Developing the Helium Atom Pinhole Camera

自从德布罗意布罗意第一次假设物质波的存在以来，利用中性原子束而不是光或电子来成像表面的光学仪器的诱人可能性一直是物理学中的一个巨大挑战。这个项目旨在实现这一开创性的目标，使用一个优雅的简单设计的基础上的概念针孔相机。这台世界上第一台仪器的成功开发将代表氦原子显微镜的重大进步，并将大大提高澳大利亚科学的声誉。此外，该项目加强和支持纽卡斯尔大学和剑桥大学之间的重要合作，是这项新兴技术的核心。

The tantalising possibility of an optical instrument that uses neutral atom beams to image surfaces, rather than light or electrons, has been a grand challenge in Physics ever since de Broglie first postulated the existence of matter waves . This project seeks to realise this seminal goal using an elegantly simple design based on the concept of a pin hole camera. The successful development of this world-first instrument would represent a significant advance in helium atom microscopy and would significantly enhance the reputation of Australian science. Moreover, this project strengthens and supports a key collaboration between the Universities of Newcastle and Cambridge and is at the core of this emerging technology.