What is a Cryogenic Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)?
A Cryogenic Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) is a sophisticated instrument used for imaging surfaces at the atomic level. It operates at cryogenic temperatures, often below 77 Kelvin (-196°C), to reduce thermal vibrations and achieve higher resolution. The STM utilizes the quantum tunneling effect, where electrons tunnel between a sharp metal tip and the sample surface, providing detailed information about the surface's atomic structure.
