Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy Using Ultrasensitive Oscillators

Xidex and The University of Texas at Austin have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of developing a magnetic resonance force microscope for single proton imaging. Our Phase II work will demonstrate use of high-precision, high-sensitivitymeasurement of the magnetic force using (a) the high-Q mode of multiple torsional oscillators fabricated from single crystal silicon as the sensing element and (b) carbon nanotube oscillators which provide enhancements that increase the bandwidth ofsingle-spin nuclear magnetic resonance microscopy scans. This can potentially increase imaging and quantum-spin-processing speeds, essential for resolving complex structures or performing intensive quantum algorithms. Experience gained in Phase II willenable future quasi-isolated single-nuclear-spin studies, experiments on biological molecules, subsurface impurities, and interacting quantum spins can commence. Phase II results will be applied directly to development of a commercial instrument withsingle-spin imaging capability. Eventually, the greatest use for NMRFM may be as a biological imaging method in applications to molecular systems that are not amenable to analysis by solution NMR or x-ray crystallographic methods. Our commercializationstrategy addresses the market in two stages. The first stage of our commercialization plan addresses unmet customer needs for high resolution NMR imaging of live cells, other biological and aqueous samples, and solids for which customer applicationsdictate that the samples being imaged must be maintained at or near-room temperature. The thermal noise floor imposed by a room temperature requirement sets a lower limit on volumetric resolution to a volume element about 0.1 microns on a side Theroom-temperature imaging market we have identified represents a relatively near-term opportunity for our company in terms of product development resources because the required oscillator, scanning stage, motion detection, and control technologies are allless demanding than will be the case for single spin applications. The second stage of our commercialization plan addresses the unmet customer needs for direct 3D imaging of molecular structure that have motivated MRFM investigations aimed at single spindetection for over a decade.