SCANNING TUNNELLING MICROSCOPE Meaning and
Definition
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A scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) is a scientific instrument used to study the properties of surfaces at the atomic level. It operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics and enables scientists to visualize and manipulate individual atoms with extraordinary precision.
The key component of an STM is a sharp tip, usually made of tungsten or platinum, which is extremely fine and tapers down to a single atom. This tip is brought into very close proximity with the surface being studied, typically within a few angstroms. By applying a voltage between the tip and the surface, a phenomenon known as quantum tunneling occurs. This involves the flow of electrons from the tip to the surface or vice versa when there is a small enough gap between them.
The STM measures the current resulting from this tunneling effect, providing a highly sensitive image of the atomic structure of the surface. The microscope can scan the tip across the surface in a systematic manner, creating a three-dimensional map of the atoms in real-time. This allows scientists to observe the arrangement and interactions of individual atoms, investigate surface properties, and manipulate them on a nanometer scale.
The development of the scanning tunnelling microscope in the early 1980s revolutionized nanoscience and garnered its inventors Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986. STMs have since become an indispensable tool for various fields, including surface science, materials research, and nanotechnology.
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