Fastest microscope captures electron motion with unprecedented precision

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking microscope that captures the movement of electrons at a speed never before achieved. The new device, nicknamed the “attomicroscope,” uses a laser and a beam of electrons to photograph electrons at the astonishing speed of 625 attoseconds, billionths of a billionth of a second. The advance, led by physicist Mohammed Hassan and his team at the University of Arizona, represents a significant leap forward in the ability to observe and understand molecular behavior with remarkable precision.

Precise imaging at the atomic level

The attomicroscope is an improvement on the traditional transmission electron microscope, which uses electron beams to image objects as small as a few nanometers, according to the research paper. Unlike conventional light-based microscopes, which are limited by the wavelength of light, electron beams offer much higher resolution. This allows scientists to observe incredibly small structures, such as individual atoms or clusters of electrons, with unprecedented clarity.

To achieve this unprecedented level of detail, the researchers used a laser to chop the electron beam into ultrashort pulses. These pulses act like a camera shutter, allowing the microscope to capture snapshots of electrons in a sheet of graphene every 625 attoseconds. While current technology doesn’t yet allow for individual electrons to be imaged, the collected images can be stitched together to create a stop-motion movie showing a group of electrons moving through a molecule.

A revolution in the study of electrons

The technique offers researchers a powerful new tool for studying electron dynamics in a variety of materials, including those involved in chemical reactions or even within biological structures like DNA. Understanding these processes at such a small scale could lead to breakthroughs in the development of new materials and personalized medicine. Hassan notes that the attomicroscope bridges the gap between laboratory research and real-world applications, allowing scientists to observe and study the atomic world in ways that were previously impossible.

By providing a more detailed view of the motion of electrons, the attomicroscope could revolutionize the way scientists approach and solve complex problems in chemistry and biology.