How does a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) work?
The STM works by scanning a sharp conducting tip very close to the surface of a conductive or semiconductive material. A voltage applied between the tip and the surface allows electrons to tunnel through the vacuum between them, creating a tunneling current. This current is highly sensitive to the distance between the tip and the surface, enabling atomic-scale resolution. STMs are invaluable for imaging and manipulating individual atoms.
