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IBM Measures Force Required To Move Atoms

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-bet-i'm-strong-enough-to-do-that dept.

Tjeerd writes "IBM scientists, in collaboration with the University of Regensburg in Germany, are the first ever to measure the force it takes to move individual atoms on a surface. This fundamental measurement provides important information for designing future atomic-scale devices: computer chips, miniaturized storage devices, and more." I've attached a video if you are interested.

2 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Re:On a surface? by boarder8925 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Wouldn't that surface be made of, ummmm, atoms?
    I doubt yo have or will RTFA or WTFV, so I'll answer: The surface in the experiment was crystalline .
    --
    Keep your eyes to the sky.
  2. Re:Heisenberg will be rolling in his grave... by smaddox · · Score: 2, Informative

    The diameter of an atom is on the order of 1 Angstrom (0.1 nm).

    Planks constant is on the order of 10^-34 J*s.

    Basically, the uncertainty is dominated by the size of the atom.