mK-Scanning Probe Microscope(mK-SPM) operating in a Cryogen-Free Dilution Refrigerator at 20mK

Dramatic increase in liquid helium price limits the usage of cryogenic equipment. Dry cryogen-free dilution refrigerators(DR) systems are promising platforms to run mK-Scanning Probe Microscopes(mK-SPM) systems with a number of operating modes: STM, AFM, MFM, EFM, SSRM, PFM, etc. We present the design of a mK-Scanning Probe Microscope (mK-SPM) operating in a cryogen-free DR. An Oxford Instrument cryogen-free DR(Triton DR200) with 200uW cooling power and 7mK base temperature is used for the experiments. A 1W Pulse Tube cryocooler is integrated into the DR. After wiring and attaching the microscope we achieved 20mK base temperature. Piezo driven Stick slip coarse approach mechanism is used to bring the sample in to close proximity of the sample. In these initial results we deliberately did not take any precautions to isolate the pumping lines, attached to the DR and the DR itself. The turbomolecular pump was attached directly to the top plate of the DR. We first tested our mK-SPM in Scanning Tunnelling Microscope (STM) mode as it is the most sensitive of the SPM techniques. An image, using a gold coated 6$\mu $m period calibration grating at 20mK, obtained under these rudimentary conditions.