It is used by demanding researchers who want to measure simultaneously ultra high-resolution images and hyperspectral maps of individual nano-particles, quantum dots or atomic defects. The design behind the Mönch has a solid publication track record, which includes reports on nano-plasmonics, quantum nano-optics, simultaneous measurements of cathodoluminescence and EELS, non-linear spectroscopy of individual quantum wells and more.

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When acquiring a cathodoluminescence map in your STEM, it is crucial that you reach the desired signal-to-noise ratio in the shortest amount of time possible, so that you can generate images with a large number of pixels. Yet, you can only achieve ultrahigh resolution with weak probe currents, leading to weak cathodoluminescence emission. As a result, the ideal cathodoluminescence detector is bound to achieve the impossible: it should collect photons over an extensive solid angle and fit in the small gap between your sample and the pole pieces of your STEM ; it should also preserve brightness, spectral resolution and collection efficiency over large scanning areas.

The Attolight Mönch achieves all this. First, its collection optics is crafted by our engineers with the utmost care to achieve unprecedented curvature radius and miniaturization level; it is so thin that it can be accommodated in most aberration corrected or analytical STEMs on the market, while maintaining enough degrees of freedom and stiffness to allow for perfect sub-micrometer alignment of the mirror while installed in the STEM. Then, the Mönch collects and couples cathodoluminescence directly into a fiber bundle and carefully preserves the intensity of the signal throughout a spectrometer, so that constant spectral resolution is achieved. Finally, an ultrafast EMCCD camera measures the signal and generates massive hyperspectral maps in seconds. Data can be directly acquired and visualized in your favorite acquisition software in parallel with other techniques (EELS, EDS, etc.).

The Mönch is not just another add-on. It is a solution developed by a company that builds electron microscopes and has years of expertise in optics and spectroscopy. Attolight took all the know-how it acquired designing and manufacturing dedicated cathodoluminescence scanning electron microscopes and brought it to STEMs.

The Mönch includes a proprietary actuated collection mirror for fast and perfect optical alignment, a fiber coupled spectrometer for high resolution spectral analysis, a scientific grade high speed camera for fast hyperspectral data acquisition, as well as a hyperspectral optimized scanning module for optimal control of the STEM beam.