So if I read this right, this is 2d only? Could a theoretic 3d scanner with this resolution be used to e.g. duplicate matter like in a Trek transporter?
You can get down a layer two but that's about it. There is no method for capturing a full 3D model in experiment, although we can get projections from X-Ray diffraction and other scattering methods. Also there are single photon X-Ray methods being developed that will get us extremely close to complete 3D models. But that aside you also have to take into account that these materials are often not at 0K so they're vibrating or even moving at the atomic scale. This is a huge problem for example, when studying Proteins.
> There is no method for capturing a full 3D model in experiment
3D atom probe is getting there[1], though that's not at all appropriate for biological samples. This is where you get a microscopic conical section of your sample and remove material one layer of atoms at a time using a laser and then detect the ions removed using a mass spectrometer. This gives a 3D reconstruction of your sample, which is incredibly useful for crystallography.
Of course, you can also do tomography with STEM/TEM too, and reconstruct a 3D model that way. I've seen people do this with analytical EM so you get a 3D model colour-coded by composition, though this hasn't been at atomic resolution.
> there are single photon X-Ray methods being developed that will get us extremely close to complete 3D models
Do you have a link to some key papers? Sounds fascinating!
Good question. I assume it could only scan the surface though unless you scrapped the object away layer by layer. So a complete scan would be destructive.
It's not just the surface. It depends on the technique and the microscope, but all the atoms between where the beam enters and leaves the sample will contribute in some way (though you can have a narrower depth of focus that basically images a few layers at a time, and you can image that way).
> unless you scrapped the object away layer by layer. So a complete scan would be destructive.
There are other techniques that almost do exactly that! e.g. a SEM (not to be confused with a (S)TEM) can be equipped with a focused ion beam to selectively remove material from your sample. Sadly it's not possible inside a (S)TEM though, at least not today. But that doesn't mean your (S)TEM imaging is non-destructive. The electron beam itself can knock-off lighter atoms, and will seriously damage your sample if you leave it there long enough (and not in a controlled way, so you couldn't use this to purposefully remove layers from your sample). This is especially problematic for anything biological.
