Magnetic resonance force microscopy

Abstract

Recent initial experiments in magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) have detected the magnetic force exerted by electrons and nuclei in microscopic samples. The experiments generate a force signal by modulating the sample magnetization with standard magnetic resonance techniques. Sample sizes of a few nanograms generate readily detected force signals of order ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ Newtons. This article describes the present status of MRFM technology, with particular attention to the feasibility of detecting single-electron magnetic moments, and the possible applications of MRFM in biological imaging.