Physicists at Loughborough University have produced what they believe may be “the world’s smallest violin,” a platinum structure so small it fits within the width of a human hair. The violin, which measures 35 microns long and 13 microns wide, was built as part of a demonstration of the university’s new nanolithography system. A micron is one millionth of a metre; for comparison, human hairs range from 17 to 180 microns in diameter, while tardigrades (perhaps the most resilient animals in this world) measure between 50 and 1,200 microns.
The violin is not a playable instrument but a microscopic image created to test the precision of the equipment. Images of the structure, placed alongside a human hair, were captured using a Keyence VHX-7000N Digital Microscope.
“Though creating the world’s smallest violin may seem like fun and games, a lot of what we’ve learned in the process has actually laid the groundwork for the research we’re now undertaking,” said Professor Kelly Morrison, Head of the Physics Department.
The project references the well-known phrase “the world’s smallest violin,” often used in popular culture to mock exaggerated or overly dramatic reactions or complaints. The expression is thought to have originated in the 1970s television show M*A*S*H and has since appeared in other media.
The nanolithography system allows researchers to design and test nanoscale structures using light, magnetism, and electricity. Morrison said, “Once we understand how materials behave, we can start applying that knowledge to develop new technologies, whether it"s improving computing efficiency or finding new ways to harvest energy. But first, we need to understand the fundamental science and this system enables us to do just that.”
At the centre of the new laboratory system is the NanoFrazor, a nano-sculpting machine from Heidelberg Instruments. It uses thermal scanning probe lithography, in which a heated, needle-like tip etches patterns at the nanoscale. The system is housed in a sealed glovebox to prevent contamination from dust or moisture.
The violin was created by coating a chip with two layers of resist, then using the NanoFrazor to burn the pattern into the surface. After dissolving the underlayer, a cavity in the shape of a violin was left behind. A thin layer of platinum was deposited, and the remaining material was removed with acetone. The process takes about three hours, though the final version required months of refinement.
The system is being used for research into differnt computing technologies. One application, led by Dr Naëmi Leo, focuses on using heat in controlled ways to improve data storage and processing. Her work combines magnetic and electric materials with nanoparticles that convert light into heat, creating temperature gradients that could be harnessed for efficient devices.
Another one, led by Dr Fasil Dejene, explores quantum materials as alternatives to current magnetic data storage. Traditional hard drives store information in magnetic bits, but as devices shrink, maintaining stability becomes more difficult. Dejene’s research aims to test whether quantum materials can enable smaller, faster, and more reliable memory systems, with potential applications in brain-inspired computing.
Source: Loughborough University | Image via Depositphotos
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