Microwaves Are Everywhere: SMM: Nano-Microwaves

If the Twentieth Century boasted of the Space Age and the Computer Age, the Twenty-First Century is certainly starting off with the Age of Biology, or at least Biochemistry. The enormous impact of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification), cryo-EM (electron microscopy), and many other nano-techniques in the biosciences is transforming the world in so many ways, not the least of which are the diagnostic tests and vaccines that are helping our global pandemic. Microwaves are huge compared to the likes of optical wavelengths and, at least for the world of bio-spectroscopy, being able to perform and take advantage of standard microwave materials measurements at a cellular (micron) and even molecular (nanometer) scale has been a major impediment to applications for this well-developed electronics technology and instrumentation. In the early part of the 21st Century, the fields of AFM (atomic force microscopy) and SMM (scanning microwave microscopy) came together and spun off a handful of commercial applications and instruments stimulated by some very clever engineering and bio researchers and partnerships. In this, our fourth tutorial article in our continuing series on the ubiquitous presence and applications of microwaves, we take a look at the origins, instruments, biological applications, and goals for nano-microwaves the use of microwaves at nanometer scales.

Automated summary

The Twenty-First Century is characterized by the Age of Biology, with nanotechnologies transforming the world of biosciences, particularly in the areas of diagnostic tests and vaccine development for global pandemics. Microwaves play a crucial role in bio-spectroscopy, and the combination of atomic force microscopy and scanning microwave microscopy in the early 21st Century led to the development of commercial applications and instruments in the field.