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Physical Measurement Laboratory

Nanoscale Device Characterization Division

News and Updates

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NIST's New Scanning Probe Microscope is Supercool

December 8, 2010

The discoveries of superconductivity, the quantum Hall effect and the fractional quantum Hall effect were all the result of measurements made at increasingly

Theorists Find Generalized Connection Between Spin Currents, Magnetic Torques, and Mechanical Torques

December 8, 2010

Paul Haney and Mark Stiles of the CNST have developed a theory of current-induced torques that generalizes the relationship between spin transfer torques, total

CNST Researchers Develop Novel Optics to Accelerate Ions

November 24, 2010

CNST researchers Adam Steele, Brenton Knuffman, and Jabez McClelland, together with Jon Orloff of FEI Co., have invented an innovative way to extract and

Electron Orbits in Multilayer Graphene Have Unexpected Structure

November 17, 2010

The world-leading graphene research team from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the CNST has taken yet another step toward elucidating the unique and

CNST's Joseph Stroscio Interviewed on NPR Science Friday

October 20, 2010

Two Russian scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics this week for their work on graphene, a chicken-wire-like lattice of carbon atoms. Joseph Stroscio, of the

NIST Researchers Hear Puzzling New Physics from Graphene Quartet's Quantum Harmonies

September 8, 2010

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – Using a one-of-a-kind instrument designed and built at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an international team of

NIST Nanoscale Dimensioning Technique Wins R&D 100 Award

July 21, 2010

A radical, new method developed at NIST that transforms the humble, ubiquitous and inexpensive optical microscope into a powerful three-dimensional nanoscale

Measuring the Temperature Dependence of Current Spin Polarization in Permalloy

July 12, 2010

A team of NIST researchers from the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL) and the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) have measured

Mapping Nanoscale Variations in the Photoresponse of an Organic Solar Cell

June 28, 2010

CNST Researchers have combined scanning probe microscopy with novel nanofabrication and microtomy approaches to measure photocurrent variations with nanoscale

Walls Falling Faster for Solid-State Memory

June 9, 2010

After running a series of complex computer simulations, researchers have found that flaws in the structure of magnetic nanoscale wires play an important role in

Robots Big and Small Showcase Their Skills at NIST Alaskan Events

May 25, 2010

Make room, Bender, Rosie and R2D2! Your newest mechanical colleagues are a few steps closer to reality, thanks to lessons learned during two robotics events

moiré patterns created by overlaid sheets of graphene to determine how the lattices of the individual sheets were stacked in relation to one another and to find subtle strains in the regions of bulges or wrinkles in the sheets.

Seeing Moiré in Graphene

April 27, 2010

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Georgia Institute of Technology have demonstrated that atomic scale moiré

Photomicrograph shows Mag-µBot, the entry from Carnegie-Mellon University in the NIST Mobile Microrobotics Challenge.

Teams Gearing Up for Two NIST Robotic Competitions in Alaska

April 27, 2010

The recruitment period is over. The competitors have been selected. Let the games begin! The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced

Graphic depicting how the ice fishing method determines the distance across a membrane nanopore.

Lollipops and Ice Fishing: Molecular Rulers Used to Probe Nanopores

April 27, 2010

Using a pair of exotic techniques including a molecular-scale version of ice fishing, a team of researchers working at the National Institute of Standards and

Diagram of an airbrush technique to create spray-on transistors

Paintable Electronics? NIST Studies Spray-On Manufacturing of Transistors

March 30, 2010

A multidisciplinary research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has found that an organic semiconductor may be a viable candidate

EEEL Sponsors INTEL VP's Visit to NIST

March 23, 2010

Dr. Michael C. Mayberry, Vice President of the Technology and Manufacturing Group and Director of Components Research at INTEL Corporation, visited NIST in

Joseph Stroscio Receives AVS Nanotechnology Recognition Award

December 21, 2009

NIST Fellow Joseph Stroscio was honored with the 2009 Nanotechnology Recognition Award at the AVS 56th International Symposium in San Jose, California on

Deadline Extended for Entering NIST Microrobotics Challenge

December 15, 2009

An article in the Oct. 20, 2009, issue of NIST Tech Beat, "Is Your Microrobot Up for the (NIST) Challenge?", invited university and collegiate student teams

Robert McMichael Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society

December 14, 2009

The CNST's Robert McMichael has been elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). His fellowship citation notes his "broad contributions to the

Mark Stiles Recognized as American Physical Society Outstanding Referee

December 7, 2009

NIST Fellow Mark Stiles has been designated a 2010 Outstanding Referee by the American Physical Society (APS). This lifetime APS award was initiated in 2008 "to

CNST Adding Major Capabilities for Transmission Electron Microscopy

December 7, 2009

The CNST has recently awarded contracts with FEI Company for two Transmission Electron Microscope systems that will bring significant new capabilities to both

NIST Researchers Put a New Spin on Atomic Musical Chairs

December 1, 2009

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Naval Research Laboratory have developed a new way to introduce magnetic

Is Your Microrobot Up for the (NIST) Challenge?

October 27, 2009

The scientists and engineers who introduced the world to tiny robots demonstrating soccer skills are creating the next level of friendly competition designed to

NIST Calculations May Improve Temperature Measures for Microfluidics

September 8, 2009

If you wanted to know if your child had a fever or be certain that the roast in the oven was thoroughly cooked, you would, of course, use a thermometer that you

Hankering for Molecular Electronics? Grab the New NIST Sandwich

August 25, 2009

The sandwich recipe recently concocted by scientists working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may prove tasty for computer chip

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