We have two atomic force microscopes – an Agilent 5500 and a 5420. One can image atoms with these microscopes, as well as DNA, proteins and a large variety of biological and chemical samples. Surface topography in 3-D can be imaged for all sorts of material science applications as well. One research group at the college is studying polymers with the AFM.
The instruments can be used as a very high resolution scanning probe microscope, or in the scanning tunneling mode. Students use them for thesis work as well as in labs for chemistry and physics.