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Thursday, August 27, 2009

First Complete Image of a Molecule, Atom by Atom

Researchers at IBM have used an atomic-force microscope to resolve the chemical structure of pentacene.
By Katherine Bourzac
This image of pentacene, a molecule
made up of five carbon rings, was
made using an atomic-force
microscope. Credit: Science/AAAS

Using an atomic-force microscope, scientists at IBM Research in Zurich have for the first time made an atomic-scale resolution image of a single molecule, the hydrocarbon pentacene.

Atomic-force microscopy works by scanning a surface with a tiny cantilever whose tip comes to a sharp nanoscale point. As it scans, the cantilever bounces up and down, and data from these movements is compiled to generate a picture of that surface. These microscopes can be used to "see" features much smaller than those visible under light microscopes, whose resolution is limited by the properties of light itself. Atomic-force microscopy literally has atom-scale resolution.

Still, until now, it hasn't been possible to use it to look with atomic resolution at single molecules. On such a scale, the electrical properties of the molecule under investigation normally interfere with the activity of the scanning tip. Researchers at IBM Research in Zurich overcame this problem by first using the microscope tip to pick up a single molecule of carbon monoxide. This drastically improved the resolution of the microscope, which the IBM scientists used to make an image of pentacene. They arrived at carbon monoxide as a contrast-enhancing addition after trying many chemicals.

The researchers hope that looking this closely at single molecules will give them a better understanding of chemical reactions and catalysis at an unprecedented level of detail.

The imaging work is described today in the journal Science.

Comments

  • Picture of a molecule
    Wow.
    Rate this comment: 12345

    TooMany
    08/29/2009
    Posts:47
    Avg Rating:
    4/5
  • IBM Pentacene Imaging
    A super advance for IBM.  Progress in nanoscale imaging depends on the data density achieved, to refine the image's value to research.  That all relies on the atomic model equation, since that is the data horizon of nanostructural features which holds the solutions to molecular or material quantum effects.  Those relativistic and quantum facts loom large on the nanoscales, calling for an atomic model with the topological data window capable of returning research-relevant data for design or analysis work.
      The atom's RQT (relative quantum topological) data point imaging function is built by combination of the relativistic Einstein-Lorenz transform functions for time, mass, and energy with the workon quantized electromagnetic wave equations for frequency and wavelength.  The atom labeled psi (Z) pulsates at the frequency {Nhu=e/h} by cycles of {e=m(c^2)} transformation of nuclear surface mass to forcons with joule values, followed by nuclear force absorption.  This radiation process is limited only by spacetime boundaries of {Gravity-Time}, where gravity is the force binding space to psi, forming the GT integral atomic wavefunction.  The expression is defined as the series expansion differential of nuclear output rates with quantum symmetry numbers assigned along the progression to give topology to the solutions.
      Next, the correlation function for the manifold of internal heat capacity particle 3D functions condensed due to radial force dilution is extracted; by rearranging the total internal momentum function to the photon gain rule and integrating it for GT limits.  This produces a series of 26 topological waveparticle functions of five classes; {+Positron, Workon, Thermon, -Electromagneton, Magnemedon}, each the 3D data image of a type of energy intermedon of the 5/2 kT J internal energy cloud, accounting for all of them. 
      Those values intersect the sizes of the fundamental physical constants:  h, h-bar, delta, nuclear magneton, beta magneton, k (series).  They quantize nuclear dynamics by acting as fulcrum particles.  The result is the picoyoctometric, 3D, interactive video atomic model data imaging function, responsive to keyboard input of virtual photon gain events by relativistic, quantized shifts of electron, force, and energy field states and positions.
      A versatile infotool for molecular or material imaging advencement is found, since the RQT method will refine AFM tip design and control by microyoctoscale magnetic field topological physics specifications with the full set of energy and force field parameters needed. 
      Images of the h-bar magnetic energy waveparticle of ~175 picoyoctometers are available online at http://www.symmecon.com with the complete RQT atomic modeling guide titled The Crystalon Door, copyright TXu1-266-788.  TCD conforms to the unopposed motion of disclosure in U.S. District (NM) Court of 04/02/2001 titled The Solution to the Equation of Schrodinger.
    (C) 2009, Dale B. Ritter, B.A.
       
    Rate this comment: 12345

    symmecon
    09/23/2009
    Posts:2
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