VersaLab PPMS – a system for investigating the physico-chemical properties of materials with a closed-cycle cooling system

Trade name
Quantum Design PPMS® VersaLab®
Technical description

Quantum Design PPMS VersaLab System – A versatile tool for investigating the physicochemical properties of materials, ranging from thin films to polycrystalline samples and nanostructures. It enables measurements in a temperature range from 50 to 400 K and using magnetic fields up to 3 T.

The device is equipped with a number of measurement modules:

  • Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) – enables the static measurement of magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature or magnetic field.

  • AC Magnetometer – enables the dynamic measurement of magnetic susceptibility by AC modulation of the magnetic field, allowing the detection of small susceptibility values, which is particularly important for characterizing superconductors.

  • Torque Magnetometry – used to analyze magnetic anisotropy by measuring the torque exerted on the sample in a magnetic field. This method is especially applicable for studying thin films and small crystals with irregular structures.

  • Electrical Transport Module (ETO) – enables the measurement of electrical transport (AC/DC) as a function of temperature and magnetic field using a four-probe configuration for samples with lower resistance (from 10 μΩ to 10 MΩ) and a two-probe configuration for higher resistance (from 2 MΩ to 5 GΩ), utilizing sensitive lock-in detection. DC resistance measurements can be performed simultaneously on three channels. In the standard four-probe configuration, resistances in the range from 10 μΩ to 5 MΩ can be measured, with source currents ranging from 2 nA to 8 mA.

Conditions for providing infrastructure

Details regarding the conditions for making the equipment available can be found in the file: https://acmin.agh.edu.pl/home/acmin/5_Wspolpraca/Aparatura/Zasady_i_koszty_korzystania_z_infrastruktury_badawczej_ACMiN.pdf

Type of accreditation / certificate:
Not applicable
Access type
External
Research capabilities

The PPMS VersaLab system enable measurements:

  • Magnetization with VSM method, for determination of the magnetic moment as a function of temperature and field.
  • Magnetic anisotropy of thin films using torque magnetometry.
  • Magnetic susceptibility in either a direct current (DC) field or an alternating current (AC) field.
  • Electrical conductivity using both four-probe and two-probe methods.
Last update date
April 25, 2025, 12:53 p.m.
Year of commissioning
2025
Measurement capabilities

Samples (including thin films, bulk materials, nanopowders) with linear dimensions of 1–10 mm – depending on the selected option.

Photos
System Quantum Design PPMS® VersaLab®
System Quantum Design PPMS® VersaLab®