Bernhard Schläppi

With a team of passionate engineers and leaders, I coordinate multiple activities across several functional departements (RnD, Supply Chain, Production, Technical Customer Support, Marketing and Sales) My role is a one with many interfaces, giving detailled insights on what it takes, to operate a business with a complex product (e.g. the IXM open microfocus modules) What i enjoy, is the challenge to overview the big picture of the program and still understand sufficient details to take effective decisions

Leading a small and interdisciplinary team of engineers and technicians with a focus on -Verification testing of X-ray modules -R&D support with infrastructure, services and product testing at module level.

Was responsible for the characterization of flexible thin film CIGS solar cells using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Online-monitoring and automatization of the in vacuum evaporation and production process have been a strong focus. I developed the analysis algorithms and implemented them. Contributed to the development of evaporation sources for metals, with particular attention on homogenous deposition of flexible polyimide substrate. Combination of simulations and experimental testing of prototypes.

Development of a new experimental configuration for Laval expansions, combined with photon-ionization mass spectrometry using a table-top tunable laser. Responsible for all relevant aspects of the apparatus (mechanical, electrical and vacuum components) and together with a team the machine was implemented, optimized and first results were produced. The apparatus has been identified as a potential candidate to directly observe nucleation from the gas phase.

Involved in the development of a ion/electron photoelectron spectrometer using velocity map imaging and the characterization of the “Na-doping technique” for the mass spectrometric size determination of ultrafine aerosols. In addition, started to develop a new experimental setup using Laval-nozzles. This work was supported by a fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF).

Experimental concept study of a new genertaion of time-of-flight mass spectrometers for space science.

Optimization and characterization of the ROSINA Double focusing mass spectrometer (DFMS) which flies onboard the international Rosetta mission.

Business administration and Accounting

Mass spectrometry, Experimental physics, space science, Small bodies (comets and asteroids)