Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
The AVS International Symposium and Exhibition is a leading event for discussing advances in materials, processing, and devices. Scheduled for November 8-13, 2026, at the David L.
Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, this symposium brings together professionals from industry, government, and academia. Participants will engage in a multidisciplinary environment, exploring topics such as vacuum technology, thin films, and quantum computing.
AVS International Symposium and Exhibition takes.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: The AVS International Symposium and Exhibition takes place from November 8-13, 2026, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- 2Scale and Focus: This premier symposium showcases over 200 exhibitors and features cutting-edge research in vacuum science and technology.
- 3Organiser: The event is organized by the American Vacuum Society (AVS), with registration available at avs72.avs.org.
- 4Buyer Authority: Attendees include professionals from academia, government, and industry, focusing on materials, processing, and devices.
- 5Entry / Access: Registration opens on August 3, 2026, with various rates available for attendees and exhibitors.
Why visit
Attendees will benefit from networking opportunities with industry leaders and researchers, access to cutting-edge presentations and workshops, and insights into the latest advancements in vacuum science and technology. The event also offers a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Why exhibit
Exhibitors will gain visibility among key decision-makers in the vacuum science community, showcase their latest products and technologies, and connect with potential customers and partners. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to engage with a targeted audience interested in advancements in materials and processing.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Academic researchers and faculty in vacuum science, surface science, thin films and plasma physics
Graduate students, postdocs and early-career scientists presenting oral talks and posters
Government and national laboratory scientists working on materials, metrology and energy research
Semiconductor and microelectronics process engineers evaluating etch, deposition and ALD modules
Thin-film and coatings engineers from optics, display, solar and battery manufacturing
Surface analysis and metrology specialists using XPS, AES, SIMS, LEIS and scanning probe methods
Vacuum system designers and UHV hardware engineers responsible for pumps, gauges and chamber builds
R&D managers scouting instrumentation for nanofabrication, quantum devices and accelerator vacuum systems
Lab technicians and lab managers comparing consumables, flanges, valves and leak-detection equipment
Educators and outreach staff sourcing vacuum training kits and teaching resources
Hard-tech founders seeking partners in instrumentation, coatings and process development
Publishers, editors and society staff covering applied physics and materials research
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Vacuum pump manufacturers offering turbomolecular, ion, cryogenic and dry roughing pumps
UHV component suppliers for flanges, fittings, valves, feedthroughs and chamber hardware
Thin-film deposition equipment makers for sputtering, evaporation, ALD, CVD and MBE
Plasma source and plasma process equipment vendors for etch, cleaning and surface treatment
Surface analysis instrument companies covering XPS, AES, SIMS, LEIS and UPS
Scanning probe microscopy and electron microscopy accessory suppliers
Mass spectrometry, residual gas analysis and helium leak detection vendors
Cryogenics, temperature control, bakeout and sample transfer specialists
Thin-film metrology, thickness measurement and process control software providers
Nanofabrication and cleanroom service providers, foundries and facility contractors
Scientific publishers, journals and society partners serving the vacuum and materials community
Calibration, consulting and laboratory outsourcing firms for vacuum and surface analysis workflows
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
High and ultra-high vacuum pumps: turbomolecular, ion, cryogenic and dry roughing
Vacuum gauges, controllers and residual gas analysers
UHV flanges, fittings, valves, manipulators and feedthroughs
Chamber design, bakeout hardware and vacuum system integration services
Sputtering and evaporation systems with magnetron and e-beam sources
ALD, CVD and PECVD reactors plus precursor delivery hardware
MBE systems and components for epitaxial growth
Plasma sources, RIE and plasma cleaning equipment
XPS, AES, SIMS, LEIS and UPS surface analysis instruments
Scanning probe microscopy and scanning electron microscopy accessories
Mass spectrometry and helium leak detection systems
Cryogenic systems, sample transfer and load-lock equipment
Thin-film thickness, composition and process control metrology
Nanofabrication services, cleanroom equipment and laboratory consumables
Vacuum and surface science software, data analysis and training resources
Location & Facilities
Venue
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Facilities
Parking
David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at David L. Lawrence Convention Center for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Regular Non-Member
1145Student Non-Member
415Regular Platinum Member
915Student Platinum Member
310
Who runs the show
Organisers
American Vacuum Society (AVS)
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Pittsburgh, USA
Why it matters
Attending AVS International Symposium and Exhibition on 2026-11-08 to 2026-11-13 in Pittsburgh lets buyers and specifiers benchmark suppliers, see live demonstrations, and compress months of vendor meetings into one focused trade visit — worthwhile when your category roadmap aligns with the official exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · USD
Arrival airports
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Pittsburgh International
to venue
by car
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Quality Inn Pittsburgh Airport
budget
Pittsburgh Airport corridor, about 20 miles west of downtown3.8
Lowest-quoted nightly band in the Google Hotels capture for the 8-13 November 2026 stay window. Pet-friendly with free parking noted; suited to early departures but you will need a car or rideshare for the convention center.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Pittsburgh North Shore by IHG
midscale
North Shore, walking distance to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center4.0
Captured North Shore property with free cancellation and a pool; the most convenient location for walking to sessions. Nightly band from the Google Hotels capture, confirm the live rate and currency.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Pittsburgh West Mifflin by IHG
midscale
West Mifflin, southeast of downtown4.1
Free cancellation and free parking noted; the highest captured nightly band, so compare against North Shore options once you add daily transfer time and parking or rideshare costs.
Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh-Bridgeville by IHG
midscale
Bridgeville, southwest of downtown4.1
Captured suburban property with free cancellation, suited to attendees who drive. A nightly price band was not returned in the capture, so check the live rate before comparing it with the North Shore and airport options.
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
taxi / rideshare
Estimated costUSD 35-75 taxi or rideshare to the venue district
Best forPittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to downtown and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Roughly 25-40 minutes depending on traffic on the Parkway West. Rideshare pickup areas at PIT are signposted outside the landside terminal.
bus (Pittsburgh Regional Transit 28X Airport Flyer)
Estimated costApprox. USD 2.75 per single ride; confirm the current fare at rideprt.org
Best forPittsburgh International (PIT) to David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Low-cost option running between the airport and downtown in about an hour. Connect to the North Shore and convention center by local bus, the T light rail, or a short walk or rideshare.
light rail (Pittsburgh Regional Transit T)
Estimated costFree in the downtown Free Fare Zone; Approx. USD 2.75 outside the zone - confirm current boundaries and fares
Best forNorth Shore and downtown stations to the convention center district
Useful for moving between downtown hotels, the North Shore and station-side districts. Check the current free zone boundaries on the PRT site before relying on it.
train (Amtrak)
Estimated costApprox. USD 60-140 one-way coach depending on booking window; verify the live fare with Amtrak
Best forNew York Penn Station to Pittsburgh Union Station
A direct itinerary of roughly 9 hours 13 minutes appeared in the travel capture for 8 November 2026. Union Station is in downtown Pittsburgh, a short ride from the convention center. No fare was returned in the capture, so treat the band as indicative only.
Weather
Pittsburgh in November is late autumn: cool and often overcast, with daytime highs commonly in the 7-13 C (45-55 F) range, overnight lows near -1 to 5 C (30-41 F), frequent light rain and the first possible snow flurries. Daylight is short, with sunset before 17:30 local time. These are climatological approximations for planning only; check an updated forecast in the week before travel.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
US mobile networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) provide good coverage in downtown Pittsburgh and around the North Shore, so an eSIM or a prepaid US SIM is a practical option for international visitors; confirm that your handset supports US bands. Convention venues normally provide attendee Wi-Fi, but the SSID, password and any bandwidth limits are set by the organiser, so confirm at the registration desk. US power is 120 V at 60 Hz with Type A and Type B plugs, so visitors from Europe, Asia and Australia need a plug adapter and, for some devices, a voltage converter. Cost figures here are indicative; confirm live prices with the operator.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Business dress
Business casual is normal at AVS, and academic sessions often run more casual than a commercial trade fair. A jacket is useful for supplier meetings and awards events, while comfortable shoes matter for the walk between hotels and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Tipping
Tipping is expected in the United States: commonly 15-20 percent in restaurants, a few dollars per bag for hotel staff, and a similar amount for taxi or rideshare drivers through the app.
Greetings and meetings
Handshakes are standard in professional settings, and first names are used quickly. Technical discussions are direct and questions during talks are common, so expect substantive Q and A after presentations.
