Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

A type of scanning probe microscopy in which a very sharp conducting needle is swept just a few angstroms above the surface of a sample. The tiny tunneling current that flows between the sample and the needle tip is measured, and from this are produced three-dimensional topographs. Due to the poor electron conductivity of most biological samples, thin metal coatings are deposited on the sample.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A type of scanning probe microscopy in which a very sharp conducting needle is swept just a few angstroms above the surface of a sample. The tiny tunneling current that flows between the sample and the needle tip is measured, and from this are produced three-dimensional topographs. Due to the poor electron conductivity of most biological samples, thin metal coatings are deposited on the sample.

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Classification

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Synonyms

11 entry terms
  • Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling
  • Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy
  • Microscopies, Scanning Tunneling
  • Microscopies, Scanning Tunnelling
  • Microscopy, Scanning Tunnelling
  • Scanning Tunneling Microscopies
  • Scanning Tunnelling Microscopies
  • Tunneling Microscopies, Scanning
  • Tunneling Microscopy, Scanning
  • Tunnelling Microscopies, Scanning
  • Tunnelling Microscopy, Scanning

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Aspects Covered

10 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings classification, economics, ethics, history, instrumentation, methods, standards, statistics & numerical data, trends, veterinary.

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History Note

91

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Previous Indexing

  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning (1987-1990)

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016252. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016252
  2. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q71251194