Observing the vibrations of neighboring atoms with an atomic-scale double slit
Efficiently controlling heat generation has become a major challenge as the semiconductors used in smartphones, computers and similar devices have become higher-performing and more miniaturized. The way heat is transmitted is determined by the vibration of the atoms that constitute a material, but it is not easy to directly examine, at the atomic scale, how neighboring atoms vibrate in…
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new technique for observing the vibrations of neighboring atoms within a material. By using an atomic-scale double-slit experiment with a focused electron probe, the team led by Director and Professor Naoya Shibata was able to treat neighboring atoms as two slits and measure the resulting fringe pattern created by electrons.
This method, detailed in a paper published in the journal Nature, marks a significant advancement in our ability to investigate atomic-level interactions and heat conduction. The success of this atomic-scale double-slit interferometry on a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) allowed the researchers to observe fringe patterns that encode the degree of coordinated vibration between neighboring atoms.
This breakthrough enables a bond-resolved measurement of phonons, which are lattice vibrations affecting the rigidity of atomic bonds and thermal transport. With this new technique, scientists can potentially identify areas within semiconductor materials where heat tends to accumulate or where it flows more easily. This could lead to improved heat-dissipation designs in semiconductor devices and the development of materials that use heat more efficiently.
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