As the demand for faster, smaller, and more powerful technology grows, the microelectronics industry is reaching the physical limits of current manufacturing methods. Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, the current state-of-the-art technique for fabricating microchips, is being pushed to its limits, as engineers work to create features measured in nanometres and even atomic scales.
Exploring new materials for the future
To go beyond these limits, researchers are investigating new materials and fabrication techniques. One promising direction is using diamond as a material platform for future quantum devices and exploring direct patterning on substrates. Both approaches require a deep understanding of how low-energy electrons behave on material surfaces, especially diamond, because the local electronic structure heavily influences the precision and quality of microchip fabrication.
Simulating electron behaviour in diamond
This is where Rose Wilkens, an AINSE Pathway Scholar and Winter School alumna, steps in. For her honours project, in collaboration with La Trobe University and ANSTO, Rose is developing a Monte Carlo simulation model to study how low-energy electrons interact within the diamond lattice. The goal is to accurately simulate secondary electron emission—a key process affecting surface properties and device performance.
Collecting real-world data at the Australian Synchrotron
To support her model, Rose collected experimental data at the soft X-ray (SXR) beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. Using a monochromatic X-ray beam and Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) optics, she and her collaborators carefully removed hydrogen atoms from diamond samples. This process allowed them to measure secondary electron emission at different stages, providing detailed insights into how changes on the diamond surface affect electron emission.
This high-quality experimental data is now being used to validate and refine Rose’s Monte Carlo simulation. By ensuring the model can replicate real-world observations, Rose’s work will help scientists better understand the complex behaviour of electrons with a diamond lattice.
Towards next-generation chips and quantum devices
Rose’s research may contribute to developing new fabrication technologies and quantum-enabled devices where atomic-level control is essential. Her work represents an important step toward pushing microchip fabrication beyond today’s limits and unlocking the potential of diamond in advanced electronics.
Winter School testimonial:
Rose attended the AINSE Winter School in 2024 and shared the following reflection on the experience:
“I attended the AINSE Winter School in 2024 and found it an incredibly beneficial experience. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with experiments and visits to the Australian Synchrotron with my university in Melbourne but had always wished for a chance to see the ANSTO site at Lucas Heights, which the winter school provides.
The AINSE staff and all the ANSTO scientists were very inclusive, so willing to share information, and brilliant to talk to. I appreciated the chance to talk about science, meet like-minded students and expand my network. I now have a better understanding of what opportunities exist with ANSTO, as well as several links and people I can contact to research there in the future.
AINSE Winter School is a unique experience that is an unmatched undergraduate program in Australia”.
Want to Get Involved?
If you, just like Rose, are interested in conducting cutting-edge research in nuclear science with ANSTO, visit https://www.ainse.edu.au/scholarships/ to explore AINSE scholarships.
To take part in our next Winter School or other AINSE events, visit https://www.ainse.edu.au/news-and-events/.
While you’re waiting for the next Research Spotlight, check out https://www.ainse.edu.au/research-spotlights/ to see the incredible work of past scholars.