Imaging with Neutral Atomic Beams: A Completely New Tool for Nanotechnology

建造一种光学仪器，使用中性原子束而不是光或电子来对物体表面成像，这一诱人的可能性一直是全世界物理科学家的目标。该项目旨在通过基于针孔相机概念的优雅简单设计来实现这一目标。这个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，该项目保持了澳大利亚研究人员和学生在这一新兴技术的核心地位。

The tantalising possibility of building an optical instrument that uses neutral atom beams to image surfaces, rather than light or electrons, has long been a goal of physical scientists across the world. This project aims to realise this 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 maintains the position of Australian researchers and students at the core of this emerging technology.