ECE Group's Plasmon Microscope Technology Cited by APS

Christopher Davis (left) and Igor Smolyaninov (right)

A University of Maryland research team led by ECE Research Scientist Igor Smolyaninov and Professor Christopher Davis was cited in a news article on the website of the American Physical Society (APS). The article, titled "Physics and Technology Forefronts: Catching an electron wave with emerging plasmon applications," discusses research on the advanced applications of plasmon technology. Plasmons, electron waves generated when light strikes a metallic surface, are being used to help scientists see fine, nano-scale details that were previously undetectable.

The article mentions that Smolyaninov, Davis, and their research colleagues are developing a two-dimensional plasmon microscope that is ideal for imaging living cells, and could operate much like a point-and-shoot camera. The new technology would reveal much more detail than existing imaging techniques. Smolyaninov, Davis, and the Maryland team believe they can improve the resolution of their microscope images down to around 10 nanometers. The APS author also notes that movies might even be possible, since each microscope image is taken all at once, rather than one pixel at a time.

The article can be found in the October 2006 issue of APS News online.

Published October 26, 2006