Monday, October 6, 2008
Study of Energy Needed to move an Atom
This article published in the New York Times is a breakthrough in physical chemistry that may change the way we look at it. It is a reporting of the research that has been done to see exactly how much energy is needed to move a single atom. Along with I.B.M. scientists Dr. Heinrich and other researchers at Almaden and the University of Regensburg in Germany have calculated the exact amount of energy that is needed to move a single atom of cobalt along both a titanium and a copper surface. Ever since Donald M. Eiger spelled out "I.B.M." using 35 singular xenon atoms those at the company have been interested in creating structures out of individual atoms. Using an atomic microscope and utilizing the sharp tip of it Dr. Heinrich pushed a singular atom. To measure the force the sharp tip of the microscope was attached to a small tuning fork, commonly found in small quartz watches. Because of the tuning fork, the tip vibrates at 20,000 times a second until it comes in contact with the atom and the vibration frequency slows down. However a single atom cannot roll smoothly on another element due to the fact that there is a lattice of atoms underneath it and so the singular atom bumps over at an inconsistent speed. The lattice-like surface is often compared to an egg carton with the singular atom as the egg. The exact energy needed to push a cobalt atom is 130 millionth of an ounce of energy across titanium and 1,600 of a millionth of an ounce of energy across copper.
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1 comment:
3 Things well done:
1. The Article described an interesting subject that is not often considered, but could be quite significant in several fields.
2. The article was particularly fascinating considering how relevant it is to our present study of the atom.
3. The description was extremely approachable - all of the terms were familiar and made the interesting article all the more engaging.
2 Things I think could have been improved in the presentation:
1. I would liked to have a link to the article or the related research in order that I might read more on this fascinating subject.
2. I would have appreciated some analyses of the significance of the discovery - possible uses and benefits, or perhaps any changes to scientific theory which may have resulted.
1 Thing I learned/was impressed by
1. I was fascinated by the method used to measure the force needed to move the atom. I would have though some electrochemical process might have been necessity, however this use of physical properties was simple yet apparently effective.
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