MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) is the technology of microscopic devices incorporating both electronic and moving parts. MEMS are made up of components between 1 and 100 micrometres in size (i.e., 0.001 to 0.1 mm), and MEMS devices generally range in size from 20 micrometres to a millimetre (i.e., 0.02 to 1.0 mm), although components arranged in arrays (e.g., digital micromirror devices) can be more than 1000 mm². They usually consist of a central unit that processes data (an integrated circuit chip such as microprocessor) and several components that interact with the surroundings (such as microsensors).

Because of the large surface area to volume ratio of MEMS, forces produced by ambient electromagnetism (e.g., electrostatic charges and magnetic moments), and fluid dynamics (e.g., surface tension and viscosity) are more important design considerations than with larger scale mechanical devices. MEMS technology is distinguished from molecular nanotechnology or molecular electronics in that the latter two must also consider surface chemistry.

The potential of very small machines was appreciated before the technology existed that could make them (see, for example, Richard Feynman's famous 1959 lecture There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom). MEMS became practical once they could be fabricated using modified semiconductor device fabrication technologies, normally used to make electronics.[3] These include molding and plating, wet etching (KOH, TMAH) and dry etching (RIE and DRIE), electrical discharge machining (EDM), and other technologies capable of manufacturing small devices.

They merge at the nanoscale into nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) and nanotechnology.

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OPM stands for optically pumped magnetometer, a highly sensitive device used to measure magnetic fields. It operates based on principles from quantum physics and atomic interactions with light.

An optically pumped magnetometer typically uses a vapor of alkali atoms (such as rubidium or cesium) contained in a small cell. These atoms are first “pumped” into a specific energy state using polarized laser light. This process aligns the spins of the atoms, creating a well-defined quantum state.

When an external magnetic field is present, it causes the atomic spins to precess (rotate) at a frequency that depends on the strength of that magnetic field. By shining another beam of light through the vapor and analyzing how the atoms affect this light, the device can detect changes in the spin state. From these changes, the magnetic field strength can be calculated with extremely high precision.

OPMs are known for their exceptional sensitivity, often capable of detecting magnetic fields much weaker than the Earth’s magnetic field. Unlike traditional magnetometers, they do not require cryogenic cooling, making them more compact and practical for many applications.

They are widely used in fields such as:

• Medical imaging (e.g., magnetoencephalography to measure brain activity)
• Geophysics (detecting mineral deposits or underground structures)
• Fundamental physics research (studying atomic behavior and quantum effects)
• Navigation and defense technologies

In summary, an optically pumped magnetometer is a cutting-edge sensor that leverages the interaction between light and atoms to measure magnetic fields with remarkable accuracy.

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is a vacuum-based fabrication method to deposit thin films and coatings from the vapor phase on various substrate materials. (Magnetron) Sputtering and evaporation are the most common PVD processes. During the PVD process the target material is transferred from the condensed phase to the vapor phase and from the vapor phase to a condensed phase at the substrate surface forming the thin film. This results in a line-of-sight growth of e.g. metal, ceramic, or polymer thin films, which are applied in various fields including MEMS devices, optical applications, food packaging and also the production of our ME sensors (piezoelectric and magnetostrictive thin films).

Text from Stefan Schröder

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is an umbrella term used to group together the distinct but related technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The term is typically used in the context of education policy or curriculum choices in schools. It has implications for workforce development, national security concerns (as a shortage of STEM-educated citizens can reduce effectiveness in this area), and immigration policy, with regard to admitting foreign students and tech workers.

There is no universal agreement on which disciplines are included in STEM; in particular, whether or not the science in STEM includes social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, economics, and political science. In the United States, these are typically included by organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Labor's O*Net online database for job seekers, and the Department of Homeland Security. In the United Kingdom, the social sciences are categorized separately and are instead grouped with humanities and arts to form another counterpart acronym HASS (humanities, arts, and social sciences), rebranded in 2020 as SHAPE (social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy). Some sources also use HEAL (health, education, administration, and literacy) as the counterpart of STEM.

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