Scintillation as a tool for studying the interstellar plasma

The interstellar plasma is characterized by variations of electron density having a wide range of physical scales. Radiation propagating through this inhomogeneous plasma is scattered, causing the received intensity to scintillate on a variety of time scales. Observations of the radio frequency spectrum and temporal variation of scintillation give information on the turbulence spectrum of the plasma and the distribution of density irregularities throughout the galaxy. Some uses of scintillation as a means of probing the interstellar plasma will be described.Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom. Published in Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 37, No. 6, pp. 685–692, June, 1994.     

Ion implantation: A useful tool for semiconductor research

The general features of ion implantation are described in a brief survey to illustrate the usefulness of, and the new possibilities for, semiconductor research provided by implantation of high-energy ions. The advantages for research are explained by presenting examples which make use of the special features of implantation. Macroscopic properties are distinguished from the microscopic ones. Macroscopic properties are, for instance, the doping profile obtained, the flexibility in the choice of the implanted impurity, and the chemical, elastical and optical effects of the radiation damage. Microscopic properties are the various states of incorporation of the impurities after implantation, the interaction of the impurities with radiation defects, and the anomalous diffusion observed.     

Tritium planigraphy as a tool for studying the structural organization nanobiocomplexes

The tritium planigraphy method is based on the nonselective substitution of radioactive isotope tritium for hydrogen in hydrocarbon fragments of molecules by means of a chemical reaction involving hot tritium atoms. Data on the steric accessibility of the system components (macromolecules in the complex, amino acid residues, and even individual atomic groups of macromolecules) characterize the structure of the object. The method, applicable to substances in different phase states, has no restrictions on the molecular weight of the target. Tritium planigraphy, used equally successfully in both crystals and solutions, makes it possible to study fine changes in the structure. The main results of studies of the structure of nanosized biocompexes by tritium planigraphy are presented.     

Neutron-deuteron breakup reaction as a tool for studying neutron-neutron interactions

An analysis of the most recent data on the reaction nd → pnn revealed a serious discrepancy between theoretical predictions and cross sections measured for this reaction in various configurations where the role of neutron-neutron interactions is important. In view of this, it seems necessary both to develop theoretical approaches and to obtain new experimental data. For this purpose, a setup for studying the neutron-deuteron breakup reaction was created at the Institute for Nuclear Research on the basis of the neutron beam in the RADEX channel and deuterium targets. This facility makes it possible to perform experiments over a broad region of primary-neutron energies (10–60 MeV) and in various (final-state interaction, quasifree scattering, and spatial-star) configurations. Preliminary results of the respective experiment were obtained for configurations of final-state neutron-neutron interaction and quasifree neutron-neutron scattering.     

Electron tomography as a tool for studying the structures of amorphous alloys

Structural defects in amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys of the CoP–CoNiP–NiP and CoW?CoNiW–NiW systems are studied by means of electron tomography. An algorithm and software are developed to optimize the level of binarization of tomographic models used to select objects. Computer simulations show that the distribution of the volume of material density fluctuations is a Pareto distribution. It is established that a modified Pareto distribution describes the experimental distribution of volumes with a smaller error.     

Nuclear orientation as a tool for studying the structure of very unstable nuclei

With the availability of modern isotope separator on-line systems it has become possible to make broad and systematic studies of low-energy low-spin nuclear structure. A vital ingredient in such a program is unique spin-parity assignments to all low-lying levels. A most desirable complement to spin-parity information is detailed spectroscopic information. Obtaining such information far from stability is difficult because of low activity production. Nuclear orientation provides a means for obtaining spin assignments usingsingles measurements. This is less demanding on source intensities than - angular correlation coincidence measurements. Further, nuclear orientation can provide information on magnetic moments and on multipole mixing ratios. A number of structural problems are discussed: the need for unique spin assignments in systematics schemes; the need to distinguish between E2+E0 and M1 transitions; the importance of measuring E2-M1 mixing ratios; and the value of magnetic moment information. Particular emphasis is placed on the desirability of obtaining such information in the neutron-deficient Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi isotopes, based upon the experimental program at the UNISOR facility.Work supported in part by U.S.Dept. of Energy, Contract No. DE-AS05-80ER10599.     

