ULTIMATE COMPUTING - Quantum Consciousness Studies

200 NanoTechnology
Figure 10.8: Multiple tip geometry for STM probing of nanoscale systems. By
Conrad Schneiker (Schneiker, 1986).
Schneiker and Hameroff (1987) have proposed an integrated system of STM
and other technologies to best take advantage of STM capabilities. The
“nanotechnology workstation” (Figures 10.7 and 10.9) proposes to combine
multiple STM tips, optical microscopy, nanoapertures, and fiber optic waveguides
in a hopeful attempt at synergism. For example, the STM is extremely “nearsighted;”
it can have difficulty finding its target (“a needle in a haystack”). If
integrated into a high powered light microscope, the microscope can act as a
coarse approach mode to bring the STM tip to the desired area. From there the
STM can perform as a “cursor” mode for the microscope: able to expand the view
of, and manipulate, atoms and molecules. In one configuration of the nanotech
workstation, four STMs are placed symmetrically about a central STM and these
each form a 45 degree angle to the sample plane; they may later be augmented
with fiber optical interferometers for precise spatial coordinate determination and
motion control (Figure 10.8). The central STM may be used for high speed
scanning while the peripheral STMs are used as oblique STM scanners,
nanoaperture scanners, electrodes, mechanical “fingers” or optical frequency
antennas. In addition, four other micrometer-adjusted mini-arms can carry
horizontal optical fibers: two for general illumination and two for experimental
interfaces.
Reflecting optical microscope objectives may be positioned such that the
optical axis is perpendicular to the plane of the opposite pair of STMs, and the
focus is where their tips would meet when fully extended. The optics of these
microscopes would permit them to peer around the fiber optic illumination system
mounted on the forward axis of each microscope. The optical system would be
achromatic, and able to work in far infrared to ultraviolet which should lead to