Playing pinball with atoms

Nano Lett. 2009 May;9(5):1733-6. doi: 10.1021/nl8022884.

Abstract

We demonstrate the feasibility of controlling an atomic scale mechanical device by an external electrical signal. On a germanium substrate, a switching motion of pairs of atoms is induced by electrons that are directly injected into the atoms with a scanning tunneling microscope tip. By precisely controlling the tip current and distance we make two atom pairs behave like the flippers of an atomic-sized pinball machine. This atomic scale mechanical device exhibits six different configurations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't