Magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) is a scanning probe technique capable of detecting MRI signals from nanoscale sample volumes, providing a paradigmchanging potential for structural biology and medical research. Thus far, however, experiments have not reached sufficient spatial resolution for retrieving meaningful structural information from samples. In this work, we report MRFM imaging scans demonstrating a resolution of 0.9 nm and a localization precision of 0.6 nm in one dimension. Our progress is enabled by an improved spin excitation protocol furnishing us with sharp spatial control on the MRFM imaging slice, combined with overall advances in instrument stability. From a modeling of the slice function, we expect that our arrangement supports spatial resolutions down to 0.3 nm given sufficient signal-to-noise 1 arXiv:1908.04180v1 [physics.app-ph] 12 Aug 2019 ratio. Our experiment demonstrates the feasibility of sub-nanometer MRI and realizes an important milestone towards the three-dimensional imaging of macromolecular structures.

We report the development of a scanning force microscope based on an ultrasensitive silicon nitride membrane optomechanical transducer. Our development is made possible by inverting the standard microscope geometry-in our instrument, the substrate is vibrating and the scanning tip is at rest. We present topography images of samples placed on the membrane surface. Our measurements demonstrate that the membrane retains an excellent force sensitivity when loaded with samples and in the presence of a scanning tip. We discuss the prospects and limitations of our instrument as a quantum-limited force sensor and imaging tool.

Hexadecane exhibits pronounced molecular layering upon confinement to gaps of a few nanometer width which is discussed for its role in boundary lubrication. We have probed the mechanical properties of the confined layers with the help of an atomic force microscope, by quasi-static normal force measurements and by analyzing the lateral tip motion of a magnetically actuated torsional cantilever oscillation. The molecular layering is modeled by a oscillatory force curve and the tip approach is simulated assuming thermal equilibrium correlations in the liquid. The shear response of the confined layers reveals gradually increasing stiffness and viscous dissipation for a decreasing number of confined layers.

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