NEC Corp., Seiko Instruments Inc. and Himeji Institute of Technology announced Thursday they have developed the technology to build complex microscopic objects using a gallium ion beam that enables, for example, the creation of what they say is the world's smallest wine glass in just 10 minutes.
In a dedicated apparatus, a gallium ion beam is employed to decompose carbon-containing gas to generate and build up carbon particles into a desired object, officials of the three involved parties said.
The shape of the object can be changed by the beam, which measures roughly 1/100,000th of a millimeter in diameter, they said.
By moving the beam, objects, such as the minute wine glass, can be fashioned.
The glass built by the beam stands 0.012 mm high and measures 0.0027 mm in diameter. This is 1/20,000th of the size of a regular wine glass, the officials said.