Scanning
Tunnelling Microscopy works at the limit of resolution to produce images
of atoms with details a tenth of a nanometre across, magnified 100 million
times. A fine probe, an atom wide at the tip, is brought close to an
object. At a tiny distance, the electron 'cloud' at the surface interacts
with that of the tip. Electrons jump this gap, producing a 'tunnelling
current' that is extremely sensitive to distance. A feedback device
keeps the tip a constant distance from the surface as it scans across
it. The voltage needed to maintain the set distance reflects the height
of the surface. As the probe scans the subject, a 3D map is created
of the surface atom by atom.
See more techniques:
Aerial Photography
Computed Tomography (CT Scans)
Endoscopy
High Speed Photography
Kirlian Photography
Light Microscopy (LM)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Molecular Models
Radionuclide Scanning (Gamma Scanning)
Satellite Images
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM)
Schlieren Photography
Space Photography (NASA)
Thermography
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Ultrasound Images
Ultraviolet Photography
X-Rays
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