool a sample down to -50 ̊C at a rate of 30 ̊C per minute and allows for imaging of wet samples at low vacuum. 

An 80 mm² Oxford EDS detector enables rapid mapping capabilities and precise x-ray compositional data and a CL detector allows for imaging of fine details deep within a sample.

Located ES 314

Primary Contact

Mike Kraft

he/him
Michael.Kraft@wwu.edu
(360) 650-3879
ES 508a

How to Get Started

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tall grey instrument with teal siding

Tescan Vega 3 Thermionic SEM

Detectors:

Everhart-Thornley secondary electron detector (SE)

Retractable backscatter detector (BSE)

panchromatic cathodoluminescence

80 mm² Oxford EDS detector

Modes:

low-vacuum (LV)

Stage Details:

The peltier-cooled stage can cool a sample down to -50 ̊C at a rate of 30 ̊C per minute and allows for imaging of wet samples at low vacuum.

Sample Preparation

  • Carbon coater. The carbon coater pulses a strong current through graphite rods to coat samples in fine mist of conductive carbon.
  • RMC Boeckeler PowerTome PC cryogenic ultramicrotome. The microtome creates nanometer thin sections, ideal for sample analysis with our STEM detector.
  • CO2 critical point dryer. The CPD allows for gentle dehydration of a sample, preventing tissue damage from rapid atmospheric evaporation.

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