Subpicosecond atomic and molecular motion detection and signal transmission by field emission

A method of transmitting information from one or more atoms from one location to another location at a bandwidth of at least 10.sup.12 Hz, comprising the steps of:

• applying an electrical field to a field emission tip for emitting electrons from the atom(s);
• deflecting the electrons from said one location to said other location;
• and
• detecting at said other location the information represented by said electrons.

An apparatus for generating a time-dependent record depicting the motion of one or more selected atoms with a time resolution equal to or shorter than 10.sup.-12 second, comprising:

• a field emission tip for emitting electrons from the selected atoms;
• means for focusing the emitted electrons into a beam;
• electron detector means;
• and
• means for sweeping the beam relative to the electron detector means for causing the detector means to sense and record the intensity of the beam as a function of time for creating the record.

An apparatus for generating a time- and spatially-dependent record depicting the motion of one or more selected atoms with a time resolution equal to or shorter than 10.sup.-13 second, comprising:

• a field emission tip for emitting electrons from the selected atoms;
• means for incompletely focusing the emitted electrons to create a partially divergent electron beam;
• an image dissector lens for dividing the divergent electron beam into stripes;
• an electron detector means;
• and
• means for deflecting the electron beam in one direction to scan individual ones of these stripes concurrently with a linear sweep for creating a two-dimensional record on said electron detector means.

An apparatus for transmitting information from one or more atoms from one location to another location at a bandwidth of at least 10.sup.12 Hz, comprising:

• a field emission tip for emitting electrons from the atom(s);
• means for focusing the emitted electrons into a beam;
• and
• means for deflecting the beam for switching said beam from said one location to said other location to transmit to said other location the information represented by said beam.

An apparatus for generating a time-dependent record depicting, with a time resolution equal to or shorter than 10.sup.-12 second, the motion of one or more selected atoms on a surface whose dynamics are to be probed, comprising:

• a field emission tip for emitting electrons from the selected atoms and directing said electrons toward a selected spot on said surface;
• means for focusing into a beam the electrons scattered or emitted from said spot;
• electron detector means;
• and
• means for sweeping the beam relative to the electron detector means for causing the detector means to sense and record the intensity of the beam as a function of time for creating the record.