Showing papers in "Review of Scientific Instruments in 2007"
TL;DR: The most relevant features of WSXM, a freeware scanning probe microscopy software based on MS-Windows, are described and some relevant procedures of the software are carried out.
Abstract: In this work we briefly describe the most relevant features of WSXM, a freeware scanning probe microscopy software based on MS-Windows. The article is structured in three different sections: The introduction is a perspective on the importance of software on scanning probe microscopy. The second section is devoted to describe the general structure of the application; in this section the capabilities of WSXM to read third party files are stressed. Finally, a detailed discussion of some relevant procedures of the software is carried out.
6,996 citations
TL;DR: The technique of atom probe tomography is reviewed with an emphasis on illustrating what is possible with the technique both now and in the future, and how to fabricate suitable specimens from new classes of materials.
Abstract: The technique of atom probe tomography (APT) is reviewed with an emphasis on illustrating what is possible with the technique both now and in the future. APT delivers the highest spatial resolution (sub-0.3-nm) three-dimensional compositional information of any microscopy technique. Recently, APT has changed dramatically with new hardware configurations that greatly simplify the technique and improve the rate of data acquisition. In addition, new methods have been developed to fabricate suitable specimens from new classes of materials. Applications of APT have expanded from structural metals and alloys to thin multilayer films on planar substrates, dielectric films, semiconducting structures and devices, and ceramic materials. This trend toward a broader range of materials and applications is likely to continue.
816 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, iterative projection algorithms are successfully used as a substitute of lenses to recombine, numerically rather than optically, light scattered by illuminated objects, allowing aberration-free diffraction-limited imaging and the possibility of using radiation for which no lenses exist.
Abstract: Iterative projection algorithms are successfully being used as a substitute of lenses to recombine, numerically rather than optically, light scattered by illuminated objects. Images obtained computationally allow aberration-free diffraction-limited imaging and the possibility of using radiation for which no lenses exist. The challenge of this imaging technique is transferred from the lenses to the algorithms. We evaluate these new computational "instruments" developed for the phase-retrieval problem, and discuss acceleration strategies.
479 citations
TL;DR: A new approach to perform the offset lock between the two femtosecond oscillators in a master-slave configuration using a frequency shifter at the third harmonic of the pulse repetition frequency is employed, which permits an unprecedented time-delay resolution of better than 160 fs.
Abstract: High-speed asynchronous optical sampling (ASOPS) is a novel technique for ultrafast time-domain spectroscopy (TDS). It employs two mode-locked femtosecond oscillators operating at a fixed repetition frequency difference as sources of pump and probe pulses. We present a system where the 1 GHz pulse repetition frequencies of two Ti:sapphire oscillators are linked at an offset of ΔfR=10 kHz. As a result, their relative time delay is repetitively ramped from zero to 1 ns within a scan time of 100 μs. Mechanical delay scanners common to conventional TDS systems are eliminated, thus systematic errors due to beam pointing instabilities and spot size variations are avoided when long time delays are scanned. Owing to the multikilohertz scan-rate, high-speed ASOPS permits data acquisition speeds impossible with conventional schemes. Within only 1 s of data acquisition time, a signal resolution of 6×10−7 is achieved for optical pump-probe spectroscopy over a time-delay window of 1 ns. When applied to terahertz TDS, ...
424 citations
TL;DR: Three distinct techniques exist for distributing an ultrastable frequency reference over optical fibers, and it is expected that the optical transfer to be similar in performance to the cw optical frequency transfer.
Abstract: Three distinct techniques exist for distributing an ultrastable frequency reference over optical fibers. For the distribution of a microwave frequency reference, an amplitude-modulated continuous wave (cw) laser can be used. Over kilometer-scale lengths this approach provides an instability at 1 s of ∼3×10−14 without stabilization of the fiber-induced noise and ∼1×10−14 with active noise cancellation. An optical frequency reference can be transferred by directly transmitting a stabilized cw laser over fiber and then disseminated to other optical and microwave regions using an optical frequency comb. This provides an instability at 1 s of 2×10−14 without active noise cancellation and 3×10−15 with active noise cancellation [Recent results reduce the instability at 1 s to 6×10−18.] Finally, microwave and optical frequency references can be simultaneously transmitted using an optical frequency comb, and we expect the optical transfer to be similar in performance to the cw optical frequency transfer. The insta...
