Chapter 04 of 5
The Atomic Eye
Harnessing the flow of 'ghost' electrons to see and store data.
- Human Mastery
Engineering the Ghost
For decades, quantum tunnelling was a theoretical curiosity. Today, it is the primary tool we use to see the invisible.
- The Mechanism
The Atomic Needle
A Scanning Tunnelling Microscope (STM) uses a needle so sharp it ends in a single atom. It hovers just above a surface without touching it.
- Paradox
The Gap Problem
Classically, no electricity should flow between a needle and a surface separated by a vacuum. Electrons simply don't have the energy to jump.
17 more cards in this chapter
Could you answer this?
How does Flash memory store a '1' in binary code using quantum tunnelling?
👻 Quantum Tunnelling: The Ghost in the Machine
- 01The Quantum WallWhy particles ignore the 'forbidden' laws of classical physics.
- 02The Breath of LifeHow biological enzymes use quantum leaps to power your metabolism.
- 03Forged in the SunThe nuclear 'cheating' that prevents the stars from going dark.
- 04The Atomic EyeHarnessing the flow of 'ghost' electrons to see and store data.
- 05The Silicon LimitWhen quantum leakage threatens the future of computing and time.