About PHI

Enhancing Performance, Productivity and Profitability

Physical Electronics (PHI) is a subsidiary of ULVAC-PHI, and the world's leading supplier of UHV surface analysis instrumentation. PHI’s innovative XPS, AES, and SIMS technologies provide our customers with unique tools to solve challenging materials problems and accelerate the development of new processes and products. As the only supplier that provides a full range of high performance XPS, AES, and SIMS surface analysis instruments, PHI is in a unique position to provide complete surface analysis solutions to potential clients in a broad range of high technology fields including: nanotechnology, microelectronics, storage media, catalysis, bio-materials, pharmaceuticals, and basic materials such as metals, polymers, composites and coatings.

Company History

Physical Electronics (PHI) was formed in 1969 as a spin-off from the University of Minnesota. The research performed by Roland Weber, Paul Palmberg, and their advisor Bill Peria revealed the extreme surface sensitivity of Auger electron spectroscopy and led to the development of the first commercial Auger surface analysis instruments and the formation of Physical Electronics. As PHI grew, emerging technologies expanded PHI from an “Auger” company to a surface analysis equipment supplier with high performance XPS, D-SIMS, and TOF-SIMS instruments added to our product line.

The LEED-Auger apparatus used by Weber, Palmberg, and Peria at the University of Minnesota.

As PHI grew, a relationship was established with the ULVAC Corporation in 1971. This relationship led to the formation of ULVAC-PHI in 1982 as a joint venture to market and support PHI’s surface analysis products in Japan. In 2003 ULVAC purchased Physical Electronics bringing PHI and ULVAC-PHI together under one roof.

Focus on Support

Today PHI is the global leader in UHV surface analysis instrumentation and our focus continues to be on providing surface analysis instruments to our customers with cutting edge technologies that provide them the analytical capabilities and reliability they need to succeed in their research, development, and manufacturing environments. We place a high value on the relationship we have with our customers and support them with a skilled technical staff located in both the United States and Japan. We maintain a global customer service organization with a staff of more than 80 people strategically located around the world and have earned a reputation as providing the best customer support available in the surface analysis community.