Getting oriented in Pittsburgh
Downtown sits in the Golden Triangle where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio. The North Shore, home to the convention center and stadiums, is across the Allegheny and is linked to downtown by bridges, the T light rail and riverfront trails.
Payment and expenses
Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including transit fare machines and rideshare apps. Keep a small amount of cash for tips and vending, and expect sales tax to be added at checkout rather than included in displayed prices.
Local rules to note
Pennsylvania has specific alcohol rules: wine and spirits are sold through state stores, and beer purchases are more restricted than in many other US states. Smoking is banned in bars and restaurants. Carry photo identification if you look under 30, since ID is checked for alcohol service.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Destination: PIT
Captured itineraries for an 8 November 2026 arrival at Pittsburgh International (PIT) show the practical options: - New York JFK to PIT: JetBlue nonstop in about 1 hour 42 minutes, the fastest route in the capture. Amtrak from New York Penn to Pittsburgh Union Station appears as a direct alternative of roughly 9 hours 13 minutes. - London to PIT: one-stop options such as JetBlue via Boston in about 13 hours, with Icelandair and Turkish Airlines itineraries also listed. - Dubai to PIT: two-stop routings via Doha and Philadelphia in roughly 21 hours 30 minutes. - Tokyo to PIT: one-stop options via Seattle in about 17 hours. - Sydney to PIT: one-stop options via San Francisco or Los Angeles in about 20 hours. No fares were returned in the capture, so book early and check live prices, baggage rules and connection times directly with the airline. PIT is a mid-size airport with connections through hubs such as Philadelphia, Charlotte, Chicago, Atlanta and Detroit, so a one-stop itinerary is normal unless your origin has a nonstop. Consider arriving the day before the conference opens to allow for delays, immigration queues and jet lag.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: Pittsburgh International (PIT). Allow road or rail time to David L. Lawrence Convention Center; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition venues.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near David L. Lawrence Convention Center: Pittsburgh Airport corridor, about 20 miles west of downtown: Quality Inn Pittsburgh Airport; North Shore, walking distance to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Pittsburgh North Shore by IHG; West Mifflin, southeast of downtown: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Pittsburgh West Mifflin by IHG.
Ride-hail: Uber and Lyft both operate in Pittsburgh and are widely used for trips between downtown hotels, the North Shore and the airport corridor. At Pittsburgh International (PIT) follow the signs to the designated rideshare pickup area outside the landside terminal. Fares vary with demand, and surge pricing is common around large conferences and stadium events on the North Shore, so compare the app quote with a taxi or the 28X bus before committing. Confirm live availability and pricing in the app on the day.
Public transit: Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) runs the local bus network and the T light rail. For AVS 72 the useful patterns are: the 28X Airport Flyer between PIT and downtown; downtown bus routes along Liberty Avenue and Penn Avenue connecting to the convention center district; and the T light rail, which links the North Shore area near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with downtown stations and has a downtown Free Fare Zone where central rides have historically been free. Fares outside that zone are typically a few dollars, and payment is by ConnectCard or the mobile fare app. Check current routes, free zone boundaries and service hours on the PRT website before you travel.
Parking: The David L. Lawrence Convention Center has an attached parking garage, and several privately operated garages and surface lots serve downtown and the North Shore within walking distance. Daily rates in downtown Pittsburgh commonly fall in a moderate range, with higher charges for event and weekend periods, and the price is set by the garage operator rather than the organiser. If you are driving, reserve a garage space in advance where the option exists, arrive before the morning session rush, and confirm the daily rate, height clearance and exit procedure at booking. Attendees staying in the airport corridor or in Bridgeville, West Mifflin or other suburbs should budget for daily parking or a rideshare instead.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: November 2026
Temperature: Approx. daytime highs 7-13 C (45-55 F), overnight lows around -1 to 5 C (30-41 F) in Pittsburgh during November. These are climatological planning bands, not a forecast; check an updated local forecast in the week before departure.
Seasonality: November is one of the cloudier months in western Pennsylvania, with frequent light rain and roughly ten or more wet days across the month. Early-season snow flurries are possible but usually light. Daylight is short, with sunset before 17:30, so plan evening walks between the convention center and downtown or North Shore hotels with that in mind. Treat these as approximate seasonal patterns and confirm the actual forecast before travel.
