05. Beyond Nano
 Harold G. Craighead, Applied and Engineering Physics, and his research group, pushed the scale of their work beyond nano, picogram, and femtogram to attogram—the scale of viruses—using nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) devices. The researchers used NEMS oscillating cantilevers to detect masses as small as six attograms by noting the change an added mass produces in the frequency vibration. The cantilevers, made from silicon and silicon nitrate are set into motion by an applied electric field or by hitting them with a laser. The frequency of vibration can be measured by shining a laser light on the device and observing changing reflection of light. The technology could be used to detect and identify microorganisms and biological molecules.
› Top / › Next Article / › Back to Listing
|
If you can see this message in a graphical web browser, then you are most likely using a non-modern browser. People who are using a graphical browser have the following options:
Upgrade to a modern generation web browser such as Mozilla, Opera, or for Mac users there is also Safari.
For people using early generation web browsers, such as Netscape 4, you can access the content of this page as is but there may be presentational errors.
Cornell University
222 Day Hall
Ithaca, New York
14853-2801
P: 607.255.7200
F: 607.255.9030
E: VP Research
C: Credits
|
