Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
15:04
Picometer-Precision Atomic Position Tracking through Electron Microscopy
Published on: July 3, 2021
8.3K
Atomic resolution electron microscopy in a magnetic field free environment.
N Shibata1,2, Y Kohno3, A Nakamura3
1Institute of Engineering Innovation, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan. shibata@sigma.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
Nature Communications
|May 26, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a new magnetic objective lens system for atomic resolution electron microscopy, creating a magnetic field-free environment at the sample position. This enables artifact-free, sub-Ångström imaging of sensitive magnetic materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Electron Microscopy
Background:
- Atomic-resolution electron microscopes use magnetic lenses, creating strong fields that can damage sample structures.
- Existing methods struggle with imaging magnetic materials due to field-induced alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel magnetic objective lens system for electron microscopy.
- To enable artifact-free, atomic-resolution imaging of magnetic materials.
Main Methods:
- Designed a new magnetic objective lens system to eliminate magnetic fields at the sample.
- Integrated the lens system with a higher-order aberration corrector.
- Achieved sub-Ångström spatial resolution imaging.
Main Results:
- Created a magnetic field-free environment (<0.2 mT) at the sample position.
- Successfully performed direct, atom-resolved imaging of magnetic materials like silicon steels.
- Demonstrated sub-Ångström spatial resolution without magnetic field-induced sample damage.
Conclusions:
- The new lens system overcomes limitations of conventional electron microscopy for magnetic materials.
- Enables direct, atomic-level observation of samples without high magnetic field effects.
- Opens new avenues for studying magnetic phenomena at the atomic scale.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:26Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms
64.6K
The alkali metal sodium (atomic number 11) has one more electron than the neon atom. This electron must go into the lowest-energy subshell available, the 3s orbital, giving a 1s22s22p63s1 configuration. The electrons occupying the outermost shell orbital(s) (highest value of n) are called valence electrons, and those occupying the inner shell orbitals are called core electrons. Since the core electron shells correspond to noble gas electron configurations, we can abbreviate electron...
64.6K
01:27Magnetic Fields
7.2K
A moving charge or a current creates a magnetic field in the surrounding space, in addition to its electric field. The magnetic field exerts a force on any other moving charge or current that is present in the field. Like an electric field, the magnetic field is also a vector field. At any position, the direction of the magnetic field is defined as the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points.
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
7.2K
02:28Electronic Structure of Atoms
28.3K
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...
28.3K
01:18Magnetic Field of a Solenoid
5.7K
A solenoid is a conducting wire coated with an insulating material, wound tightly in the form of a helical coil. The magnetic field due to a solenoid is the vector sum of the magnetic fields due to its individual turns. Therefore, for an ideal solenoid, the magnetic field within the solenoid is directly proportional to the number of turns per unit length and the current. Conversely, the magnetic field outside the solenoid is zero.
Consider a solenoid with 100 turns wrapped around a cylinder of...
Consider a solenoid with 100 turns wrapped around a cylinder of...
5.7K
01:19Magnetic Field Lines
5.5K
The representation of magnetic fields by magnetic field lines is very useful in visualizing the strength and direction of the magnetic field. Each of the magnetic field lines forms a closed loop. The field lines emerge from the north pole (N), loop around to the south pole (S), and continue through the bar magnet back to the north pole.
Magnetic field lines follow several hard-and-fast rules:
Magnetic field lines follow several hard-and-fast rules:
5.5K
01:24Energy In A Magnetic Field
2.7K
If a magnetic field is sustained, there must be a current in a closed circuit or loop, implying some energy has been spent in creating the field. If this energy is not dissipated via the circuit's resistance, it is stored in the field.
Take an ideal inductor with zero resistance. Although it's practically impossible, assume that the coil's resistance is so small that it is practically negligible. The loss of the field's energy to dissipate thermal energy (or heat) is thus...
Take an ideal inductor with zero resistance. Although it's practically impossible, assume that the coil's resistance is so small that it is practically negligible. The loss of the field's energy to dissipate thermal energy (or heat) is thus...
2.7K