Direct observation of thitherto unobservable quantum phenomena by using electrons
- Advanced Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Hatoyama, Saitama 350-0395, Japan; and Frontier Research System, The Institute of Chemical and Physical Research (RIKEN), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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Contributed by Akira Tonomura, June 22, 2005
Abstract
Fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics, which were discussed only theoretically as “thought experiments” in the 1920s and 1930s, have begun to frequently show up in nanoscopic regions owing to recent rapid progress in advanced technologies. Quantum phenomena were once regarded as the ultimate factors limiting further miniaturization trends of microstructured electronic devices, but now they have begun to be actively used as the principles for new devices such as quantum computers. To directly observe what had been unobservable quantum phenomena, we have tried to develop bright and monochromatic electron beams for the last 35 years. Every time the brightness of an electron beam improved, fundamental experiments in quantum mechanics became possible, and quantum phenomena became observable by using the wave nature of electrons.
Footnotes
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↵ * E-mail: tonomura{at}harl.hitachi.co.jp.
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Author contributions: A.T. wrote the paper.
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This contribution is part of the special series of Inaugural Articles by members of the National Academy of Sciences elected on May 2, 2000.
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Abbreviations: AB, Aharonov-Bohm; T c, critical temperature.
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See accompanying Profile on page 14949.
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Freely available online through the PNAS open access option.
- Copyright © 2005, The National Academy of Sciences
