Magnetic resonance force microscopy

Recent initial experiments in magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) have detected the magnetic force exerted by electrons and nuclei in microscopic samples. The experiments generate a force signal by modulating the sample magnetization with standard magnetic resonance techniques. Sample sizes of a few nanograms generate readily detected force signals of order 10-14 to 10-16 Newtons. This article describes the present status of MRFM technology, with particular attention to the feasibility of detecting single-electron magnetic moments, and the possible applications of MRFM in biological imaging. © 1995 The American Physical Society.