Final answer:
Professor Sir Peter Hirsch used an electron microscope, specifically a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), to view the atomic structure of metals. To see deep inside metals, Professor Sir Peter Hirsch used a transmission electron microscope (TEM).
Step-by-step explanation:
Professor Sir Peter Hirsch employed electron microscopy, a groundbreaking technology that uses a beam of electrons to achieve high-resolution magnification and visualize structures within metals.
Electron microscopes enable scientists to explore materials at the atomic level, offering profound insights into composition and structure.
Among these instruments, the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) stands out, utilizing sharp probes rather than traditional electrons or light.
As these probes traverse a specimen's surface, interactions generate information for compiling high-resolution images, revealing details down to individual atoms, such as those on a gold sheet.
This Scanning Probe Microscopy has reached magnifications of up to 100,000,000x, proving indispensable in materials science, nanotechnology, and biomedical research for its ability to provide intricate atomic-level images.
To see deep inside metals, Professor Sir Peter Hirsch used a transmission electron microscope (TEM).