Quasifree proton scattering on halo nuclei as a tool for studying the neutron-halo structure

An experimental method is proposed for investigating the structure of the two-neutron halo in quasifree proton scattering on clusters of halo nuclei. This scattering process is studied in inverse kinematics by using a ⁶He beam incident to a stack of track emulsions. Preliminary data on the reaction ⁶He + p → ⁴He + p + X are compared with the results of simple kinematical calculations for quasifree proton scattering on the clusters forming the halo of the ⁶He nucleus.     

Holographic flow visualization as a tool for studying three-dimensional coherent structures and instabilities

Holography is capable of three-dimensional (3D) representation of spatial objects such as fluid interfaces and particle ensembles. Based on this, we adapt it into a 3D flow visualization tool called Holographic Flow Visualization (HFV). This technique provides a novel means of studying spatially and temporally evolving complex fluid flow structures marked by a disperse phase or interfaces of different fluids. This paper demonstrates that HFV is a straightforward technique, especially when the In-line Recording Off-axis Viewing (IROV) configuration is used. The technique can be applied either as a stand-alone experimental tool for studying scalar-based coherent structures, flow instabilities, interactions of different fluids driven by fluid dynamics, interfacial phenomena, or as a precursor to volumetric 3D velocity vector field measurement of complex transient flow dynamics. Experimental results in several complex fluid flows and flames demonstrate the effectiveness of HFV. Different methods are used to mark flow structures undergoing different instabilities: 1) a vortex ring grown out of a drop of polymer suspension falling in water, 2) cascade of a bag-shaped drop of milk in water, and 3) internal flow structures of a jet diffusion flame.     

Plasma-stimulated penetrability of hydrogen as a tool for studying phase transitions at grain boundaries

It is well known that the diffusion of hydrogen atoms through the intrinsic defects of a crystal lattice has characteristics different from those of bulk diffusion and, at certain parameters for some polycrystalline metals, ensures the determining contribution to the transfer of hydrogen atoms through the material. Grain boundaries (and dislocations) are the most important and shortest paths, the diffusion through which is much faster than bulk diffusion through a crystal lattice. It is particularly important to take into account this diffusion in materials with grains having sizes of about several nanometers. The possibility of using the method of the plasma-stimulated penetrability of hydrogen to analyze phase transitions at the grain boundaries is demonstrated on the example of polycrystalline niobium foils. In contrast to the existing methods, this method proposed for studying grain-boundary diffusion and phase transitions is simple and ensures control over the surface. The temperature characteristics of the diffusion of hydrogen atoms through niobium grain boundaries have been measured.     

Ion implantation

The extreme sensitivity of Mössbauer Spectroscopy to the local atomic and electronic configuration around ion implanted Mössbauer probes is demonstrated in a number of recent defect configuration studies in semiconductors and metals. A surge of interest is observed towards Mössbauer studies on high dose implantations connected with materials research: recent studies are reviewed dealing with ion beam synthesis, ion beam modification and ion beam mixing of materials.     

Ion implantation

Some developments in applications of Mössbauer spectroscopy to investigate ion-implanted radioactive source isotopes in solids are presented. Emphasis is layed on impurity and defect studies in metals and semiconductors. The particular role of Mössbauer spectroscopy in comparison to and in combination with other analytical techniques is illustrated. Recently developed on-line implantation techniques are described, their merits and prospects are discussed.     

Ion implantation for semiconductor processing

The potential advantages of ion implantation have been exploited in virtually every kind of semiconductor device. Several commercially important devices owe their existence to this technique.

Ion implantation provides precise control over the amount of dopant, concentration profile and lateral dimensions in device fabrication. The high degree of uniformity and reproducibility have made it possible to produce sophisticated devices and integrated circuits with high yield and tight tolerances. This is a truly planar process. It is possible to achieve high doping concentrations with relatively lower processing temperatures thereby avoiding lifetime degradation. The process is carried out in an inherently clean environment. A wide range of dopants is available and one is not limited by the particular properties of the substrate. There is great flexibility in choice of masking materials and self-alignment of doped regions in MOS devices is facilitated.

