MRFM

From Qwiki

Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM) seeks to combine three scientific ideas:

the idea of magnetic resonance imaging,
the idea of scanning probe microscopy,
the idea of continuous quantum observation.

By combining the above three ideas, we can hope to create a technology for achieving:

the direct observation of individual molecules,
in situ, in their native forms and native environments,
with three-dimensional atomic-scale resolution,
by a nondestructive observation process.

Such a technology would function as a true quantum molecular microscope, allowing researchers to observe atomic-scale structure and environments in living organisms, nanoscale electronic devices, and advanced materials as readily as present-day optical microscopes observe the structure and behavior of living cells.

MRFM is a type of Quantum Microscopy that represents the emerging technology for achieving comprehensive atomic-resolution imaging of complex molecular structures.

Each cell in the human body contains about a hundred times as many atoms as there are stars in our Milky Way Galaxy. Quantum microscopy has the potential ability to observe all of these atoms, individually, in the same sensu stricto that a telescope resolves the Milky Way into individual stars.

MRFM requires Quantum System Engineering that is system design under quantum constraints. Specifically QSE is concerned with technologies that achieve:

Noise levels at or near the quantum and thermodynamic limits,
Switching speeds at or the relativistic and causal limits,
Physical size at or near the atomic limit, and
Signal processing efficiency at or near the information theory limit.

Links

http://www.mrfm.org

History

John Sidles is the inventor of the method.

Dan Rugar used the method in 2004 to mechanically detect the force from a single electron.

Two coalitions are collaborating on a five-year effort to detect the nuclear magnetic force, and map atomic coordinates in three-dimensions. Funding is provided for this effort by the Army Research Office (ARO) Multi-University Research Initiative (MURI). Investigators within the MURI also have support from the NIH, NSF, and DARPA. Other investigators around the world are using MRFM technology.