Packing: Pack layers for a cold, changeable late-autumn week: a warm mid-layer, a water-resistant outer jacket, an umbrella or compact rain shell, comfortable broken-in walking shoes for the riverfront and downtown streets, and gloves or a hat for early mornings and evenings. Bring a universal plug adapter and check voltage for any device that is not dual-voltage, since US power is 120 V at 60 Hz with Type A and Type B sockets. For the meeting itself, business casual clothing plus a jacket for supplier meetings and evening events works well, and a laptop or tablet with offline copies of the schedule and your notes is useful in parallel sessions.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at AVS International Symposium and Exhibition usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
Day 14
Confirm the final AVS 72 dates, venue and programme on avs72.avs.org, then lock your travel dates around them.
Day 13
Compare AVS membership plus member registration against the non-member rate; the captured Platinum and Student member tiers are lower than the non-member tiers.
Day 12
Book flights into Pittsburgh International (PIT), allowing a connection through PHL, CLT, ORD, ATL or DTW if your origin has no nonstop.
Day 11
Reserve a North Shore or downtown hotel so the David L. Lawrence Convention Center is walkable or a short rideshare away.
Day 10
Complete symposium registration and note whether you are on a Regular or Student, Member or Non-Member tier.
Day 9
If you are presenting, confirm your session type (oral, poster or invited) and the poster board dimensions in the author instructions.
Day 8
Build your session plan from the online schedule and flag clashes, because AVS runs many parallel topical sessions.
Day 7
For international travel, finish ESTA or schedule a B-1 visa interview, and request an AVS invitation letter if the registration team issues one.
Day 6
Note the exhibition hall opening hours so you can visit pump, deposition and analysis suppliers between technical sessions.
Day 5
Download the conference app or save the schedule for offline use, and check room names across the convention center levels.
Day 4
Print your poster or confirm the digital submission route, and pack a poster tube if you are carrying one.
Day 3
Arrange your airport transfer: taxi or rideshare, the 28X Airport Flyer bus, or a hotel shuttle if offered.
Day 2
Pack layers, a rain jacket and comfortable shoes; the riverfront walk to the venue is windy in November.
Day 1
Charge devices, save your registration confirmation and download maps of downtown and the North Shore.
Day 0
Collect your badge at registration, confirm Wi-Fi access and walk the session room locations before the first talks.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2AVS International Symposium and Exhibition registration concourse
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nights$200.00
- Per diem × 2$150.00
Estimated total$350.00
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Cost reference
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
visitor_ticket
visitor · Regular Non-Member
USD 1145 / per person
organiser_published
visitor_ticket
visitor · Student Non-Member
USD 415 / per person
organiser_published
visitor_ticket
visitor · Regular Platinum Member
USD 915 / per person
organiser_published
visitor_ticket
visitor · Student Platinum Member
USD 310 / per person
organiser_published
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visitor_ticket | visitor | Regular Non-Member | USD 1145 / per person | organiser_published | |
| visitor_ticket | visitor | Student Non-Member | USD 415 / per person | organiser_published | |
| visitor_ticket | visitor | Regular Platinum Member | USD 915 / per person | organiser_published | |
| visitor_ticket | visitor | Student Platinum Member | USD 310 / per person | organiser_published |
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether AVS International Symposium and Exhibition fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your primary role?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus aligns with the official product themes.
Best for
Buyers, researchers, and delegates evaluating the programme and networking value.
Min. budget
$400.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration and travel.
Risks
Limited session times published - confirm agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a clear lead-generation or launch goal for this market.
Best for
Suppliers and brands seeking qualified meetings with the event audience.
Min. budget
$2,500.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, and marketing prep.
Risks
Booth pricing not published in captured sources - confirm with organiser.
skip
Programme, audience, or commercial goals do not match your plan.
Best for
Teams whose category or region fit is weak this edition.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
No major risks listed.
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
What is AVS 72?
AVS 72 is the 72nd International Symposium and Exhibition of AVS, the American Vacuum Society. It combines a multi-division technical programme on vacuum science, surface science, thin films, plasma and materials with an exhibition of vacuum, deposition, analysis and nanofabrication suppliers. The 2026 edition is the one referenced by the avs72.avs.org schedule link.
When and where is AVS 72 taking place?
