UCSB Professor Developed Ultrafast Microscope

The device captures movies of energy movement within semiconductor materials at extreme speeds.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Materials Science

A close-up view of a high-tech vacuum chamber aperture and semiconductor wafer sample illuminated by a sharp side-lit laser. — Mechanical engineering professor Bolin Liao at UC Santa Barbara has created a scanning ultrafast electron microscope to track energy movement within semiconductor materials. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Mechanical engineering professor Bolin Liao at UC Santa Barbara developed a new scanning ultrafast electron microscope. The device integrates a scanning electron microscope with an ultrafast laser to visualize energy transport.

Why it matters

This technology allows researchers to observe complex quantum interactions that were previously difficult to capture. By visualizing light-stimulated energy movement, scientists can better understand material behavior.

The microscope utilizes a combination of scanning electron microscopy and an ultrafast laser to achieve nanoscale spatial and picosecond-scale temporal resolution. This setup records high-speed movies of light-stimulated energy transport.

The players

Bolin Liao

Bolin Liao is a mechanical engineering professor at UC Santa Barbara who led the development of the new microscope technology.

UC Santa Barbara

UC Santa Barbara is a public research university that served as the primary site for the development of this scanning ultrafast electron microscope.

The details

The instrument bridges the gap between spatial and temporal observations by tracking how energy moves through semiconductors. This advancement enables the study of quantum dynamics that occur at scales beyond the reach of conventional imaging tools.

October 1, 2026: The development of the scanning ultrafast electron microscope was reported.

The Big Picture

This development follows the trajectory established by the UC Santa Barbara materials science research program in optical-electronic integration. By enabling the observation of quantum interactions, it shifts the focus toward dynamic, real-time analysis of material properties.

This innovation could eventually lead to the creation of more efficient semiconductor-based devices and electronics for consumers. By better understanding energy transport at the quantum level, researchers can work toward developing stronger, faster materials for future tech.

The takeaway

The ability to film energy transport at the picosecond scale provides a vital new window into quantum-level physics. This tool helps scientists refine the materials that will underpin next-generation electronic components.