Image From Scanning Tunneling Microscope (IMAGE)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Image From Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Caption

NIST researchers used a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to move a single cobalt atom (blue sphere) in a small molecule back and forth between two positions on a crystal surface (first two images). Based on measurements of the "noise" made by the molecule at each pixel of a topographical image made with the STM, the researchers made a computer-generated spatial map of the atom switching speed and probability, showing that switching is most likely when the STM tip is positioned to the left of the cobalt atom (blue and white speckled area in the third image).

Credit

J.A. Stroscio, J.N. Crain, and R.J. Celotta, NIST

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