402 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that in this mode the FReLoN can be applied equally to the investigation of rapid changes in long range order and local order and in situations of x-ray hardness and flux beyond the capacity of other detectors.
Abstract: Originally conceived and developed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) as an "area" detector for rapid x-ray imaging studies, the fast readout low noise (FReLoN) detector of the ESRF [J.-C. Labiche, ESRF Newsletter 25, 41 (1996)] has been demonstrated to be a highly versatile and unique detector. Charge coupled device (CCD) cameras at present available on the public market offer either a high dynamic range or a high readout speed. A compromise between signal dynamic range and readout speed is always sought. The parameters of the commercial cameras can sometimes be tuned, in order to better fulfill the needs of specific experiments, but in general these cameras have a poor duty cycle (i.e., the signal integration time is much smaller than the readout time). In order to address scientific problems such as time resolved experiments at the ESRF, a FReLoN camera has been developed by the Instrument Support Group at ESRF. This camera is a low noise CCD camera that combines high dynamic range, high readout speed, accuracy, and improved duty cycle in a single image. In this paper, we show its application in a quasi-one-dimensional sense to dynamic problems in materials science, catalysis, and chemistry that require data acquisition on a time scale of milliseconds or a few tens of milliseconds. It is demonstrated that in this mode the FReLoN can be applied equally to the investigation of rapid changes in long range order (via diffraction) and local order (via energy dispersive extended x-ray absorption fine structure) and in situations of x-ray hardness and flux beyond the capacity of other detectors.
391 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Iterative projection algorithms are successfully being used as a substitute of lenses to recombine, numerically rather than optically, light scattered by illuminated objects as mentioned in this paper, and images obtained computationally allow aberration-free diffraction-limited imaging and allow new types of imaging using radiation for which no lenses exist.
Abstract: Iterative projection algorithms are successfully being used as a substitute of lenses to recombine, numerically rather than optically, light scattered by illuminated objects. Images obtained computationally allow aberration-free diffraction-limited imaging and allow new types of imaging using radiation for which no lenses exist. The challenge of this imaging technique is transferred from the lenses to the algorithms. We evaluate these new computational ''instruments'' developed for the phase retrieval problem, and discuss acceleration strategies.
343 citations
TL;DR: Theoretically, the position and mass of the attached particle can be deduced by combining measured resonant frequencies of several bending modes and the result is in good agreement with the expected mass and the position measured.
Abstract: An analytical expression relating mass and position of a particle attached on a cantilever to the resulting change in cantilever resonant frequency is derived. Theoretically, the position and mass of the attached particle can be deduced by combining measured resonant frequencies of several bending modes. This finding is verified experimentally using a microscale cantilever with and without an attached gold bead. The resonant frequencies of several bending modes are measured as a function of the bead position. The bead mass and position calculated from the measured resonant frequencies are in good agreement with the expected mass and the position measured.
222 citations
TL;DR: A camera-based device capable of capturing two photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals at two different wavelengths simultaneously, in a remote noncontact manner is presented and the suitability of the captured PPG signals for application of existing pulse oximetry calibration procedures is demonstrated.
Abstract: We present a camera-based device capable of capturing two photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals at two different wavelengths simultaneously, in a remote noncontact manner. The system comprises a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor camera and dual wavelength array of light emitting diodes (760 and 880 nm). By alternately illuminating a region of tissue with each wavelength of light, and detecting the backscattered photons with the camera at a rate of 16 frames/wavelength s, two multiplexed PPG wave forms are simultaneously captured. This process is the basis of pulse oximetry, and we describe how, with the inclusion of a calibration procedure, this system could be used as a noncontact pulse oximeter to measure arterial oxygen saturation (S(p)O(2)) remotely. Results from an experiment on ten subjects, exhibiting normal S(p)O(2) readings, that demonstrate the instrument's ability to capture signals from a range of subjects under realistic lighting and environmental conditions are presented. We compare the signals captured by the noncontact system to a conventional PPG signal captured concurrently from a finger, and show by means of a J. Bland and D. Altman [Lancet 327, 307 (1986); Statistician 32, 307 (1983)] test, the noncontact device to be comparable to a contact device as a monitor of heart rate. We highlight some considerations that should be made when using camera-based "integrative" sampling methods and demonstrate through simulation, the suitability of the captured PPG signals for application of existing pulse oximetry calibration procedures.
