Overview
The Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center will be a state-of-the-art exploratory cleanroom fabrication facility combined with "noise-free" labs shielded against external and internal vibrations, acoustic noise, electromagnetic fields and temperature fluctuations. Each of the six "noise-free" labs has roughly 250 ft2 of floor space, allowing the operation of highly sensitive measurement equipment and tools.
The specifications targeted for these cutting-edge facilities are:
- Mechanical vibrations: Velocity less than 500 nm/s (x,y,z), below 16 Hz and less than 100 nm/s above the 16 Hz band
- Acoustic noise: Sound pressure level in a 1/3-octave RMS bandwidth spectrum not more than 50 dBC between the 31.5 Hz and the 100-Hz band and less than 55 dBC above the 100-Hz band
- Electromagnetic fields (EMF):
- Flux density less than B = 5 nT RMS in an integral spectrum between 0 and 625 Hz
- Noise power:
< 10-12 V2 RMS up to 1 kHz without 50 Hz
< 10-10 V2 RMS up to 1 kHz for 50 Hz and harmonics
< 10-10 V2 RMS above 1 kHz
- Temperature stability: 0.1 °C/1 h and 0.5 °C/24 h
These challenging specifications will be achieved by the following measures:
Mechanical vibrations
- Separated tool platform vibro-acoustically decoupled from building and operator platform.
- Massive concrete pedestal (> 65 tons), suppressing frequencies above 25 Hz
- Tool platform with passive mechanical damping, suppressing frequencies above 3 Hz
- Active mechanical damping down to 0.5 Hz
- Operator platform decoupled from tool platform.
Electro-magnetic fields (EMF)
- Passive mu-metal shielding of each lab to screen external EMF and to reduce EMF within the lab to B < 20 nT
- Active EMF cancellation system consisting of 3 pairs of Helmholtz coils to cancel the remaining EMF and to guarantee B < 5 nT.
Temperature stability
Distributed, homogeneous-flow air-conditioning system.
Chamber concept
All additional sources of noise, such as pumps, transformers, and power supplies, will be placed remotely in chambers adjacent to each lab.