IBM Measures The Force Required To Move Atoms

MADE IN IBM LABS: In a recent paper published in the journal Science, IBM researchers describe a new milestone in nanotechnology: the ability to measure the force required to move individual atoms. Their findings are an important step for understanding what types of atoms are best suited for building different kinds of nanoelectronic devices, based on how strong or weak of a bond they can form on different surfaces.

The ability to control atoms and move them around on a surface was first discovered by an IBM researcher nearly 20 years ago -- an achievement that has been hailed as the "Kittyhawk of Nanotechnology." But until today, nobody has known the exact force required to move atoms on a surface: an absolutely critical understanding if we are to build Lilliputian computer chips and storage devices from the atom up.

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. In the nanotechnology realm, to make structures that you want to remain rigidly in place you would use strongly bonded ("sticky") atoms while for groups of atoms that need to move you would use atoms held in place only by weak chemical bonds.

IBM is no stranger to working with atoms. Two IBM scientists won the Nobel Prize for their invention of a specialized microscope that could "see" individual atoms for the first time. And in 1989, in the same Silicon Valley lab where today's breakthrough took place, an IBM scientist was the first to move atoms on a surface, spelling I-B-M in Xenon atoms. More recently, IBM has demonstrated the potential to store data in individual atoms or small clusters of atoms, and that single molecules may work well as switches for future computer chips. As these breakthroughs before them, IBM continues to drive the future of atom scale research.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• IBM
• Technology
• Atoms

[CamiloSanchez1979]

thanks IBM..do whatever it takes as long as we have easier and more advanced ways to access online porn..

[2007ASpaceOdyssey]

but about 10 minuets until its integrated for military use

[axel714]

why IBM claims they got pictures of atoms?

and others build a Large Hadron Collider to analyze it because is a fact that is impossible to see a atom

[TDudePro]

@Neutrinoghost it depends on the atom some are more massive than others

[CarCriticAssessor]

CONSIDER TOO: Nice marquee light of reality: LOL is right--nano-assembly inroads have been many, as well as the little perceived as correlative eg, J. Snider's 3-D {many Microsoft patents; super insightful in his own right}, and eg, light paths aka shadow informative dot | particle | energy account(s) & manipulation--for all manner of, ultimately, reality control, so to speak...protrusions & extrusions...& super fast...than the "speeds of light", re-emergence: horizons or already?

[Neutrinoghost]

And the amount of force is?

[Todd4921]

20 minutes later:

Hey guys you know if we got a bunch of these and put them together it would make a totally sweet bomb.

[swaize]

@muzammilali007 it doesn't though does it? I would be impressed if it said something like: "the nucleus of an atom consists of protons and neutrons, which in turn consist of sub atomic particles" but in fact it says "… Not even the weight of the smallest thing eludes your Lord, either on earth or in heaven. Nor is there anything smaller than that, or larger, which is not in a Clear Book. (Qur'an, 10:61)" Strong evidence!!!!

[EdouardDubois]

@tyebillion

In order to make it sufficiently mass-producible you would need to use this technology to make nano-scale robots, or at least nano-scale manipulators. These would become the working force that construct nano-machines and nano-electronics in sufficient numbers for the whole thing to be economically viable.

[tyebillion]

Yeah, but how long will it take to move billions of these to make a CPU?

[skydome29]

@coldarc It's because with present measurement tools, when used to observe electrons, the photons interefere with the action of the electron; it's more an annoying fact than anything.

[skydome29]

@groundzerobuild I figured they'd be the first to splice the atom.