The Archetypal Atom-Probe

The ultimate microanalytical tool would be an instrument capable of selecting and identifying the individual constituents of a surface seen in atomic resolution. This daunting task is possible with a combination field ion microscope and mass spectrometer having single-particle detection sensitivity. The resulting device is called the atom-probe. With the atom-probe it is possible to identify a single atom seen on a metal surface and selected from neighboring atoms at the discretion of the observer.