221 citations
TL;DR: The dynamic heat-transfer problem for the temperature distribution in the membrane-gas system at ultrafast processing has been solved and it has been established that nearly amorphous polyethylene can be obtained at a cooling rate of 10(6) K/s.
Abstract: To generate artificial materials with advanced physical and chemical properties and to study phase transition kinetics on submillisecond time scale, an ultrafast nonadiabatic membrane nanocalorimeter was constructed. A set of commercially available membrane gauges for ultrafast nanocalorimetry has been developed. The gauges placed in a thermostat with controlled helium gas pressure and temperature can be utilized as devices for thermal processing and calorimetry with resolution of 1nJ∕K. Controlled ultrafast cooling, as well as heating, up to 106K∕s can be attained for nanogram samples. The maximum cooling rate is inversely proportional to the radius of the heated region of the gauge, which was in the range of 10–100μm depending on the gauge. The minimum addenda heat capacity was 3nJ∕K. The dynamic heat-transfer problem for the temperature distribution in the membrane-gas system at ultrafast processing has been solved. The characteristic rate R0 corresponding to quasistatic limit of the temperature change...
210 citations
TL;DR: An inexpensive magnetic tweezer setup for the application of precisely controlled forces up to 100 nN onto 5 microm magnetic beads to characterize the local viscoelasticity of soft materials in the nonlinear regime.
Abstract: Magnetic micromanipulation using magnetic tweezers is a versatile biophysical technique and has been used for single-molecule unfolding, rheology measurements, and studies of force-regulated processes in living cells. This article describes an inexpensive magnetic tweezer setup for the application of precisely controlled forces up to 100nN onto 5μm magnetic beads. High precision of the force is achieved by a parametric force calibration method together with a real-time control of the magnetic tweezer position and current. High forces are achieved by bead-magnet distances of only a few micrometers. Applying such high forces can be used to characterize the local viscoelasticity of soft materials in the nonlinear regime, or to study force-regulated processes and mechanochemical signal transduction in living cells. The setup can be easily adapted to any inverted microscope.
TL;DR: The design features of the beamline are described, some experimental results in the above mentioned fields are reported and photoelectron spectroscopy with a total instrumental resolution of about 150 meV is possible.
Abstract: The crystal monochromator beamline KMC-1 at a BESSY II bending magnet covers the energy range from soft (1.7 keV) to hard x-rays (12 keV) employing the (n,-n) double crystal arrangement with constant beam offset. The monochromator is equipped with three sets of crystals, InSb, Si (111), and Si (422) which are exchangeable in situ within a few minutes. Beamline and monochromator have been optimized for high flux and high resolution. This could be achieved by (1) a windowless setup under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions up to the experiment, (2) by the use of only three optical elements to minimize reflection losses, (3) by collecting an unusually large horizontal radiation fan (6 mrad) with the toroidal premirror, and (4) the optimization of the crystal optics to the soft x-ray range necessitating quasibackscattering crystal geometry (theta(Bragg,max)=82 degrees) delivering crystal limited resolution. The multipurpose beamline is in use for a variety of user facilities such as extended x-ray absorption fine structure, ((Bio-)EXAFS) near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Due to the windowless UHV setup the k edges of the technologically and biologically important elements such as Si, P, and S are accessible. In addition to these experiments this beamline is now extensively used for photoelectron spectroscopy at high kinetic energies. Photon flux in the 10(11)-10(12) photons/s range and beamline resolving powers of more than E/DeltaE approximately 100.000 have been measured at selected energies employing Si (nnn) high order radiation in quasibackscattering geometry, thus photoelectron spectroscopy with a total instrumental resolution of about 150 meV is possible. This article describes the design features of the beamline and reports some experimental results in the above mentioned fields.
