atomic force microscope

noun

: an instrument used for mapping the atomic-scale topography of a surface by means of the repulsive electronic forces between the surface and the tip of a microscope probe moving above the surface
abbreviation AFM
atomic force microscopy noun

Examples of atomic force microscope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
For Tuesday’s Nobel Prize in Physics, Swedish public radio SR’s science experts suggested the honour could go to Swiss physicist Christoph Gerber, a pioneer in the development of the atomic force microscope. Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2024 Researchers at the Tate have also used an atomic force microscope to monitor Warhol's acrylic portrait of Brooke Hayward as it was cleaned, to make sure dirt and not paint was being removed. Sarah Everts, Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2016 The technique uses an atomic force microscope to form indentations in a two-layer stack of atomically thin materials. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Sep. 2023 In the first image, taken with an atomic force microscope, lobes or waves are observed. Matías A. Loewy, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2023 Working with rat neurons grown in a petri dish in the laboratory, the team artificially connected two neurons using an atomic force microscope and tiny, polystyrene spheres. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2016 This artist rendering is based on an image of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) taken with an atomic force microscope (AFM). Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2018 Gerd Binnig shared the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience in 2016 for inventing the atomic force microscope. Scientific American Custom Media, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2021 This tiny arm with a shard from a smashed needle was the first version of what would become known as the atomic force microscope, or AFM. Scientific American Custom Media, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of atomic force microscope was in 1986

Dictionary Entries Near atomic force microscope

Cite this Entry

“Atomic force microscope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atomic%20force%20microscope. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

atomic force microscope

noun
: an instrument used for mapping the atomic-scale topography of a surface by means of the repulsive electronic forces between the surface and the tip of a microscopic probe moving above the surface
abbreviation AFM
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!