AFM Lab
Overview
Facilities
People
Academic Programs
Research Programs
Nanotech Resources
Lab Usage

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Overview

Atomic force microscopes (AFMs) belong to a family of instruments known as scanning probe microscopes. They are the principal enabling technology for the interdisciplinary research area known as nanoscience and engineering, or nanotechnology. To give you an idea about what scanning probe microscopes can do, you might enjoy reading two articles from Highlights for Children . The first one concerns scanning tunneling microscopes, which operate by monitoring quantum mechanical tunneling current; the second one is about the application of atomic force microscopy to fundamental studies of friction. Atomic force microscopes are capable of measuring forces between objects with a resolution of ten piconewtons.
 

I recommend the following popular articles, book, and poster as starting points for learning about nanoscience and engineering:
Many authors have considered the effect of (nano)technology on future societies, including:
Not all scientists agree on how nanotechnology will unfold:

[WPI][Back]

nab@wpi.edu
Last modified: June 2007