ナノテクノロジーはSF小説などでの取り上げられ方などによる先入観も手伝って、一般からは正しい理解や認識が得られないまま敬遠されたり懐疑的な見方をされてきました。しかし、実際のところ、非常に刺激的な科学の一分野なのです。本書では原子間・分子間力、単一原子イメージング、量子閉じ込め、自己集合、分子機械、ナノ磁性など、ナノテクノロジーの主なテーマや概念を紹介し、プローブ顕微鏡で覗くナノスケールの世界へ読者を誘います。
  

• Introduces readers to the extraordinary atomic and molecular landscapes of the nanoworld
• Explains the fundamental concepts of this exciting, cutting-edge field, the forces at work, and its miniature creations such as molecular machines
• Beyond the science-fiction hype, considers the important possible applications of nanotechnology

   
What is Nanotechnology and how will it affect us? Nanobots, nanoprobes, nanoswarms, nanogenes the list goes on. Nanotechnology is a staple of science fiction and has a rather chequered history when it comes to public perception: will swarms of sentient nanomachines ultimately take over the world or will nanotech give us nothing more than improved sun creams? As this Very Short Introduction shows, the science underpinning nanotechnology is equally as fascinating as the best nano-inspired sci-fi.
    
In this book, Philip Moriarty introduces the key scientific themes and concepts underpinning the field, including interatomic and intermolecular forces, single atom imaging, quantum confinement, self-assembly, molecular machinery, and nanomagnetism. Moriarty includes results from ground-breaking scientific studies, such as scanning probe microscope images of atomic and molecular “landscapes”, providing visceral and intuitive insights into the nanoscopic world.