NIST Develops World’s Most Precise Nanoscale Measurement Machine
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has created the NIST Molecular Measuring Machine (M3), an extraordinary instrument capable of making measurements at the nanoscale level. Operating within one nanometer, or the distance between four to five silicon atoms, M3 is the only machine of its kind in the world. The machine’s capabilities are equivalent to a dollar bill folded in half.
The NIST established the Allen V. Astin Measurement Science Award to recognize outstanding achievements in measurement science or the delivery of measurement services. The award was given to E. Clayton Teague for his leadership in designing, constructing, and operating the M3. Teams working on M3 began development in the late 1980s, aiming to meet the U.S. microelectronics industry’s most advanced measurement requirements in the late 1990s.
The NIST promotes economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards as a non-regulatory agency of the Commerce Department’s Technology Administration. This advanced measurement technology exemplifies NIST’s commitment to supporting innovation, industry growth, and measurements at the nanoscale.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/1995/12/local-resident-wins-nist-measurement-science-award
Keywords: NIST, Molecular Measuring Machine, nanoscale measurements
