Atomic single electron transistor images electrostatic potential in moiré superlattices

A new atomic single electron transistor can image electrostatic potentials at the nanoscale. This breakthrough allows direct visualization of moiré superlattices, previously only inferred indirectly. The atomic SET uses a single atomic defect as a highly sensitive probe. It achieves 1 nm resolution, enabling detailed imaging of the electrostatic potential within moiré unit cells, revealing its symmetry and amplitude. This technique offers unprecedented insight into quantum materials. It can image charge order and thermodynamic properties, advancing the study of phenomena like symmetry-broken phases and fractionalized quasiparticles.