1249th OGM and Christmas party

“Imaging with a deft touch: the scanning helium microscope – a modern pinhole camera!”

Dr Matthew Barr, School of Mathematical and Physical Science, University of Newcastle
Jak Kelly Award winner for 2016 (award presented by Irene Kelly)

Wednesday 7 December 2016

Union, University and Schools Club, 25 Bent Street, Sydney

Inspired by the ancient pinhole camera, researchers have developed a technology to give new insights into the nature of matter. The scanning helium microscope makes it possible to generate images with fine details without the kind of damage to the delicate structures caused by traditional microscopes. For example, one can see the distinct flakes of chitin on a butterfly’s wing that resemble plated armour, or the curve of a spider’s fang. Matthew’s talk will describe how the new technology works and show some of the new types of images that are now possible.

Matthew recently completed his PhD at the University of Newcastle in the Centre for Organic Electronics. He specialises in microscope design and has a particular interest in free jet atomic and molecular beam sources. He also has experience in experimental vacuum science techniques, from vacuum system design through to x-ray techniques, and systems operation and analysis. In 2011 he received an Australian Nanotechnology Network travel fellowship that allowed him to travel to University of Cambridge. While there he was involved in the successful construction of a first-generation helium microscope.

The Jak Kelly Award was created in honour of Professor Jak Kelly (1928 – 2012), who was Head of Physics at University of NSW from 1985 to 1989, was made an Honorary Professor of University of Sydney in 2004, and was President of the Royal Society of NSW in 2005 and 2006. Its purpose is to encourage excellence in postgraduate research in physics. It is supported by the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Institute of Physics, NSW branch. The winner is selected from a short list of candidates who made presentations at the most recent Australian Institute of Physics, NSW branch postgraduate awards.