SMRTR Science & EngineeringJun 3, 2025Interesting Engineering

World first: German scientists debunk old theory by steering atoms using magnetism

SMRTR summary

German scientists successfully steered individual atoms using magnetism with a scanning tunneling microscope at near-absolute zero temperatures. Researchers observed atoms moving along defined magnetic pathways on a magnetic surface, challenging previous assumptions about atomic diffusion. This discovery opens new possibilities for nanotechnology and data storage. Quantum mechanical calculations showed that non-magnetic atoms develop small magnetic moments when interacting with the surface, enabling their guidance along specific magnetic directions.

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