Sub-Ångstrom Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility

In order to meet the scientific challenges of the future, the EMC is building a new state-of-the-art laboratory space for advanced electron microscopy. The new building has been designed to provide next-generation science with an operating environment that cannot be attained by renovating existing facilities. The EMC staff learned as much as possible from similar efforts around the world, including the SuperSTEM building at Daresbury, the Triebenberg Special Laboratory, the AML at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the new NIST building, and various facilities for nanoscience.

The SÅMM facility will be similar in design to the AML at Oak Ridge. Four new instrument rooms will be built on separate, isolated slabs. Each instrument will have its own control room, and the instrument and control rooms will be completely isolated from the building exterior. The equipment for maintaining the environment will be located in a separate, isolated building to prevent mechanical and acoustical vibrations from disturbing the instruments. The instrument building is designed to minimize AC electromagnetic fields, dampen the transmission of mechanical vibrations, eliminate the injection of acoustical noise, and minimize air flow at the instruments.

The engineering and architectural team at Argonne National Laboratory that is responsible for the design and construction effort includes: Joseph Zurad, George Norek, David Sheradon, Jug Uppal, Phil Rash, Thomas Griggs, Bob Swale, and others.

The U. S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory are jointly funding the SÅMM facility.

• Construction site photo album