Performing real-time non-invasive nanoscale microscopy on surfaces is essential to studies of plasmonics, electrochemistry and protein dynamics. Optical near-field electron microscopy (ONEM) is a...Show morePerforming real-time non-invasive nanoscale microscopy on surfaces is essential to studies of plasmonics, electrochemistry and protein dynamics. Optical near-field electron microscopy (ONEM) is a proposed imaging technique that achieves this by converting an optical near-field image to an electron image through a low-workfunction thin-film photocathode and imaging these electrons with the detection optics of a low-energy electron microscope (LEEM). In this thesis, we perform theory, sample fabrication and microscopy experiments as a stepping stone towards ONEM. We focus on photocathode properties and resolution considerations.Show less
Current imaging is crucial to condensed matter physics, materials research and industry. State-of-the-art current imaging setups revolve around SQUID-on-tip (SOT) probes, that scan over a sample to...Show moreCurrent imaging is crucial to condensed matter physics, materials research and industry. State-of-the-art current imaging setups revolve around SQUID-on-tip (SOT) probes, that scan over a sample to locally measure magnetic fields and temperature. The resolution of such systems is presently limited by the lack of a robust method to control the probe-sample distance. In this thesis, we develop probes for hybrid microscopy that combine SOT with STM. We theoretically investigate interesting systems, and find that our approach would considerably improve on past magnetic investigations of vortex matter. We use focused-ion-beam milling to fabricate SOT probes on top of a commercial AFM-cantilever, and show these to be very sensitive to changes in applied magnetic field and temperature. We develop a novel readout scheme to simultaneously measure a magnetic and a tunneling signal. We present a proof-of-concept STMSOT probe that displays magnetic sensitivity inside a cryogenic STM setup, and use it as an STM probe to see the topography of a NbSe$_2$ crystal. Our approach will culminate in the development of a STMSOT setup in the near future.Show less
