Scientists took the first "X-ray" picture of a single atom for the first time.

CTOnews.com, June 3 (Xinhua) scientists have successfully captured the X-ray signal of a single atom and caught a glimpse of the smallest level of chemical reaction.

Atoms constitute the tiniest particles in our universe, which can be said to be the basis of all matter. Through a deep understanding of atoms, scientists can better understand the universe.

Scientists currently mainly use high-energy X-rays to observe atoms and molecules in order to understand their arrangement. So far, the minimum mass of the sample can be detected by X-rays is about 1 gram (1 gram equals 10 ^ 18 grams), which is about 10000 atoms.

In the paper, published in Science Alert, scientists not only focused on how atoms and molecules were arranged, but managed to take the first "X-ray" picture of a single atom.

Scientists say that the wavelength distribution of X-rays is similar to the size of atoms, so it is an appropriate way to detect atomic characterization.

However, because the X-ray signal produced by a single atom is very weak, it is impossible to use a traditional X-ray detector to detect a single atom.

Scientists have explored the use of various types of X-rays, combined with synchrotron X-rays (synchrotron X-rays) and scanning tunneling microscopy (scanning tunneling microscopy), to see electrons accelerate along a circular orbit and emit bright, high-energy light.

Through this technology, scientists can not only take the first "X-ray" picture of a single atom, but also take the details of a single atom.

CTOnews.com attaches a link to the paper here, which interested users can click to read.