Mechanically Controlling Single Electrons

The ability to manipulate individual electrons with atomic precision is essential to the development of nanometer-scale electronics. In previous studies, researchers were able to control the charge state of single atoms on a surface using scanning-tunneling or atomic force microscopes. However, these studies could not combine high spatial resolution with the stable positioning of charges. A research team led by Robert Wolkow at the University of Alberta in Canada has now demonstrated that they can place and detect a single electron with atomic resolution using an all-mechanical approach.