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Related Concept Videos

Subatomic Particles03:37

Subatomic Particles

Dalton was only partially correct about the particles that make up matter. All matter is composed of atoms, and atoms are composed of three smaller subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. These three particles account for the mass and the charge of an atom.
The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom02:45

The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom

Shortly after de Broglie published his ideas that the electron in a hydrogen atom could be better thought of as being a circular standing wave instead of a particle moving in quantized circular orbits, Erwin Schrödinger extended de Broglie’s work by deriving what is now known as the Schrödinger equation. When Schrödinger applied his equation to hydrogen-like atoms, he was able to reproduce Bohr’s expression for the energy and, thus, the Rydberg formula governing hydrogen spectra. Schrödinger...
Atomic Structure01:33

Atomic Structure

All matter is composed of atoms, the smallest individual units of elements. Each atom is made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Together, these three particles account for the mass and the charge of an atom.The History of Atomic TheoryThe first person to propose that everything on Earth is made up of tiny particles was the Greek philosopher Democritus, around 450 B.C. He used the term atomos, Greek for “indivisible,” from which the modern term “atom” is derived.
Atomic Structure01:17

Atomic Structure

The Greek philosopher Democritus proposed that everything on Earth is made up of tiny particles called atomos, Greek for "indivisible," from which the modern term "atom" is derived. In the 19th century, John Dalton proposed the atomic theory that is still largely correct today. He put forth five postulates to explain how atoms made up the world around us. (1) All matter is composed of infinitely small particles or atoms. (2) All atoms of a given element are identical to one another and (3) are...
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin01:08

Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin

All atomic particles possess an intrinsic angular momentum, or 'spin'. Electrons, protons, and neutrons each have a spin value of ½, although protons and neutrons in nuclei may have higher half-integer spins owing to energetic factors.
Atomic nuclei have a net nuclear spin, , which can have an integer or half-integer value. In atomic nuclei, the spins of protons are paired against each other but not with neutrons, and vice versa. Consequently, an even number of protons does not contribute to...
Electronic Structure of Atoms02:28

Electronic Structure of Atoms


An atom comprises protons and neutrons, which are contained inside the dense, central core called the nucleus, with electrons present around the nucleus. Taking into account the wave–particle duality of electrons and the uncertainty in position around the nucleus, quantum mechanics provides a more accurate model for the atomic structure. It describes atomic orbitals as the regions around the nucleus where electrons of discrete energy exist, characterized by four quantum numbers:  n, l, ml, and...

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Novel 3D/VR Interactive Environment for MD Simulations, Visualization and Analysis
11:29

Novel 3D/VR Interactive Environment for MD Simulations, Visualization and Analysis

Published on: December 18, 2014

Playing pinball with atoms.

Amirmehdi Saedi1, Arie van Houselt, Raoul van Gastel

  • 1Physical Aspects of Nanoelectronics and Solid State Physics, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, NL-7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands.

Nano Letters
|September 11, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists controlled an atomic-scale mechanical device using electrical signals. Electron injection with a scanning tunneling microscope induced switching atom pairs, creating an atomic pinball machine with six configurations.

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Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication
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Picometer-Precision Atomic Position Tracking through Electron Microscopy
15:04

Picometer-Precision Atomic Position Tracking through Electron Microscopy

Published on: July 3, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Atomic Physics

Background:

  • Atomic manipulation is crucial for developing nanoscale devices.
  • Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) enables precise control at the atomic level.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate the feasibility of controlling an atomic-scale mechanical device using external electrical signals.
  • To engineer a functional atomic-scale mechanical system.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to inject electrons directly into atom pairs on a germanium substrate.
  • Precisely controlled STM tip current and distance to induce and manage atomic switching motion.

Main Results:

  • Successfully induced switching motion in pairs of atoms.
  • Engineered two atom pairs to function as flippers in an atomic-sized pinball machine.
  • The atomic device demonstrated six distinct configurations.

Conclusions:

  • Confirmed the feasibility of electrical control over atomic-scale mechanical devices.
  • Established a novel atomic-scale mechanical system with tunable configurations.
  • Paved the way for future atomic-scale robotics and computing.