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Ultra-high vacuum atomic force microscope
Ultra-high vacuum atomic force microscope (UHV- AFM) being used to study the Casimir force. This microscope is used to study the surfaces of objects at an atomic level. An extremely fine spring-mounted probe, that is either held in contact with the surface or just above it, slowly moves across the surface. Any deflections are recorded and converted into a computer map of the surface. Placing the object to be studied in a ultra-high vacuum greatly increases the sensitivity of the probe. The Casimir force is an attractive force between two surfaces in a vacuum. It causes molecules in nano-machines to stick together, limiting their effectiveness. Photographed in the Nanotechnology Department of the University of Leicester, UK.
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