Department of Physics
is pleased to announce a
Colloquium
with
Wayne State University
Dept. of Physics and
Astronomy
“Touching Atoms and
Squeezing Molecules:
Nanomechanics and Atomic
Force Microscopy”
Forces play a fundamental role in physics, and the realm of nanotechnology is no exception. From ordering in confined liquids to atomic manipulation, the measurement of minute forces goes a long way to understanding basic phenomena at the nanoscale and designing practical nanostructures. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is the instrument of choice to explore, measure, apply, and image forces from the atomic to micrometer scale. Recent advances in AFM have led to atomic (and even sub-atomic) resolution imaging, measurement of spontaneous ordering of confined water molecules, and the detection of tiny energy losses due to the motion of single atomic defects. An introduction to AFM and an overview over some of the most exciting research in the field will be provided. Finally, current and future research at the Nanomechanics Lab in the Department of Physics at Wayne State University will be presented, which includes measuring forces during atomic manipulation, exploring the nanomechanics of biomolecules, and the 3D mapping of fields and potentials in electronic nanostructures.
Thursday, April 18, 2002
4:00 p.m., Fisher Hall 139
Refreshments
will be available