SpectroMicroscopy and Spin at the Single Chemical Bond Limit

世纪的许多科学都是由我们观察、移动和探测单个原子和分子的能力所驱动的。事实上，最先进的技术不再是观察单个原子;相反，我们现在处于可以“看到”单个化学键的位置（在某些系统中可以逐个键地操作）。使这种探索原子、分子和量子粒子的亚微观世界的非凡能力成为可能的技术是扫描探针显微镜（SPM）。SPM是一种与众不同的显微镜;没有透镜，没有镜子，也没有任何类型的光学器件用于生成图像。取而代之的是，一个尖锐的探针（现在通常终止于单个分子）在表面的几个原子直径内移动，来回光栅化，探针之间的相互作用用于生成图像。这种相互作用可以跨越一系列的物理力和现象，因此扫描探针显微镜可以对大量不同的样品特性敏感。该项目的重点是确保国家的最先进的扫描探针设施，为英国的纳米科学界。如果我们不继续努力实现更精确和更具挑战性的测量，科学将停滞不前。推动科学技术的极限和能力的驱动力支撑了理解和技术的许多进步。我们将安装并调试一台高磁场扫描探针显微镜，它将原子结构，化学力，电子特性和磁行为的测量结合在一台仪器中。这将是英国第一台这种类型的仪器，它将能够进行广泛的激动人心的实验，探索一系列表现出新现象的材料。作为另一项首创，我们将建立一个创新的公众参与计划，通过该计划，公众将能够获得对仪器某些功能的控制，以进行他们自己的原子成像和操纵实验。

A great deal of 21st century science is driven by our ability to see, move, and probe individual atoms and molecules. Indeed, the state of the art is no longer observing single atoms; instead, we are now at the point where single chemical bonds can be "seen" (and manipulated on a bond-by-bond basis in some systems).The technique that has enabled this remarkable ability to explore the sub-microscopic world of atoms, molecules and quantum particles is the scanning probe microscope (SPM). An SPM is a microscope like no other; no lenses, no mirrors, or no optics of any type are used to generate an image. Instead, a sharp probe (nowadays often terminated in a single molecule) is moved within a few atomic diameters of a surface, rastered back and forth, and the interaction between the probe used to generate an image. That interaction can span a range of physical forces and phenomena, and thus a scanning probe microscope can be sensitive to a plethora of different sample properties. This project focuses on securing state-of-the-art scanning probe facilities for the UK's nanoscience community. If we do not continually strive to achieve ever more precise and challenging measurements, science will stagnate. The drive to push the limits and capabilities of scientific techniques underpins very many advances in understanding and technology. We will install and commission a high magnetic field scanning probe microscope which combines measurements of atomic structure, chemical forces, electronic properties, and magnetic behaviour in a single instrument. This will be the first instrument of its type in the UK and it will enable a wide range of exciting experiments probing a broad set of materials exhibiting novel phenomena. As another first, we will establish an innovative public engagement programme by which members of the public will be able to gain access to control of certain features of the instrument to carry out their own atomic imaging and manipulation experiments.