Page "Picotechnology" Paragraph 3

Alternatively, picotechnology is used by some researchers in nanotechnology to refer to the fabrication of structures where atoms and devices are positioned with sub-nanometer accuracy.

This is important where interaction with a single atom or molecule is desired, because of the strength of the interaction between two atoms which are very close.

For example, the force between an atom in an atomic force microscope probe tip and an atom in a sample being studied varies exponentially with separation distance, and is sensitive to changes in position on the order of 50 to 100 picometers ( due to Pauli exclusion at short ranges and van der Waals forces at long ranges ).