Is a scanning ion microscope feasible?

Abstract

Atomic collisions of high-energy heavy ions produce large yields of x-rays. The small de Broglie wavelength of massive ions leads to an estimate of 0.2 angstrom for the resolution of a microscope utilizing nitrogen ions with energies of 14 million electron volts. Estimates of the yield of x-rays relative to molecular radiation damage of the bases in DNA are made.