Trinity College has installed two new electron microscopes worth £500,000. The more powerful of the two can produce high resolution images of details that are less than one millionth of a millimetre in size and is the first of its kind to be installed in Europe, according to the college.
The dramatic image reproduced here shows the remarkable results available from the technology. The devices, manufactured by Hitachi, will be available to up to 300 undergraduates and postgraduates and research staff from Trinity and other colleges each year for teaching and research projects, the college says.
The units are also fitted with X-ray micro-analysis systems that can determine the elements present in samples analysed using the equipment. These X-ray systems were supplied by Princeton Gamma-Tech and the two manufacturing companies are to use the Electron Microscope Unit at Trinity College as their demonstration site in Ireland.