Future of Engineering
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Scientists Measure Force Required To Move Individual Atoms
Scientists Measure Force Required To Move Individual Atoms
IBM researchers – with help from the University of Regensburg –have taken the extraordinary step of measuring the tiny forces needed to manipulate the atoms. These findings will be published in the February 22 issue of Science magazine. This fundamental measurement provides important information for designing future atomic-scale devices: computer chips, miniaturized storage devices, and more.
Understanding the force necessary to move specific atoms on specific surfaces is one of the keys to designing and constructing the small structures that will enable future nanotechnologies. The problem is akin to what scientists and engineers needed to learn about construction at macroscopic sizes many decades ago. For example, building a modern bridge would be impossible without first measuring the strength of different materials, understanding the relevant forces, and comprehending how everything interacts.
Full story here
IBM researchers – with help from the University of Regensburg –have taken the extraordinary step of measuring the tiny forces needed to manipulate the atoms. These findings will be published in the February 22 issue of Science magazine. This fundamental measurement provides important information for designing future atomic-scale devices: computer chips, miniaturized storage devices, and more.
Understanding the force necessary to move specific atoms on specific surfaces is one of the keys to designing and constructing the small structures that will enable future nanotechnologies. The problem is akin to what scientists and engineers needed to learn about construction at macroscopic sizes many decades ago. For example, building a modern bridge would be impossible without first measuring the strength of different materials, understanding the relevant forces, and comprehending how everything interacts.
Full story here
Labels: Material-Sciences
PermaLink - Scientists Measure Force Required To Move Individual Atoms posted by Ecacofonix : 8:11 PM
