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Cross-section
of Dr. Degen's
head recorded in a clinical MRI apparatus |
Cross-section
of two virus
particles on top of a molecular surface layer
at 1,000,000x
magnified
scale recorded in an MRFM apparatus |
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News
Ben
and Kevin win an NSF graduate fellowship - Congratulations!
Degen
Group moving to ETH: In late Spring of 2011, the Degen
Group will begin moving to the Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) in Zurich, Switzerland.
Christian accepted a new Professorship in Condensed Matter Physics. Postdoctoral
and Ph.D. positions are
available.
Research:
At the Degen
lab
we invent,
build and operate
tools for
detecting weak magnetic signals at very small lengthscales.
Our goal is to
apply these tools for the following
purposes:
- Study of nanoscale
spin physics, quantum effects, and other
fundamental physical phenomena that become important at these small
scales (in condensed matter and quantum physics)
- Nanoscale MRI
imaging of single biological objects 1-100 nm in size (in structural
biology)
- Chemical
analysis
of heterogeneous surfaces with nanometer resolution using NMR
spectroscopy
(in surface science)
Read
more...
Techniques:
Magnetic
signals from spins in nanometer-sized samples are typically extremely
small. Our lab currently specializes on two experimental
techniques
that have the necessary sensitivity to examine these signals. In Magnetic
Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM),
we use force
microscopy to measure spins mechanicaly via a magnetic force. In
recently invented Scanning
Diamond Magnetometry, we attempt
to detect the same minute
magnetic fields optically and under
ambient conditions, using the single spin of a diamond nitrogen-vacancy
(NV) defect as the microscopes sensor. Along the way
of improving the sensitivity of our instrumentation, we also hope to
make exciting new physical discoveries. Read
more...
©
2010 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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