http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/ Engadget Comments for Atomic force microscope takes a closer look at individual atoms http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/Mar 2nd 2007 5:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/Mar 2nd 2007 6:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/Mar 2nd 2007 6:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/
X-rays can be used for atomic-resolution crystal structure determination, and, while vaporization is certainly an issue with that technique, there exist methods to limit its significance.]]>Mar 2nd 2007 7:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/Mar 2nd 2007 10:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/
There is a fine needle that drags across the surface of the material. This needle is attached to a cantilever that moves up and down varying with thickness. To translate these thicknesses into data, a laser beam picks up on these very small movements.

You couldn't draw any smiley faces with this. The AFM is used for getting a digital picture of the surface morphology.]]>Mar 2nd 2007 9:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/
That would be a useful technique for some work we're doing at the moment though looking at some surface modifications on polymers.]]>Mar 2nd 2007 11:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/atomic-force-microscope-takes-a-closer-look-at-individual-atoms/Mar 2nd 2007 3:36PM