U.S. Develops Novel X-ray Nanomicroscope

According to a report recently organized by the American Physicists Organization Network, a physicist at the University of California, San Diego, has developed a new type of X-ray microscope that can not only see through the internal structure of the material, but also has a subtle nanoscopic level of insight. The microscope helps to develop smaller data storage devices, detect the chemical composition of substances, and photograph biological tissue structures. Research papers are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

X-ray nanomicroscopes do not image through the lens but rely on powerful algorithms to calculate the image. "This kind of mathematical operation is quite complicated. Its principle is somewhat like that of the Hubble Space Telescope. It is to make the initially seen blurred image clear and distinct." explained Origel Shapek, associate professor of the University of California, San Diego, who led the study. After X-rays detect the nanostructure of the material, a diffraction pattern is generated. The computer converts the diffraction pattern into recognizable fine images according to the algorithm.

In order to test the ability and resolution of the microscope to see through the object, the team made a layered film using helium and iron. At present, the information technology industry uses this kind of film to develop high-capacity, high-speed, smaller memory devices and disk drives.

“These two are magnetic materials. If they are combined, they will naturally form nano-magnetic domains.” Shapek said, under the microscope, they can see the magnetic stripes they form. The layered neodymium iron film looks like a thousand layers of crisp, layered folds form a series of magnetic domains, like a circle of fingerprints raised.

"This is the first time that magnetic domains can be observed at the nanometer scale, and no lenses are needed," explains Shapek. This is critical to the development of smaller data storage devices. Magnetic bits can be made smaller, that is, It says that by making the magnetic lines thinner, materials with smaller magnetic domains can be developed and more data can be stored in a smaller space.

“On the current disk surface, a magnetic bit is about 15 nanometers in size. Our microscope can directly capture bits, which opens up new space for future data storage capabilities.” co-author of the paper, the school's electricity and computers Eric Fullerton, a professor of engineering and magnetic recording research.

In addition, the microscope can also be used in other fields. By adjusting the energy of X-rays, it is also possible to use it to observe which elements are inside the material, which is chemically very important. In the field of biology, taking photos of viruses, cells, and various tissues with X-rays is much better than photographing them with visible light.

Shapek said that in the field of computer engineering, we hope to create new types of magnetic materials and data storage devices in a controlled manner; in the field of biology and chemistry, we can manipulate substances at the nanometer level. To achieve these goals, the nature of the material must be understood at the nanometer level, and X-ray microscopy allows people to truly see the interior of matter at the nanometer level.