Don Eigler
Donald M. Eigler | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 23, 1953 United States |
| Occupation | Physicist |
| Years active | 1984–2011 |
| Known for | Atomic manipulation using scanning tunneling microscope; quantum corrals; molecular-scale logic circuits |
Donald M. Eigler (born March 23, 1953) is a physicist from the United States recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to nanotechnology at the IBM Almaden Research Center.
Work
In 1989, Eigler achieved a milestone by employing a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip to meticulously position single atoms, famously arranging 35 xenon atoms to form the letters "IBM." He subsequently pioneered the creation of the first quantum corrals—nanoscale quantum wave structures generated by small clusters of atoms—and engineered molecular-scale logic circuits utilizing carbon monoxide molecules. These significant advancements led to his receipt of the 2010 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience, which he shared with Nadrian Seeman.
Eigler’s breakthrough in 1989 revolutionized the STM from merely a tool for high-resolution imaging into an instrument capable of manipulating atoms with precision under ultra-low temperature and vacuum conditions. This innovation, highlighted on the cover of Nature, is considered a critical foundation for mechanosynthesis, facilitating exact control over chemical processes at the molecular scale. In 2002, in collaboration with Andreas J. Heinrich, Eigler demonstrated logic gate operations through cascades involving collisions of carbon monoxide molecules.
Eigler obtained his undergraduate degree in 1975 and his doctorate in 1984 from the University of California, San Diego. Following two years as a postdoctoral researcher at AT&T Bell Labs, he joined IBM and was named an IBM Fellow in 1993. He concluded his career at IBM with retirement in 2011.
Among his professional achievements are his election as a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1995 and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1999.