Electron microscope image of a lamella cut from In another collaboration, in this case with the group led by the gold-magnesium boundary layer. The contrast Professor Richard Warburton of the Department of Physics at difference reveals areas with different stoichio- the University of Basel, the NI Lab assisted with analyses of metric compositions of gold and magnesium. The researchers captured electron diffraction patterns quantum dots as a source of individual photons and created an in different regions. (Image: Nano Imaging Lab, interface between the emitted photons and stationary spin SNI, University of Basel) memories. In a recently published study, in which the research- ers succeeded in extending the coherence of an electron spin in a quantum dot for over half a microsecond for the 昀椀rst time, the NI Lab assisted the physicists with microscopic examina- tions of the quantum dots. The NI Lab has played an active role in trinational research projects relating to viticulture for many years — and the year 2023 saw the launch of the WiVitis project, which is approved for a period of three years and seeks to preserve and promote sustainable viticulture. Research groups from Germany, France and Switzerland are exploring how to deal with pests, climate change, and the resulting extreme weather events. The NI Lab’s key contribution to the project are scanning electron micro- scope images of shock-frozen grape vines, as these analyses are an ideal way of visualizing plant structures without causing damage and therefore allow the research teams to obtain valu- able information on the plants’ state of health. As well as assisting with numerous research projects, the sta昀昀 of the NI Lab also carry out research of their own. This allows them to expand the range of services available to cus- tomers in the future. For example, having incorporated a gas injection system onto one of the electron microscopes, the NI Lab team is now able to apply gold to various surfaces. In one 48 SNI Annual Report 2023