University of Glasgow unveils £2.65m electron microscope

Scientists at the University of Glasgow have acquired a world-leading electron microscope which will allow them to scrutinise individual atoms and probe their chemical, magnetic and electronic properties with unprecedented detail. The £2.65m MagTEM microscope was officially unveiled today (Monday 2 July) by Alasdair Allan, the Scottish Government's Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages, at an event held in the University's Kelvin Building. The event was also attended by guests including representatives from JEOL, the microscope's manufacturer, international guest speakers and industrial collaborators from across the UK. The microscope is one of a select number worldwide and has been further customized for improved resolution, making it unique. It is the latest addition to the University's Kelvin Nanocharacterisation Centre, which is home to a range of equipment that allows researchers from across the physical sciences and engineering disciplines to create and examine materials on the atomic scale. Research from the centre has contributed to the development of a wide range of products, particularly in microelectronic and data-storage applications . Allan said: "This is a unique piece of equipment that will help to keep Scotland at the cutting edge of science research.