MIT Develops Nanoruler

Makarand writes "MIT Researchers have developed a device to make the most precise rulers - the Nanoruler, whose "ticks" are mere nanometers apart. The Nanoruler can pattern gratings of lines and spaces more accurately than other methods across large surfaces more than 12 inches in diameter, a capability important to a number of applications like preparing larger wafers for the production of computer chips and higher-resolution space telescopes. The Nanoruler works by using interference lithography where two laser beams interfere with each other to produce interference "fringes", or parallel planes of high and low light intensity. These fringes are then recorded onto the surface as lines and spaces using the same techniques used for tracing circuits onto silicon."

What we need now...

[Anonymous Coward]

[read title] ...is the nano slide rule.

"ticks"

[Zugok]

Wouldn't "graduations" be a better term to use. After the section is called "Techtalk"

Patent pending?

[Anonymous Coward]

If NASA and DARPA funded it, why shouldn't it be released public domain?

Re:Patent pending?

[Anonymous Coward]

It should be patented, with a portion commensurate to the proportion funded by the government going into a fund for general research.

Re:Patent pending?

[YetAnotherAnonymousC]

Generally the way it works with DARPA is that the inventing university can patent their invention. The university may exercise their patent rights however they like with one exception: the defense department has the right to use the invention however they like.

to paraphrase the cliche:

[LittleBigLui]

I, for one, welcome our new nano-rules!

Ha!

[wafwot]

Now the Nanonuns can show them disrespectful Nanocatholics some discipline!

Other idea using light

[Gamasta]

For some time I wondered about the possibility of using a Michelson & Morley interferometer for measuring distances. You can get 250 nanometer of precision easily, just count those rings. Using shorter wavelengths, it can get a lot better. But never tried putting such idea to work. (most probably someone else thought about this too...)

Re:Other idea using light

[Anonymous Coward]

Interferometers are used regularly to measure lengths and to calibrate measuring instruments in standards labs like the NIST. The standard metre is in fact measured using interference fringes, from an (almost) monochromatic light source (I think it's some Krypton transition.)

Hundreds of nm apart

[SiliconEntity]

While the precision of the grating is to within a few nanometers, the actual spacing is hundreds of nanometers, or equivalently, tenths of microns. That's not all that small compared to the .13 or .09 micron processes currently used in Pentium and other high end chips.

The key to the grating is not how fine it is, because it's not, but how accurate it is over such a large scale. It's not nanotech, but a very precise microtech.

Re:Hundreds of nm apart

[andywills]

Of course it's nanotech. Nanotech is just something sized between 1 and 999 nm. I mean, I suppose you could call it 1/10microtech, but that sounds stupid, doesn't it?

Finally!

[NanoGator]

They can now measure the size of your...

Man I wish I could think of something more original than that. MORE COFFEE!

w00t

[Pumpernickle]

Finally! I always wanted to measure the patterns on my processor! Oh, wait... damn. Anyone know somewhere I can buy a microscope?...

Hard to hold still enough

[thelenm]

I have a hard enough time holding a regular ruler still and getting it in exactly the right place when I'm measuring stuff. Now you're telling me I have to hold it still enough that it doesn't slip by a couple of nanometers??? What kind of sadist would think up such a thing?

Re:Hard to hold still enough

[IPFreely]

Well, with nano-accuracy and a span of 12 inches, what's the resolution there? The markings on that ruler would have to be in 12 digit numbers at least. If it moves, just take the high and low and subtract. Finally, a good use for 64 bit math.