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Wolfprize Winners Maximilian Haider, and

Wolfprize in 2011 A Breakthrough in Electron Microscopy with Hardware Aberration Correction

May 29, 2011 - The electron microscope is one of the most tron microscopy. He also developed the theoretical and widely used research tools in modern science, playing a pi- methodological basis for extending and interpreting votal role in virtually all areas of natural sciences, as well as microscopy in sub-atomic dimensions. in a broad range of technologies, from basic research to vital For the first time, aberration-corrected transmission industries. electron microscopy has permitted localization of atoms Since its invention in 1931, the performance of electron with an accuracy of a picometer, corresponding to one microscopy has been limited by the effects of the aberrations hundredth the size of a hydrogen atom. The ability to of the electron lenses used, which kept its spatial resolving measure individual atomic positions with picometer power at values far below the theoretical limit. Given its broad precision and to correlate atomic-scale structure with role in advancing modern science and technology, extraordina- macroscopic physical properties constitutes a major ry efforts were made, worldwide, to overcome these limitations. breakthrough in materials science, with implications for But, for over half a century, these attempts failed. many other areas of science and technology. The bre- Working together since 1990, the three Wolf Prize Laurea- akthrough in exploring the microcosm comes at a time tes jointly succeeded in realizing aberration-corrected electron when developing nanotechnologies and getting them to optics for the first time. As a result, they have advanced the work for a number of applications, calls for high-resolu- resolution of transmission electron microscopy to atomic and tion, high-sensitivity instrumentation for research, syn- sub-atomic dimensions. Their work was inspired by a novel thesis and validation of novel techniques. optical concept for the correction of spherical aberration of Within less than five years since the commercializa- the objective lens of an electron microscope, developed by tion of aberration-corrected electron microscopy, more Harald Rose (born 1935, Germny). Based on this corrector than 200 of these instruments have been ordered by principle, Maximilian Haider (born 1950, Austria) constructed university and industrial research laboratories all over the first prototypical aberration-corrected transmission electron the world, pointing to the central role that state-of-the-art microscope. Knut Urban (born 1941,Germany) developed this electron microscopy plays in 21st century research and prototype into a working platform for atomic-resolution elec- putting an end to decades of stagnation in this key area of scientific instrumentation and industrial technology. The electron microscope is one of the most widely used re- search tools in modern science, playing a pivotal role in virtual- ly all areas of natural sciences, as well as in a broad range of technologies, from basic research to vital industries. Since its invention in 1931, the performance of electron microscopy has been limited by the effects of the aberrations of the electron lenses used, which kept its spatial resolving power at values far below the theoretical limit. Given its broad Text originally published by Wolf Foundation, Winners role in advancing modern science and technology, extraordina- 2011 in Physics, online at: http://www.wolffund.org.il/in- ry efforts were made, worldwide, to overcome these limitations. dex.php?dir=site&page=winners&name=&prize=3016& But, for over half a century, these attempts failed. year=2011&field=3008 Working together since 1990, the three Wolf Prize Laurea- #00 Consectetuer tes jointly succeeded in realizing aberration-corrected electron optics for the first time. As a result, they have advanced the resolution of transmission electron microscopy to atomic and sub-atomic dimensions. Their work was inspired by a novel optical concept for the correction of spherical aberration of the objective lens of an electron microscope, developed by Harald Rose (born 1935, Germny). Based on this corrector principle, Maximilian Haider (born 1950, Austria) constructed the first prototypical aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope. Knut Urban (born 1941,Germany) developed this prototype into a working platform for atomic-resolution electron microscopy. He also developed the theoretical and methodo- Laoreet 0000 logical basis for extending and interpreting microscopy in sub- atomic dimensions. For the first time, aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy has permitted localization of atoms with an accu- racy of a picometer, corresponding to one hundredth the size of a hydrogen atom. The ability to measure individual atomic positions with picometer precision and to correlate atomic-sca- le structure with macroscopic physical properties constitutes a major breakthrough in materials science, with implications for many other areas of science and technology. The bre- akthrough in exploring the microcosm comes at a time when developing nanotechnologies and getting them to work for a number of applications, calls for high-resolution, high-sensiti- vity instrumentation for research, synthesis and validation of novel techniques. Within less than five years since the commercialization of aberration-corrected electron microscopy, more than 200 of these instruments have been ordered by university and indus- trial research laboratories all over the world, pointing to the central role that state-of-the-art electron microscopy plays in 21st century research and putting an end to decades of sta- gnation in this key area of scientific instrumentation and indus- trial technology.