TL;DR: In this paper, an image analysis technique for subpixel estimation of particle positions is proposed, and an algorithm is proposed to minimize the total error and pixel locking in a dusty plasma experiment.
Abstract: The moment method is an image analysis technique for subpixel estimation of particle positions. The total error in the calculated particle position includes effects of pixel locking and random noise in each pixel. Pixel locking, also known as peak locking, is an artifact where calculated particle positions are concentrated at certain locations relative to pixel edges. We report simulations to gain an understanding of the sources of error and their dependence on parameters the experimenter can control. We suggest an algorithm, and we find optimal parameters an experimenter can use to minimize total error and pixel locking. For a dusty plasma experiment, we find that a subpixel accuracy of 0.017 pixel or better can be attained. These results are also useful for improving particle position measurement and particle tracking velocimetry using video microscopy in fields including colloids, biology, and fluid mechanics.
TL;DR: An ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy system in the visible combining high-sensitivity broadband detection with extreme temporal resolution is presented, based on an ultrabroadband sub-10 fs optical parametric amplifier coupled to an optical multichannel analyzer with fast electronics.
Abstract: We present an ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy system in the visible combining high-sensitivity broadband detection with extreme temporal resolution. The instrument is based on an ultrabroadband sub-10fs optical parametric amplifier coupled to an optical multichannel analyzer with fast electronics, enabling single-shot detection at 1kHz repetition rate. For a given pump-probe delay τ, we achieve a differential transmission (ΔT∕T) sensitivity of the order of 10−4 over the λpr=490–720nm probe wavelength range by averaging over 1000 shots, allowing the acquisition of complete two-dimensional ΔT∕T (λpr,τ) maps within a few minute measurement time. We present application examples highlighting the capability of this instrument to observe ultrafast dynamical processes, follow impulsively excited vibrational motions with frequency as high as 3000cm−1 (11fs period), and determine the probe wavelength dependence of amplitude and phase of the oscillations.
TL;DR: The basic principles underlying EMBL's SPIM and its unique properties such as the efficient usage of the fluorophores, the reduced photo toxic effects, the true optical sectioning capability, and the excellent axial resolution are described.
Abstract: The critical issue of all fluorescence microscopes is the efficient use of the fluorophores, i.e., to detect as many photons from the excited fluorophores as possible, as well as to excite only the fluorophores that are in focus. This issue is addressed in EMBL’s implementation of a light sheet based microscope [single plane illumination microscope (SPIM)], which illuminates only the fluorophores in the focal plane of the detection objective lens. The light sheet is a beam that is collimated in one and focused in the other direction. Since no fluorophores are excited outside the detectors’ focal plane, the method also provides intrinsic optical sectioning. The total number of observable time points can be improved by several orders of magnitude when compared to a confocal fluorescence microscope. The actual improvement factor depends on the number of planes acquired and required to achieve a certain signal to noise ratio. A SPIM consists of five basic units, which address (1) light detection, (2) illumina...
TL;DR: A streaked optical pyrometer that measures the self-emission of laser-driven shocks simultaneously with a velocity interferometer system for any reflector (VISAR) to obtain the temporally and spatially resolved temperatures of approximately megabar shocks driven by the OMEGA laser.
Abstract: The temperature of laser-driven shock waves is of interest to inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density physics. We report on a streaked optical pyrometer that measures the self-emission of laser-driven shocks simultaneously with a velocity interferometer system for any reflector (VISAR). Together these diagnostics are used to obtain the temporally and spatially resolved temperatures of approximately megabar shocks driven by the OMEGA laser. We provide a brief description of the diagnostic and how it is used with VISAR. Key spectral calibration results are discussed and important characteristics of the recording system are presented.
TL;DR: Three data acquisition schemes for two-particle coincidence experiments with a continuous source are discussed and computer simulated spectra are presented to illustrate the analytically predicted features of the various raw time-of-flight distributions obtained with each technique.
