MIT Develops Nanoruler

Makarand writes "MIT Researchers have developed a device to make the most precise rulers - the Nanoruler, whose "ticks" are mere nanometers apart. The Nanoruler can pattern gratings of lines and spaces more accurately than other methods across large surfaces more than 12 inches in diameter, a capability important to a number of applications like preparing larger wafers for the production of computer chips and higher-resolution space telescopes. The Nanoruler works by using interference lithography where two laser beams interfere with each other to produce interference "fringes", or parallel planes of high and low light intensity. These fringes are then recorded onto the surface as lines and spaces using the same techniques used for tracing circuits onto silicon."

Comments

Patent pending?

[Anonymous Coward]

If NASA and DARPA funded it, why shouldn't it be released public domain?

Other idea using light

[Gamasta]

For some time I wondered about the possibility of using a Michelson & Morley interferometer for measuring distances. You can get 250 nanometer of precision easily, just count those rings. Using shorter wavelengths, it can get a lot better. But never tried putting such idea to work. (most probably someone else thought about this too...)

Re:Other idea using light

[Anonymous Coward]

Interferometers are used regularly to measure lengths and to calibrate measuring instruments in standards labs like the NIST. The standard metre is in fact measured using interference fringes, from an (almost) monochromatic light source (I think it's some Krypton transition.)