Laboratories
The laboratory park of IF-UFBA, dedicated to the development of research projects related to the Graduate Program in Physics, has undergone significant development over the past decade, with the creation of the doctoral course enabled by increased investment in science and technology in Brazil, at least until 2014. Below is a description of the Experimental and Computational Laboratories available for the execution of dissertation and thesis projects of PPGFIS/IFUFBA:
1. Multi-User Electron Microscopy Laboratory at UFBA (LAMUME)
This laboratory is focused on obtaining nano and micro-analyses (surface electronics, energy dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, micro-diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and spectral ellipsometry) to support basic and technological research in various fields of knowledge at UFBA. LAMUME has had a Scanning Electron Microscope in operation since 2012, acquired with resources from the PROINFRA 01/2005 Call, along with a spectral ellipsometer and a Raman spectrometer. Additionally, with funds approved in the PROINFRA 01/2008 call, it was possible to acquire, install, and operate an Atomic Force Microscope. Finally, the PROINFRA 01/2011 call approved funding for the acquisition of a 200 kV Transmission Electron Microscope, equipped with scanning, electron diffraction, EDS, and EELS capabilities. Approved resources totaled R$ 5,600,000.00 (CT-INFRA 2005, 2008, 2011).
2. Optical Properties Laboratory (LaPO)
This laboratory conducts various theoretical and experimental activities. The available resources and equipment are used for: theoretical determination of the optical, electrical, and thermal properties of semiconductors, oxides, and new materials (including bulk, thin films, and rough surfaces); transmission, reflection, and absorption spectroscopy of semiconductor samples, oxides, and new materials, with dimensions ranging from 0.25 mm to 15 mm, and wavelengths ranging from 0.25 micrometers to 25 micrometers ; extension of these techniques to a temperature range from 10 K to Ta; development of optically selective surfaces and photovoltaic semiconductors through chemical deposition, electrolysis, and pyrolysis processes.
3. Applied Computational Physics Laboratory (LFCA)
This laboratory hosts the main computational resources dedicated to the theoretical-computational research activities of the faculty and students of PPGFIS/IFUFBA. It features the Prometheus Cluster, designed for high-erformance computing, along with various remote-access computers for the different research groups associated with PPGFIS. The Prometheus Cluster consists of a Blade C7000 system with 10 dual servers based on the Xeon E5405 architecture, with 17 GB of memory per server, providing 80 cores for processing. Access to this cluster is open to the community through the page http://www.computacao.fis.ufba.br/prometeu.htm. The research groups in Statistical Physics and Complex Systems (FESC) and Surfaces and Materials (GSUMA) maintain the PERAU Cluster, an SGI C2108-RP2 model, with four dual servers based on the Xeon(R) E5-2660 architecture, each with 64 GB of memory and 4 Terabytes of storage capacity. Additionally, a new HPC SGI ICE X system was acquired in 2016, costing R$ 1.78 million, to be used for research in oceanography, physics, geophysics, chemistry, mathematics, and computing. This new computer, purchased with resources from the CTINFRA 01/2013 call under the LIMCET V project, has 1,008 processors, organized into 42 computational nodes, each with 2 CPUs of 12 Intel Xeon 2.3 GHz processors, and 128 GB of RAM. Currently, this system is undergoing performance testing and will soon be available for use by faculty and students of PPGFIS.
4. Molecular Spectroscopy and Thin Films Laboratory (LEMFF)
This laboratory is equipped to conduct experimental and theoretical studies on the excitation, dissociation, and ionization of biologically relevant molecules – in the gas, liquid, and condensed phases – induced by the incidence of vacuum ultraviolet radiation or electron impact. The research studies focus on the following areas: Photostability of organic molecules in the gas and condensed phases exposed to VUV radiation and electron impact; Electronic spectroscopy of dilute systems; Study of Neutral Atoms and Atomic Interferometry. Within these research areas, the following experiments are
being implemented at the Molecular Spectroscopy and Thin Films Laboratory at the UFBA Institute of Physics: 1. Degradation of thin films of organic compounds through vacuum ultraviolet radiation and electrons using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). 2. Studies of the dissociation and ionization mechanisms of molecular systems through the development of a spectrometer that measures ion and electron coincidences. 3. Measurements of the absolute cross-sections of photoabsorption and photoionization of gas- phase molecules of biological interest in the vacuum ultraviolet region using the double ionization chamber technique. 4. Electronic and mass spectroscopy of liquid samples using vacuum ultraviolet radiation (still under implementation). The LEMFF has approved resources totaling R$ 1,500,000.00 (FAPESB, CAPES, CNPq, CT-INFRA).
5. Materials Laboratory (LabMat)
This laboratory is the most recently created at the UFBA Institute of Physics. It aims to concentrate the entire semiconductor materials and new materials manufacturing chain used by the Solar Energy Development Study Group (GEDES) and associated researchers. LabMat is equipped with all the necessary infrastructure for manufacturing materials through various methods. urrently, it is capable of fabricating semiconductor materials and oxides through spray pyrolysis, continuous and pulsed electrodeposition (potentiostat), sputtering deposition, and is in the process of implementing a
sol-gel deposition system. The laboratory has fume hoods for preparing precursor solutions and furnaces for annealing the films. Additionally, it is possible to perform electrical characterizations through impedance spectroscopy in both solution and dry conditions, using the same equipment where electrodepositions are carried out.
6. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Systems Component Certification Laboratory (LabSolar)
This new laboratory, affiliated with the UFBA Institute of Physics, is located in the Technology Park of the State of Bahia. It features several methods for characterizing photovoltaic solar panels and solar cells: climatic, mechanical, and electrical tests, calibration of sensors, and light sources. For this, it is equipped with a climatic chamber with a temperature range from -40°C to 85°C, a flash solar simulator, a continuous solar simulator, mechanical test benches (deformation, shock, hail impact, etc.), electrical instrumentation (power sources, multimeters, impedance meters, etc.), and optical instrumentation (calibrated light source, spectrometer, UV, visible, and infrared light sensors). It will offer calibration and certification services, as well as training courses in solar energy and studies on new photovoltaic conversion technologies. It is expected to be operational by the end of 2017.
7. BioSystems Laboratory (LABBIOS)
This laboratory develops tracking technologies applied to accessibility and inclusion for patients with severe motor disabilities in audiological assessment services. It also develops data analysis methods in electroencephalography to aid in the diagnosis of diseases such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. In ecology, it develops stochastic models for analyzing patterns of complexity and connectivity in fragmented landscapes. (Financial Support: CAPES, CNPq, FAPESB, and FINEP).
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