Scanning tunnelling microscope. Scanning electron micrograph of the needle of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). The micromechanical STM's needle (at lower right) is just a few atoms wide at the tip and acts as an electrode. This STM can read data written as atomic-scale mounds or holes on a silicon chip. The STM works by bringing the needle to within a few ten millionths of a millimetre of the sample's surface. Electrons in the sample and tip interact and create a small tunnelling current. The needle is scanned across the sample, vertical movements maintaining tip-to-surface distance. These movements are processed to give a map of the surface. Magnification: x1520 at 6x7cm size. Magnification: x2300 at 10x12cm size.

Photo website with Rights Managed and Royalty Free stock photos, images, illustrations and footage available for download immediately for commercial and editorial uses. Aflo is a leading independent supplier and producer of stock pictures and visual content. Search and find high quality images and video for design, print, web-use and publishing. Buy photos from our extensive collection of model released and property released sports images. Search some of the most beautiful travel and landscape pictures from our own photographers and license from our large collection of content, modern and archive, focusing on Japan. We provide free research. Register for personal account management and for full use of our Stock Photography website and start to download images now.