Abstract: Three data acquisition schemes for two-particle coincidence experiments with a continuous source are discussed. The single-start/single-stop technique, implemented with a time-to-pulse-height converter, results in a complicated spectrum and breaks down severely at high count rates. The single-start/multiple-stop setup, based on a time-to-digital converter and the first choice in today’s similar coincidence experiments, performs significantly better at high count rates, but its performance is still hampered if the time-of-flight range is large, and the false coincidence background is variable if the event frequency and the collection efficiency of the starts are both high. A straightforward, multistart/multistop setup is proposed for coincidence experiments. By collecting all detector data, it ensures the highest signal-to-noise ratio, constant background, and fast data acquisition and can now be easily constructed with commercially available time-to-digital converters. Analytical and numerically evaluated formulas are derived to characterize the performance of each setup in a variety of environments. Computer simulated spectra are presented to illustrate the analytically predicted features of the various raw time-of-flight distributions obtained with each technique.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: A novel method to perform nanoscale mechanical characterization of highly deformable nanofibers has been developed, which demonstrated an apparent elastic-perfectly plastic behavior with elastic modulus of 7.6+/-1.5 GPa and large irreversible strains that exceeded 220%.
Abstract: A novel method to perform nanoscale mechanical characterization of highly deformable nanofibers has been developed. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) test platform with an on-chip leaf-spring load cell that was tuned with the aid of a focused ion beam was built for fiber gripping and force measurement and it was actuated with an external piezoelectric transducer. Submicron scale tensile tests were performed in ambient conditions under an optical microscope. Engineering stresses and strains were obtained directly from images of the MEMS platform, by extracting the relative rigid body displacements of the device components by digital image correlation. The accuracy in determining displacements by this optical method was shown to be better than 50nm. In the application of this method, the mechanical behavior of electrospun polyacrylonitrite nanofibers with diameters ranging from 300to600nm was investigated. The stress-strain curves demonstrated an apparent elastic-perfectly plastic behavior with elastic modulus of 7.6±1.5GPa and large irreversible strains that exceeded 220%. The large fiber stretch ratios were the result of a cascade of periodic necks that formed during cold drawing of the nanofibers.
TL;DR: This analysis shows that Raman spectroscopy has the potential to measure both evolving temperature and stress fields in devices using a single optical measurement.
Abstract: Analysis of the Raman Stokes peak position and its shift has been frequently used to estimate either temperature or stress in microelectronics and microelectromechanical system devices. However, if both fields are evolving simultaneously, the Stokes shift represents a convolution of these effects, making it difficult to measure either quantity accurately. By using the relative independence of the Stokes linewidth to applied stress, it is possible to deconvolve the signal into an estimation of both temperature and stress. Using this property, a method is presented whereby the temperature and stress were simultaneously measured in doped polysilicon microheaters. A data collection and analysis method was developed to reduce the uncertainty in the measured stresses resulting in an accuracy of +/-40 MPa for an average applied stress of -325 MPa and temperature of 520 degrees C. Measurement results were compared to three-dimensional finite-element analysis of the microheaters and were shown to be in excellent agreement. This analysis shows that Raman spectroscopy has the potential to measure both evolving temperature and stress fields in devices using a single optical measurement.
TL;DR: Spitzer's expected role in infrared astronomy for the new millennium is discussed and pertinent details of the design, construction, launch, in-orbit checkout, and operations of the observatory are described.
Abstract: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Spitzer Space Telescope (formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility) is the fourth and final facility in the Great Observatories Program, joining Hubble Space Telescope (1990), the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (1991–2000), and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (1999). Spitzer, with a sensitivity that is almost three orders of magnitude greater than that of any previous ground-based and space-based infrared observatory, is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the creation of the universe, the formation and evolution of primitive galaxies, the origin of stars and planets, and the chemical evolution of the universe. This review presents a brief overview of the scientific objectives and history of infrared astronomy. We discuss Spitzer’s expected role in infrared astronomy for the new millennium. We describe pertinent details of the design, construction, launch, in-orbit checkout, and operations of the observatory and summarize some science highlights from the first two and a half years of Spitzer operations. More information about Spitzer can be found at http://spitzer.caltech.edu/.
