Just for fun: Ion Micrograph

Every year, the 'International Conference on Electron, Ion and Photon Beam Technology and Nanofabrication' (EIPBN) includes a 'Bizarre/Beautiful Micrograph' contest.

Here's an example. This specimen won the 2005 Most Bizarre Prize.

Title: Chisai Benjo
Description: An effective method of dealing with defects is to find a collection site.
Magnification: ~15,000X
Instrument: SII NanoTechnology Inc. / SMI2050MS2
Submitted by: Takahashi Kaito (SII Nanotechnology Inc.)

And for you Star Trek fans, here's the Best Ion Micrograph from 2003:

Title: Nano Trek

Description: Nano Space - The final frontier. The space ship Enterprise NCC-1701D of Star Trek was fabricated in one-billionth scale by 30 kV Ga+ focused-ion- beam CVD using phenanthrene gas. Length 8.8 µm.

Magnification (3"x4" image): 5,000X

Instrument: Seiko Instruments,Inc. SMI9200

Submitted by: Takayuki Hoshino & Shinji Matsui, Himeji Institute of Technology

Hat tip: Bad Astronomy