Quantitative Electron Beam-Single Atom Interactions Enabled by Sub-20-pm Precision Targeting

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Quantum Technology
• Electron Microscopy

Background:

• Picometer-scale control of matter is crucial for quantum and energy technologies.
• Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) has limitations like sample damage and drift for single-atom analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a precise electron beam positioning technique for atomic-level analysis and manipulation.
• To overcome limitations of current electron microscopy methods for deterministic control of matter.

Main Methods:

• Developed a fast, low-dose, sub-20-pm precision electron beam positioning technique called "atomic lock-on" (ALO).
• Utilized ALO to lock onto specific atomic locations for repeated measurements despite sample drift.
• Measured electron beam-matter interactions at microsecond resolution.

Main Results:

• Achieved sub-20-pm precision electron beam positioning without prior irradiation.
• Successfully performed repeated measurements of atomic signals in the presence of sample drift.
• Observed single-atom dynamics, including atomic bistability and recapture phenomena.

Conclusions:

• The ALO technique enables precise, low-dose electron beam control at the atomic scale.
• This method facilitates high-precision measurements and deterministic manipulation of matter.
• Opens new avenues for electron microscopy in quantum technology applications.