In collaboration with the Field Museum Chicago, an atom probe once used at Northwestern University is currently on display at the Searle Family Lounge in the north balcony of the Field Museum.
The atom probe field-ion microscope is the type of equipment used by Field Museum scientists to examine the tiniest building blocks of materials that make up matter. Field Museum cosmochemist Philipp Heck and his colleague, Jennika Greer, use such a microscope to examine and analyze materials that were formed since before the creation of our solar system. The exhibit explains how an atom probe is used and also features actual meteorites containing nanodiamonds. The atom probe was previously in use at Northwestern University, and is currently part of the collection of the Museum of Science and Industry, on loan to the Field Museum. You can visit the atom probe in the Searle Family Lounge and learn more about its role in studying meteorites through April 10, 2022.