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Concept Breadcrumbs

Preferred Term:

scanning tunneling microscopy

Definition:
A type of scanning probe microscopy in which a very sharp conducting needle is swept just a few angstroms above the surface of a sample. The tiny tunneling current that flows between the sample and the needle tip is measured, and from this are produced three-dimensional topographs. Due to the poor electron conductivity of most biological samples, thin metal coatings are deposited on the sample.
Concept Schemes:
NALT Full
Broader Concept:
Entry Terms:
  • scanning tunnelling microscopy
URI:
https://lod.nal.usda.gov/nalt/188546
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RDF/XMLCreated 2012-07-10, last modified 2016-08-25