tuula niemeyer-partanen            Teamwork and Projects with Jo Niemeyer

 

20 steps into the microcosmos...


with a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)

Builted 2007-2009 by Jo and Tuula Niemeyer


In cooperation and help from

Christopher Zaum

The University of Hannover

Institute of Quantum Optics


and

Frank Marder and Christof Wittmer, Lenzkirch, Germany





If the division of the minor series of circumference of the earth from the first step in reverse 45.8 cm is continued for a further twenty steps (point 1 to - 20), this series is in Microcosm up to atomic scale orders of magnitude away. The distance between point 00 and -19 of the point is almost exactly the order of a hydrogen atom. (10 millionths of a millimeter) The first eight steps are the size of the human arm, Hand, etc. to the size of a grain of sand and can be viewed without assistance. From This step into the world of cells and molecules is an inevitable microscope. At make molecular and even atomic structures of the last visible steps, a Scanning tunneling microscope (Scanning-Tunneling-Microscopy/STM used). The Scanning tunneling microscope is now a standard instrument is no longer in nanotechnology indispensable.







To show this project to the interested public, for example, in an exhibitionhall, this would requires an extremely expensive system of a professionel Scanning-Tunneling-Microscope. But for these purposes Jo and Tuula Niemeyer builted self in her own studio a relatively simple STM-System, designed with very few resources and with the help of a courageous physicist.














Shortly described a scanning tunneling microscope (STM)  consists of a fine electrically conductive tip, in the extremely small distance (using piezoelectric elements) similar to a Record on the sample account is maintained. The applied voltage to the tip and sample stream flows (Tunnel current), which changes information about the structure of the sample surface or its Height and this gives relief modulated by a computer as an image makes visible is made. Individual atoms can be moved with the same device even by "manipulation", removed or can be added. This means that the smallest distance of the project "20 steps will ... "mapped between -18 and -19 points, and point 0.












































A mythological journey that is both, an adventure and an interdisciplinary expedition into the secrets of the power of limits, and how it impact us from every facet of art, philosophy, science and nature. Behaviourism, evolution and life. An area that has been largely disregarded in recent years because its contents are intangible. It is therefore natural and necessary that this principle should be experienced and made accessible and conceivable for modern man in an intercultural and interdisciplinarian land-art project.






Step 15 The first image...13.2.2009

3D image of a dvd master

The STM Scanning-Head contains two central components: the piezo-scanner and the pre-amplifier.

The STM image shows the single bits on a master DVD as clearly 17 visible exaltations with a size of approx. 500nm.

Step 17: Atomic resolution of HOPG (highly-oriented, pyrolitic graphite)

Step 20: Our project ends with the last step, which is roughly the size of a carbon atom with the size of approximately 0.4 nm.

The 20 steps are being visualised by using a this Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)  Builted 2007-2009 by Jo and Tuula Niemeyer

















STM image of a carbon atom with the size of approximately 0.4 nm.

































In cooperation and help of

Christopher Zaum

The University of Hannover

Institute of Quantum Optics



and

Frank Marder and Christof Wittmer,

Lenzkirch, Germany












Remember: Starting point was in Ropinsalmi in Finnish Lapland near the border to Sweden and north of the Arctic Circle. The first - and the last column does not only pierces the earth at this point, but the cell of life or for instance the smallest atom in it’s ground state which can be devided further…








Eugen Gomringer, a well known Swiss  critic writes:


„... there has not been a project before like the 20 Steps by Jo Niemeyer which has demonstrated so convincingly the possibilities of Concrete Art to form world-wide visible actualities... Is it not a task worthy of this art to remind us of proportionality in the world and on this earth?“


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanning_tunneling_microscope