The increasing impact of ion implantation on device technology is discussed with reference to some recent developments. Specific commercially manufactured devices are mentioned.

Ion implantation machines continue to undergo development aimed at higher throughputs and cleaner vacuum. There is the need for greater reliability of machines. Effort is also directed at the development of low cost machines for dedicated applications.

Design of implanted devices continues to be an empirical process in some respects. The ability to accurately predict profile shapes in samples implanted (perhaps through a screen oxide) and subject to complicated post-implantation process steps, would cut down development time and costs.     

Dewetting as an investigative tool for studying properties of thin polymer films

Employing mass conservation, time-resolved dewetting experiments of thin polymer films allow to determine in real time the dynamic contact angle and the slippage length. Moreover, based on a systematic variation of interfacial properties of a polymer brush, dewetting makes it possible to calculate the force it needs to extract a single polymer chain from its own melt. In the visco-elastic regime close to the glass transition, the temperature and molecular weight dependence of the relaxation time of residual stresses resulting from film preparation by spin-coating can be obtained from the evolution of the shape of the dewetting rim. The presented examples demonstrate that dewetting represents a powerful approach for a sensitive characterization of rheological, frictional and interfacial properties of thin polymer films.     

Identity method—a new tool for studying chemical fluctuations

Event-by-event fluctuations of the chemical composition of the hadronic system produced in nuclear collisions are believed to be sensitive to properties of the transition between confined and deconfined strongly interacting matter. In this paper a new technique for the study of chemical fluctuation, the identity method, is introduced and its features are discussed. The method is tested using data on central PbPb collisions at 40 A GeV registered by the NA49 experiment at the CERN SPS.     

Ion implantation a powerful technique for the production of metastable superconducting alloys

Ion implantation at liquid helium temperatures is a new method of producing metastable alloys. The special features of this alloying technique are illustrated by two selected examples of dilute and concentrated alloys, respectively. Superconductors containing small amounts of paramagnetic (3d)-impurities such asHgMn, PbMn andSnMn exhibit strong pair breaking effects. In the case ofSnMn the Kondo effect is observed. Concentrated alloys of Pd and Pd-noble metal alloys with hydrogen (deuterium) are only superconducting in a very high concentration range, being unstable at room temperature. Such concentrations can be achieved by ion implantation at liquid He-temperatures. The superconducting transition temperature can thus be raised to a maximum value of 16.6 K in aH/Pd _0.55 Cu_0.45?0.7 alloy.     

Channeling of charged particles in crystals as an effective tool for studying Mo-Re alloys

The crystal structure of Mo-Re alloys is investigated by channeling of helium ions at an energy of 1.8 MeV in the concentration range in which the electronic topological transition was previously revealed from an analysis of the superconducting and normal properties. It is found that, for Mo-Re alloys containing 11 and 32 at. % Re, the dependences of the yield Y of backscattered particles on the angle θ between the particle beam and the 〈110〉 crystallographic direction exhibit a specific feature in the form of an additional maximum at the half-width (θ = 0.8°). It is assumed that the observed feature is associated with the formation of a superstructure due to the electronic topological transition in Mo-Re alloys.     

Electron spin relaxation as a tool for studying the dynamics in the outer solvation sphere of 6S spin state ions

The apparently homogeneous E.S.R. spectra of solution manganous ions are interpreted in terms of a sum of degenerate lorentzian lineshapes with different widths. The existence of a distribution of linewidths instead of a single linewidth, is interpreted assuming that the electron spin relaxation is dominated by rotation of a static zero-field splitting tensor caused by slow configurational changes of the ionic environment, including first and second solvation spheres. Typical configurational lifetimes of the second solvation sphere were found to be τ _k ～ 10^-9 s. Details of the ionic structure and dynamics are discussed.     