Capture data for this edition points to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with travel and hotel dates clustered around 8-13 November 2026 and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center named as the venue. Because the seed record itself carries no confirmed date string, verify the final dates and hall details on avs72.avs.org before booking flights or hotels.
Who attends the AVS symposium?
The audience is research-led: university faculty and graduate students, postdocs, national laboratory and government scientists, and industry process engineers from semiconductor, optics, coatings and vacuum equipment companies. Many attendees come for specific divisional sessions rather than a general trade-show walk.
What can visitors see in the AVS exhibition?
Exhibitors cover turbomolecular, ion, cryogenic and dry roughing pumps; UHV flanges, valves, feedthroughs and chamber hardware; sputtering, evaporation, ALD, CVD and MBE equipment; plasma sources and etch tools; XPS, AES, SIMS, LEIS and scanning probe instruments; residual gas analysis, leak detection, cryogenics and metrology software; plus publishers and laboratory service providers.
How much does registration cost for AVS 72?
The captured fee rows for this edition show Regular Non-Member at USD 1,145, Regular Platinum Member at USD 915, Student Non-Member at USD 415 and Student Platinum Member at USD 310. These figures come from the fee capture tied to this event; confirm the live tier prices and what each tier includes on the AVS registration page before paying.
Do I have to be an AVS member to attend?
No. Non-member registration tiers exist for both regular and student attendees. Because member tiers are priced lower in the captured data, compare the cost of membership plus a member registration against the non-member rate before you decide.
Are student rates and student activities available?
Yes. Student Non-Member and Student Platinum Member tiers appear in the captured fee data, and AVS meetings typically include student poster sessions and career-oriented programming. Check the current student programme and any travel support details on avs72.avs.org.
Can I attend just the exhibition without the full technical programme?
No exhibition-only pass was returned in the captures for this edition. If you only need supplier contact time, ask the AVS registration team directly whether a one-day or exhibit-hall option is offered for 2026.
How do I get from Pittsburgh International Airport to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center?
Pittsburgh International (PIT) sits about 20 miles (32 km) west of downtown. A taxi or rideshare to the convention center district usually takes 25-40 minutes depending on traffic, and the Pittsburgh Regional Transit 28X Airport Flyer bus runs to downtown in roughly an hour. There is no rail link between PIT and downtown at present, so plan a road option.
Where should I stay for AVS 72?
North Shore and downtown Pittsburgh hotels put you within a walk or a short rideshare of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Captured options include the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Pittsburgh North Shore (approx. USD 120-170 per night), the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Pittsburgh West Mifflin (approx. USD 170-220 with free parking), the Quality Inn Pittsburgh Airport (approx. USD 100-145) and the Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh-Bridgeville. Confirm live rates and cancellation terms.
What is the weather like in Pittsburgh in November?
Expect late-autumn conditions: daytime highs commonly around 7-13 C (45-55 F), overnight lows near -1 to 5 C (30-41 F), frequent cloud cover, spells of light rain and the first possible snow flurries. These are climatological approximations, so check an updated forecast in the week before departure.
Do international visitors need a visa for AVS 72?
Most international attendees enter the United States either on a B-1 business visitor visa or, if their nationality qualifies, an approved ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program. Carry your registration confirmation, hotel booking and an AVS invitation letter if one was issued, and state at immigration that you are attending the AVS International Symposium and Exhibition. Verify current rules with the US Department of State and CBP.
What should I wear at the symposium?
Business casual is the norm, and academic sessions often lean casual. Pittsburgh in November is cold and windy along the rivers, so bring layers, a water-resistant outer jacket and comfortable shoes for the walk between downtown or North Shore hotels and the convention center.
Is parking available at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center?
The convention center has an attached parking garage and several downtown garages operate nearby. Exact event rates are set by the operator, so confirm the daily charge and garage entrance when you book rather than relying on a general figure.
Are short courses or tutorials offered alongside the symposium?
AVS meetings have historically run short courses and tutorials in parallel with the technical programme, covering topics such as vacuum technology, surface analysis and thin-film processing. Confirm the 2026 list, dates and separate fees on avs72.avs.org instead of assuming the schedule.
How do I submit an abstract or present my work at AVS 72?
Abstract deadlines and submission portals were not returned in the captures for this edition. Use the call for papers and the schedule page on avs72.avs.org to find the current deadline, session categories and format requirements for oral and poster presentations.
