Atomic Mandala

With modern scanning probe microscopy, we can now place atoms on a crystal surface with perfect precision at the atomic scale. This 8 x 8 nm image could be fit around 10,000 times across the width of a human hair, meaning it is almost unimaginably tiny. In the image, hydrogen atoms have been removed from the silicon surface forming dangling bonds, which appear as bright protrusions. In this example, 28 dangling bonds were deliberately placed in a circular mandala like pattern, forming one of the smallest pieces of art ever created. Beyond making cool art, this “atomic writing” technique is being used to develop atomic devices and the next generation of nanoscale circuitry. These future devices will benefit from characteristics such as high efficiency, low heat generation, and the ultimate level of miniaturization. In the future, one can imagine a world where our electronic circuitry is built atom by atom, like this mandala, signaling a drastic shift in our understanding of physics and manufacturing capabilities.