Interaction with the beamline coordinator
We invite users and collabrators to discuss thier proposals with the local contacts well in advance before the submission deadline. This is crucial for a careful evaluation of the feasibility of the experiments and may well lead to improvements in the experimental plan. In a restricted number of cases, when substantial doubts arise about the suitability of your samples for measurements or the proposed experiment is too close the resolution limit of the instrument, it may be possible for you to arrange a test.

Not too close to the resolution limit!
It is always desirable to be able to control the size of the nanostructures under investigation. The experimental plan should start with an "easy" experiment, still capable of bringing a useful output to your research goals. More challenging experiments in terms of lateral resolution can be attempted at later stages of the experimental plan. Initially, it is convenient to start from structures in the range from 200 to 500 nm; afterwards one can image smaller objects, approaching sizes comparable to the lateral resolution of the microscope. Consider that the output of experiments on nanostructurs smaller than 60 nm (twice as much the best lateral resolution of the microscope) may be misleading or ambiguous. Keep in mind that, due to sample drifts and instabilities, it is possible that the microscope lateral resolution is degraded. Tall nanostructures, due to field induced distortion, may appear smaller than they actually are.

What can and cannot be evaporated
LEEM is well-known for its capability to study growth processes in-situ. This means that, as you deposit, you can observe the growth in video rate. In the SPELEEM experimental chamber (first branchline), six ports can host e-beam evaporators (Omicron EMF 3, Elmitec) or custom-made basket evaporators. A schematics drawing of the instrument main chamber can be found here.

• You are requested to contact the beamline coordinators in order to discuss all issues about evaporators and evapoants. We allow the evaporation of the following elements: Au, Ag, Co, Cu, Fe, Ge, Ni, Mn, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rh, Si. Notice that the evaporation of volatile elements such as Ga, As, Sb, organo-metallics and polymers is not permitted, as it results in the contamination of the objective and sample cartridge. Organic molecules may be evaporated only in special cases. Arrangements have to made with the local contacts well in advance prior to submission.
  
  
• Please understand that the maintenace of the instrument is not easy and requires long time. De-contamination is a lengthy process, which require mechanical cleaning of the objective lens and sample cartridge.

Sending your evaporators
The users are invited to send us their own evaporators for experiments, after ensuring they can be mounted on the microscope. The evaporators must be sent to the contact person at Elettra, arranging the delivery so that they can be mounted before the start of the run. Omicron EMF3 e-beam evaporators are provided only under special circumstances and we do not accept responsibility for failure of the evaporators.

Shipping samples and equipment
Please follow the instructions reported here.

Experiment with gases
The main chamber of the SPELEEM is served by a gas line with two precison leak valves. A magnetic bearing turbo pump allow using the main chamber as a gas flow reactor, up to a maximum pressure of 1·10^-6 mbar when the beamline is open. This figure can be increased to 1·10^-5 mbar is the microscope is isolated from the beamline (LEEM mode). When working with gases, one has to deal with several hazards. Therfore you must discuss safety issues with the beamline coordinator. We allow the use of CO, O₂, H₂ and N₂ and NO.

Other issues
All practical issues regarding proposal submission, contacting the user office, support for your experiments, etc. are extensively described on the Elettra website. For more details, please read the user's office webpages