field-ion microscope
Quick Summary
The field-ion microscope is a high-magnification instrument used to image metal surfaces at the atomic level. It works by using a high-voltage electric field to form ions, typically helium ions, from the metal's surface. These ions then create an image on a fluorescent screen.1
A development of the field-emission microscope, the field-ion microscope can achieve magnifications up to 10,000,000×. It is primarily used for studying metals and semiconductors, though some biological images have been captured. A further advancement, the atom probe, can even determine the chemical nature of individual atoms within the image.2
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