A research group led by Professor Norio Kobayashi and Assistant Professor Terukazu Nishizaki at Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University has successfully developed a scanning tunneling microscope that enables to observe electronic properties of materials at the atomic level under magnetic field up to 27 Tesla (0.5 million times higher than the earth’s magnetic field.) The group used a strong magnetic field generator called Hybrid Magnet that is installed at Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University. The achievement allows a direct observation of magnetic, superconducting and semiconducting materials at the atomic level under the world’s highest magnetic field that is much higher than previous observations up to 14 Tesla.

 The new technology is expected to help clarify a mechanism of high-temperature superconductors and put them into practical use. High-temperature superconductors are expected to be energy-saving materials in the 21st century. The research has been conducted as part of “High Magnetic Field Spin Science in 100 T” with the aid of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

 The research results will be presented as “Development of the High-Field STM for Hybrid Magnet System” at the 65thThe Physical Society of Japan Annual Meeting at Okayama University on March 20, 2010.

Press release(Japanese)

[Contact]
Professor Norio Kobayashi
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
Address: 2-1-1 Katahira Aoba-ku Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan
Tel: +81-22-215-2025, FAX: +81-22-215-2026
E-mail：koban@imr.tohoku.ac.jp

Assistant Professor Terukazu Nishizaki
Tel: +81-22-215-2029, FAX: +81-22-215-2026
E-mail：terukazu@imr.tohoku.ac.jp