How do I get around Pittsburgh during the meeting?
Downtown Pittsburgh is walkable, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit operates buses plus the light rail T, which has a downtown free-fare zone between central stations. The T connects the North Shore area near the convention center with downtown, and rideshare coverage is widespread for trips outside the core.
Will there be Wi-Fi at the venue?
Convention venues in Pittsburgh normally provide attendee Wi-Fi, but the SSID and any bandwidth limits are set by the organiser and venue. Confirm access details at the registration desk, and carry a mobile hotspot or US data plan if you need guaranteed connectivity.
Glossary
- UHV (ultra-high vacuum)
- Chamber pressure below roughly 1e-9 mbar, used for surface science, MBE and particle accelerator components. AVS sessions and exhibitors cover pumps, gauges and materials that make UHV practical.
- XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy)
- A surface analysis method that measures elemental composition and chemical state from the top few nanometres of a sample. Instrument makers showing at the AVS exhibition use XPS as a headline technique.
- AES (Auger electron spectroscopy)
- Electron-beam surface analysis technique often used for depth profiling thin films and checking contamination on vacuum-processed samples.
- SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry)
- Ion-beam technique for trace element and dopant profiling in semiconductors, optics and thin-film stacks, frequently paired with other surface methods in AVS technical sessions.
- LEIS (low-energy ion scattering)
- Ion scattering method sensitive to the outermost atomic layer, relevant to catalysis, oxidation and interface studies presented at the symposium.
- ALD (atomic layer deposition)
- Cyclic deposition process that builds films one atomic layer at a time. ALD precursors, reactors and in-situ metrology are recurring topics in AVS thin-film programmes.
- PECVD / CVD
- Chemical vapour deposition, including plasma-enhanced variants, used to grow dielectric and functional coatings on wafers, optics and industrial parts.
- PVD and sputtering
- Physical vapour deposition by evaporation or ion bombardment of a target. Sputter sources, magnetrons and process control are core exhibition categories.
- MBE (molecular beam epitaxy)
- Ultra-high-vacuum growth technique for semiconductor and quantum-material layers, dependent on precise beam fluxes and clean chamber conditions.
- Plasma etch and RIE
- Reactive ion etching and related plasma processes that remove material with directional control for microelectronics and nanofabrication.
- Mean free path
- Average distance a gas molecule travels between collisions. It grows rapidly as pressure falls, which is why vacuum level governs whether a process behaves as a surface or gas-phase phenomenon.
- Turbomolecular pump
- High-speed rotating pump that produces clean high and ultra-high vacuum; a standard exhibition product alongside dry roughing pumps, ion pumps and cryopumps.
- RGA (residual gas analysis)
- Mass spectrometry of the gas remaining in a vacuum chamber. RGA is used for leak checking, contamination diagnosis and process qualification.
- Helium leak detection
- Method that traces helium through a leak in a vacuum or pressurised system, common in chamber builds, accelerators and industrial vacuum furnaces.
- Scanning probe microscopy (STM / AFM)
- Family of techniques that raster a sharp tip across a surface to map atoms, topography or electronic structure; often correlated with XPS and electron microscopy results at AVS.
- Thin film
- Layer from fractions of a nanometre to a few micrometres thick whose properties depend on deposition method, substrate and post-treatment. Thin films connect most AVS divisions, from electronics to hard coatings.
- CF, KF and ISO flanges
- Standard vacuum connection types: CF knife-edge metal seals for UHV, KF quick clamps for rough and medium vacuum, and ISO flanges for larger bore industrial systems.
- Nanofabrication cleanroom
- Controlled environment where vacuum processes, lithography and metrology are combined to build devices; cleanroom access and process services appear among exhibition offerings.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- AVS International Symposium and Exhibition 2026
- AVS International Symposium and Exhibition Pittsburgh
- AVS International Symposium and Exhibition Pittsburgh 2026
- AVS International Symposium
- AVS International Symposium 2026
- AVS International Symposium Pittsburgh
- AVS International Symposium Pittsburgh 2026
- AVS
- AVS 2026
- AVS Pittsburgh
4 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
Sources
2
References
2
Publishers
0
Date checked
1
AVS 72 Official Website
- event_website
2
Twitter - AVS Members
- event_social
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