What is a key element in the function of the scanning tunneling microscope?
Tunneling current
Laser beams
Magnetic waves
Optical fibers
Answer
The key element in the functionality of the scanning tunneling microscope is the tunneling current. It arises when a conducting tip is brought very close to the surface of a sample, allowing electrons to "tunnel" across the tiny gap between them, creating a measurable current.
The Innovative World of Gerd Binnig: A Nobel Laureate's Journey Through Physics
More Questions
What is the size range that scanning tunneling microscopes can handle?
Gerd Binnig and his colleague used what effect in their microscope's operation?
Before becoming a physicist, Gerd Binnig was a professional in which field?
What nationality is Gerd Binnig?
For what invention did Gerd Binnig win the Nobel Prize?
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