This image shows the precise arrangement of atoms that form a bridge between two gold crystals. Until yesterday, you would not have been able to see that image — at least, not with such clarity and color. It’s the product one of the world’s most powerful transmission electron microscopes, installed yesterday at UC Berkeley, which can deliver crisp images of objects that are less than half the diameter of a hydrogen atom. Want to see the microscope?
Microscopy nerds and beam geeks, rejoice! It’s TEAM, the coolest damn microscope you’ll ever see. A beam of energy pulses through it and, with new error-correcting tech, is able to reduce image noise normally associated with electron microscopes that measure atomic structures. Images courtesy of DOE’s National Center for Electron Microscopy.
Debut of TEAM 0.5 [Eurekalert]
