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
Check out our New Users page!
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.
Educational Resources
More resources coming soon!
Published Data
Coming Soon!
If you have any published data acquired through SciTech's instrumentation, please email the instrument's primary contact!
Submission Form
If you have utilized any SciTech resources for research that has been published or presented at conferences please fill out this form.