Atomic Microscopes

2001/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Fisika

In Germany, physicists from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich prepare a microscope that substitutes light with a ray of atoms. As is known, electrons act as waves; when the atomic ray collides des with an unknown object, the waves of the electrons of the lightning atoms and the waves of the electrons of the object overlap and therefore an interference occurs.

The resulting wave depends on the wavelength of both waves. Since the wavelength of the atomic ray is known for the wavelength and the wavelength obtained, one can know the wavelength of the electrons of the object to be studied and from there obtain the image of the object. The resolution of the microscope depends on the wavelength of the beam, allowing for a more accurate image of the object.