Wavelet Jensen–Shannon divergence as a tool for studying the dynamics of frequency band components in EEG epileptic seizures

We develop a quantitative method of analysis of EEG records. The method is based on the wavelet analysis of the record and on the capability of the Jensen–Shannon divergence (JSD) to identify dynamical changes in a time series. The JSD is a measure of distance between probability distributions. Therefore for its evaluation it is necessary to define a (time dependent) probability distribution along the record. We define this probability distribution from the wavelet decomposition of the associated time series. The wavelet JSD provides information about dynamical changes in the scales and can be considered a complementary methodology reported earlier [O.A. Rosso, S. Blanco, A. Rabinowicz, Signal Processing 86 (2003) 1275; O.A. Rosso, S. Blanco, J. Yordanova, V. Kolev, A. Figliola, M. Schürmann, E. Ba?ar, J. Neurosci. Methods 105 (2001) 65; O.A. Rosso, M.T. Martin, A. Figliola, K. Keller, A. Plastino, J. Neurosci. Methods 153 (2006) 163]. In the present study we have demonstrated it by analyzing EEG signal of tonic–clonic epileptic seizures applying the JSD method. The display of the JSD curves enables easy comparison of frequency band component dynamics. This would, in turn, promise easy and successful comparison of the EEG records from various scalp locations of the brain.     

Atomic force microscopy: a powerful tool for studying bacterial swarming motility

Swarming motility is a fascinating phenomenon by which some bacteria use flagella to move over solid surfaces. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying swarming motility requires studying the factors that induce and control flagella expression in swarming cells. Traditionally, flagella are observed by optical or electron microscopy, but none of these techniques combine versatility and easiness, with quantitative and high-resolution information. We report an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based approach for the fast imaging of bacterial phenotypes (cell shape, flagella expression) in swarming motility studies. Cells from the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis sv. israelensis were inoculated on energy-rich media containing increasing agar concentrations. Following swarming assays (2 days), the cell morphology and the amount of flagella were directly observed by AFM imaging in air. Consistent with the macroscopic swarming behavior, cells harvested from the rim of colonies spreading on soft agar were hyperflagellated, elongated and arranged in chains. Increasing the agar concentration led to much lower amounts of flagella and to shorter rod-shaped cells, a finding consistent with the slower swarming motility of the cells. Cells taken from colony centers on soft and hard agar surfaces were generally non-flagellated, rod-shaped, rarely arranged in chains, and exhibited lysis and sporulation. This study shows that AFM imaging can readily discriminate between swarming and non-swarming cells, and quantify their morphological details, thus offering an important tool to study the dynamics of bacterial populations.     

Ion implantation in insulators

The modifications of insulating materials by ion implantation can be of considerable interest for many applications. If ion implantation has considerable potential for changing the properties of insulators, only a few experiments have determined the critical parameters which are important in the behaviour of the implanted layer. As a matter of fact, the ion implantation process is, by its very nature, a non-equilibrium process and, in addition, the injection of charged particles in a lattice determines a concomitant creation of intrinsic lattice defects. These defects are associated with the nuclear part of the energy loss of the particles and sometimes with the electronic one (halide compounds). The characterization of these intrinsic defects and the knowledge of their spatial distribution in the lattice are necessary because the formation or dissolution of phases precipitated in the implanted layer are strongly influenced by point or extended defects.

The main parameters which determine the charge state and site location of the implanted atoms in insulating targets are: ionicity of the chemical bond of the lattice, electronegativity, thermal or radiation enhanced diffusion processes, and intrinsic defects. For heavily implanted insulators, phase changes of compositional type can occur which can lead to strong modifications of the physical properties of the implanted layer. In order to obtain information on the relative extent of the critical parameters of chemical implantation in insulators it is necessary to combine analysis with different techniques such as, nuclear techniques, TEM, ESR, optical spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction at glancing angle, etc.

To illustrate the effects of these parameters, typical experimental results obtained in implanted binary or ternary compounds are reported (alkali halides, silver halides, alkaline earth oxides or fluorides, transition metal oxides, natural minerals, etc.).