Nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging.
We have combined ultrasensitive magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) with 3D image reconstruction to achieve magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with resolution <10 nm. The image reconstruction converts measured magnetic force data into a 3D map of nuclear spin density, taking advantage of the unique characteristics of the "resonant slice" that is projected outward from a nanoscale magnetic tip. The basic principles are demonstrated by imaging the (1)H spin density within individual tobacco mosaic virus particles sitting on a nanometer-thick layer of adsorbed hydrocarbons. This result, which represents a 100 million-fold improvement in volume resolution over conventional MRI, demonstrates the potential of MRFM as a tool for 3D, elementally selective imaging on the nanometer scale.
Degen
C L
CL
IBM Research Division, Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, CA 95120, USA.
Poggio
M
M
Mamin
H J
HJ
Rettner
C T
CT
Rugar
D
D
D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D036103:Nanotechnology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Q000648:ultrastructure