The Science of Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM)

Published: 2023-05-04 15:51:43 • Daniel Gårdefelt

Magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) is an imaging technique that acquires magnetic resonance images (MRI) at the nanometer scale, and possibly at the atomic scale in the future. MRFM can potentially observe protein structures that cannot be seen with X-ray crystallography and protein nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Detection of the magnetic spin of a single electron has been demonstrated using this technique. The sensitivity of a current MRFM microscope is 10 billion times greater than a medical MRI used in hospitals.

 

How does MRFM work?

The magnetic resonance tomograph consists of a large static electromagnet in the form of a tunnel in which the patient is placed. To the static magnetic field, varying fields from several smaller coils can be generated. Additional coils act as transmitters and receivers of radio waves, respectively.

 

Magnetic resonance: Like MRI, MRFM uses the magnetic resonance of certain atomic nuclei or electron spins. When these are exposed to both stationary and moving magnetic fields, their orientation changes. This is called magnetic resonance.

 

The small force on the magnetic tip is caused by the magnetic resonance of the spin of the sample. This force causes the console to move back and forth, and a sensitive laser-based system can pick up these movements.

 

Data processing: The oscillation signals are used to reconstruct a three-dimensional image of the sample, showing where the resonant spins are and what they look like.

 

MRFM is used in image processing at the nanoscale level.

 

MRFM has shown great potential for many applications in nanoscale imaging, such as:

Materials Science: MRFM can be used to study the magnetic properties of materials, giving us information about their structure, composition and behavior. This information is very important for making new materials and making the ones we already have better.

 

In biology and medicine, MRFM makes it possible to take clear images of biological structures such as proteins and cells. This can help researchers figure out how biological processes work and create more effective treatments for diseases.

 

Nanotechnology: Because MRFM makes it possible to see and move individual atoms and molecules, it can be an important part of making nanoscale devices and systems such as molecular machines and quantum computers.