TL;DR: It is found that AFM and LDV result in similar uncertainty in the calibrated spring constants, about 5%, using either the thermal tune or Sader methods provided that certain limitations of the methods and instrumentation are observed.
Abstract: Uncertainty in cantilever spring constants is a critical issue in atomic force microscopy (AFM) force measurements. Though numerous methods exist for calibrating cantilever spring constants, the accuracy of these methods can be limited by both the physical models themselves as well as uncertainties in their experimental implementation. Here we report the results from two of the most common calibration methods, the thermal tune method and the Sader method. These were implemented on a standard AFM system as well as using laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV). Using LDV eliminates some uncertainties associated with optical lever detection on an AFM. It also offers considerably higher signal to noise deflection measurements. We find that AFM and LDV result in similar uncertainty in the calibrated spring constants, about 5%, using either the thermal tune or Sader methods provided that certain limitations of the methods and instrumentation are observed.
TL;DR: The use of a silicon probe for LTA enables bulk fabrication, parallelization for high-throughput analysis, and fabrication of a sharp tip capable of nanoscale spatial resolution.
Abstract: This article describes the use of heated silicon atomic force microscopy probes to perform local thermal analysis (LTA) of a thin film of polystyrene. The experiments measure film softening behavior with 100nm spatial resolution, whereas previous research on LTA used probes that had a resolution near 10μm, which was too large to investigate some types of features. This article demonstrates four methods by which heated silicon probes can perform thermal analysis with nanoscale spatial resolution. The polystyrene softening temperature measured from nanoscale LTA techniques is 120°C, compared to 100°C, measured with bulk ellipsometry. The discrepancy is attributed to the thermal contact resistance at the end of the silicon probe tip, on the order of 107K∕W, which modulates heat flow between the tip and sample and governs the fundamental limits of this technique. The use of a silicon probe for LTA enables bulk fabrication, parallelization for high-throughput analysis, and fabrication of a sharp tip capable of...
TL;DR: A new method is presented for analyzing the effects of self-absorption on photoluminescence integrating sphere quantum yield measurements, taking into account both the initial emission and subsequent absorption and reemission processes.
Abstract: A new method is presented for analyzing the effects of self-absorption on photoluminescence integrating sphere quantum yield measurements. Both the observed quantum yield and luminescence spectrum are used to determine the self-absorption probability, taking into account both the initial emission and subsequent absorption and reemission processes. The analysis is experimentally validated using the model system of the laser dye perylene red dispersed in a polymer film. This approach represents an improvement over previous methods that tend to overestimate the true quantum yield, especially in cases with high sample absorbance or quantum yield values.
TL;DR: In this paper, a fast non-deterministic random number generator whose randomness relies on the intrinsic randomness of the quantum physical processes of photonic emission in semiconductors and subsequent detection by the photoelectric effect is presented.
Abstract: We report upon the realization of a novel fast nondeterministic random number generator whose randomness relies on the intrinsic randomness of the quantum physical processes of photonic emission in semiconductors and subsequent detection by the photoelectric effect. Timing information of detected photons is used to generate binary random digits-bits. The bit extraction method based on the restartable clock method theoretically eliminates both bias and autocorrelation while reaching efficiency of almost 0.5 bits per random event. A prototype has been built and statistically tested.
TL;DR: Here a technique of obtaining the torsional photodetector sensitivity by combining the direct and indirect methods is proposed and a conversion factor was obtained showing that quantitative friction measurements in liquid are equally feasible provided the correct calibration is performed.
Abstract: A number of atomic force microscopy cantilevers have been exhaustively calibrated by a number of techniques to obtain both normal and frictional force constants to evaluate the relative accuracy of the different methods. These were of either direct or indirect character—the latter relies on cantilever resonant frequencies. The so-called Sader [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 70, 3967 (1999)] and Cleveland [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 64, 403 (1993)] techniques are compared for the normal force constant calibration and while agreement was good, a systematic difference was observed. For the torsional force constants, all the techniques displayed a certain scatter but the agreement was highly encouraging. By far the simplest technique is that of Sader, and it is suggested in view of this validation that this method should be generally adopted. The issue of the photodetector calibration is also addressed since this is necessary to obtain the cantilever twist from which the torsional force is calculated. Here a technique of obtaining the torsional photodetector sensitivity by combining the direct and indirect methods is proposed. Direct calibration measurements were conducted in liquid as well as air, and a conversion factor was obtained showing that quantitative friction measurements in liquid are equally feasible provided the correct calibration is performed.
