The nature of the superconducting vortex lattice in high-Tc materials will be investigated by a new experimental approach based on scanning probe microscopies. Low-temperature magnetic force and scanning tunneling microscopes will be construed to provide direst imaging of the superconducting flux-line lattice in a wide range of materials of scientific and technological importance. The technique will potentially yield direct imaging of structure and properties of the flux lattice, including two- and three-dimensional melting, glassy behavior, correlated motion, and other topics of modern condensed matter physics. %%% The behavior of superconductors in magnetic fields is of great scientific and technological importance. Understanding the physics of these materials will aid in designing new materials capable of carrying large currents which will enable major new technologies, devices, motors, etc. The properties of the superconductors are being investigated by a novel microscope capable of imaging the magnetic fields in the superconductors. This information is not available by other techniques and will provide new knowledge about the factors that determine the current carrying capabilities of the materials.
