WEEK 8 Blog

Art and Nanotechnology

It seems to me that each week, we are taught about increasingly impressive technologies. This week’s lecture continued that trend. 

Dr. Gimzewski’s lectures showed me how shockingly little I knew about nanotech. Before viewing his lectures, I thought nanotech was only a twenty first century innovation and pertained specifically to devices powered by a computer. Well, just about two minutes into his first lecture I learned I was dead wrong about nanotech only being a twenty first century technology. Richard Feynman, known as the founder of the conceptual origins of nanotech, gave a famous lecture in 1959 titled “Plenty of Room at the Bottom”. In this lecture, he discussed the possibilities of what would become to be known as nanotech. Feynman’s lecture inspired waves of new scientists whose work advanced the new field of nanotechnology. In this blog, I will cover the Scanning Tunneling Microscope and specifically Don Eigler’s Quantum Corrals.

Diagram of how the Scanning Tunneling Microscope. What is labeled on the diagram as the "tip" is referred to in my
blog as the "needle". The tip of the needle is the size of one atom.

Scientists Gerd and Heini invented the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) in 1981. Before the STM, scientist were unable to actually see atoms. The STM was such a momentous discovery that its inventors won the Nobel Prize. The STM works by running a “finger” whose point is as small as a single atom just above the surface of an electoral conducting base. The needle then scans the atoms in a process called restering. Restering images are then turned into images of the atoms. The STM also allowed scientists to create and move chemical bonds for the first time. Don Eigler used this new ability to manipulate chemical bonds and atoms to create what I consider one of the clearest examples of the combination of art and science. Eigler rearranged carbon monoxide atoms to write “UCLA”. He also manipulated atoms to create what he called “Quantum Corrals”. Quantum Corrals are atoms rearranged into geometric shapes. Eigler arranged atoms into a circle, triangle, square and a hexagon. What makes these Quantum Corrals so cool is that depending on the geometric shape, the waves inside the shape change. For example inside of the circle, the distribution of atoms create concentric circles that resemble a pebble being dropped into a pond. However, the distribution of atoms within the hexagon look like goosebumps. 

Eigler's Hexagon. The interior of the hexagon looks like goosebumps on human
skin. Notice how it is different than the circle.

Eigler's Circle. Notice the concentric circle pattern
and how this differs from the pattern of the Hexagon.
Also, remember that what you are looking at are single
atoms being arranged.

The STM and Eigler’s Quantum Corrals may not be the most popular topics covered this week, but I chose to write about it for two reasons. 

First, the ability to literally move and arrange atoms really impressed me. Yes I could quantify how small an atom actually is to prove my point, but I would rather use a cultural reference. People say something is as small as an atom when they are using hyperbole; that is how freaking small atoms are. Eigler was able to literally move and arrange atoms. Even more impressive is that this Eigler created these Quantum Corrals in the early 1990’s! I would have been amazed if Eigler’s work was done in 2010.

Secondly, Eigler’s Quantum Corrals are a cut and clear example of art and science coming together. Eigler may not be considered an artist by most people and most likely does not consider himself an artist, but his Quantum Corrals are art. He used nanotechnology to create geometrically accurate, atheistically pleasing and original works of art. Finally, the patterns of atoms inside of his shapes are quite literally art and science combined. These patterns are formed because of their physical scientific properties, but they also are aesthetically pleasing like a work of art.  

Sources:

Feynman, Richard P. "There’s plenty of room at the bottom." Miniaturization 282 (1961): 295-296.

Uconlineprogram. “Nanotech Jim pt1.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE. Accessed 25 May 2017.

Gleick, James. “Richard Feynman.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, inc., 1 May 2017, www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Feynman. Accessed 25 May 2017.

“Capturing Quantum Corrals.” Capturing Quantum Corrals » American Scientist, www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/capturing-quantum-corrals. Accessed 25 May 2017.

“The Scanning Tunneling Microscope.” Nobelprize.org, www.nobelprize.org/educational/physics/microscopes/scanning/. Accessed 25 May 2017.

image sources:

http://cdn.iopscience.com/images/0953-8984/17/13/002/Full/8383706.jpg

http://researcher.watson.ibm.com/researcher/files/us-flinte/stm17.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/ScanningTunnelingMicroscope_schematic.png/400px-ScanningTunnelingMicroscope_schematic.png