TL;DR: A through-substrate hole under the suspended microdevice allows for transmission electron microscopy characterization of the nanofilm sample assembled on the device, which enables one to correlate the measured thermoelectric properties with the crystal structures of thenanofilms.
Abstract: Measuring in-plane thermoelectric properties of submicron thin films has remained a challenging task. Here we report a method based on a suspended microdevice for four-probe measurements of the Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and thermoelectric figure of merit of patterned indium arsenide (InAs) nanofilms assembled on the microdevice. The contact thermal resistance and intrinsic thermal resistance of the 40nm thick InAs nanofilm sample were measured by using the nanofilm itself as a differential thermocouple to determine the temperature drops at the contacts. The microdevice was also used to measure a 190nm thick silicon dioxide (SiO2) film and the results were compared with those reported in the literature. A through-substrate hole under the suspended microdevice allows for transmission electron microscopy characterization of the nanofilm sample assembled on the device. This capability enables one to correlate the measured thermoelectric properties with the crystal str...
TL;DR: In this article, a near-field scanning microwave microscope working at a frequency of 1 GHz was proposed. But the sensing probe is separated from the excitation electrode to significantly suppress the common-mode signal.
Abstract: We present the design and experimental results of a near-field scanning microwave microscope working at a frequency of 1 GHz. Our microscope is unique in that the sensing probe is separated from the excitation electrode to significantly suppress the common-mode signal. Coplanar waveguides were patterned onto a silicon nitride cantilever interchangeable with atomic force microscope tips, which are robust for high speed scanning. In the contact mode that we are currently using, the numerical analysis shows that contrast comes from both the variation in local dielectric properties and the sample topography. Our microscope demonstrates the ability to achieve high resolution microwave images on buried structures, as well as nanoparticles, nanowires, and biological samples.
TL;DR: The first experimental results of Raman measurements on silicon samples as well as brilliant cresyl blue layers on single crystalline gold and platinum surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum are presented.
Abstract: An optical microscope based on tip-enhanced optical processes that can be used for studies on adsorbates as well as thin layers and nanostructures is presented. The microscope provides chemical and topographic informations with a resolution of a few nanometers and can be employed in ultrahigh vacuum as well as gas phase. The construction involves a number of improvements compared to conventional instruments. The central idea is to mount, within an UHV system, an optical platform with all necessary optical elements to a rigid frame that also carries the scanning tunneling microscope unit and to integrate a high numerical aperture parabolic mirror between the scanning probe microscope head and the sample. The parabolic mirror serves to focus the incident light and to collect a large fraction of the scattered light. The first experimental results of Raman measurements on silicon samples as well as brilliant cresyl blue layers on single crystalline gold and platinum surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum are presented. For dye adsorbates a Raman enhancement of ∼106 and a net signal gain of up to 4000 was observed. The focus diameter (∼λ∕2) was measured by Raman imaging the focal region on a Si surface. The requirements of the parabolic mirror in terms of alignment accuracy were experimentally determined as well.
TL;DR: The arduous analysis and classification of hundreds of spectra is reduced to a much shorter analysis of only a few spectra in a procedure for the quick identification of structural phases in thin film composition spread experiments.
Abstract: We are developing a procedure for the quick identification of structural phases in thin film composition spread experiments which map large fractions of compositional phase diagrams of ternary metallic alloy systems. An in-house scanning x-ray microdiffractometer is used to obtain x-ray spectra from 273 different compositions on a single composition spread library. A cluster analysis software is then used to sort the spectra into groups in order to rapidly discover the distribution of phases on the ternary diagram. The most representative pattern of each group is then compared to a database of known structures to identify known phases. Using this method, the arduous analysis and classification of hundreds of spectra is reduced to a much shorter analysis of only a few spectra.