Microscopy imaging and quantitative phase contrast mapping in turbid microfluidic channels by digital holography

We show that sharp imaging and quantitative phase-contrast microcopy is possible in microfluidics in flowing turbid media by digital holography. In fact, in flowing liquids with suspended colloidal particles, clear vision is hindered and cannot be recovered by any other microscopic imaging technique. On the contrary, using digital holography, clear imaging is possible thanks to the Doppler frequency shift experienced by the photons scattered by the flowing colloidal particles, which do not contribute to the interference process, i.e. the recorded hologram. The method is illustrated and imaging results are demonstrated for pure phase objects, i.e. biological cells in microfluidic channels.     

Sound absorption behavior of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membranes

The acoustical damping property of electrospun polyacrylonitrile(PAN) nanofibrous membranes with different thicknesses and porosities was investigated.The sound absorption coefficients were measured using the impedance tube instrument based on ISO 10534-2:1998(E).Results indicate that the first resonance absorption frequency of nanofibrous membranes shifts to the lower frequency with the increase of the back cavity or the thickness of membranes.Moreover,the sound absorption performance of the perforated panel can be greatly improved by combination with a thin layer of PAN nanofibrous membrane.Traditional acoustical damping materials(foam,fiber) coated with nanofibrous membranes have better acoustical performance in the low and medium frequency range than that of acoustical materials alone.All of the results demonstrate the PAN nanofibrous membrane is a suitable candidate for noise reduction.     

Electron holography with a Cs-corrected transmission electron microscope.

Cs correctors have revolutionized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in that they substantially improve point resolution and information limit. The object information is found sharply localized within 0.1 nm, and the intensity image can therefore be interpreted reliably on an atomic scale. However, for a conventional intensity image, the object exit wave can still not be detected completely in that the phase, and hence indispensable object information is missing. Therefore, for example, atomic electric-field distributions or magnetic domain structures cannot be accessed. Off-axis electron holography offers unique possibilities to recover completely the aberration-corrected object wave with uncorrected microscopes and hence we would not need a Cs-corrected microscope for improved lateral resolution. However, the performance of holography is affected by aberrations of the recording TEM in that the signal/noise properties ("phase detection limit") of the reconstructed wave are degraded. Therefore, we have realized off-axis electron holography with a Cs-corrected TEM. The phase detection limit improves by a factor of four. A further advantage is the possibility of fine-tuning the residual aberrations by a posteriori correction. Therefore, a combination of both methods, that is, Cs correction and off-axis electron holography, opens new perspectives for complete TEM analysis on an atomic scale.     

菲涅耳非相干相关数字全息研究进展

非相干数字全息术是当前国际前沿重要研究领域之一。传统全息术由于采用相干光源照明会在全息图记录过程中引入大量散斑噪声和寄生干涉,且对设备和记录条件要求很高,极大地限制了其应用范围。采用非相干光源照明的非相干全息术则可完全避免这些问题。菲涅耳非相干相关全息术是非相干全息术中最重要的类型之一。本文简要说明了菲涅耳非相干全息术的原理与特点,重点分析了该技术在抑制直流项和共轭像干扰、提高成像分辨率、改善再现像质量及相关应用等方面的研究进展。     

Holographic pixel super-resolution in portable lensless on-chip microscopy using a fiber-optic array

We report a portable lensless on-chip microscope that can achieve <1 μm resolution over a wide field-of-view of ～ 24 mm(2) without the use of any mechanical scanning. This compact on-chip microscope weighs ～ 95 g and is based on partially coherent digital in-line holography. Multiple fiber-optic waveguides are butt-coupled to light emitting diodes, which are controlled by a low-cost micro-controller to sequentially illuminate the sample. The resulting lensfree holograms are then captured by a digital sensor-array and are rapidly processed using a pixel super-resolution algorithm to generate much higher resolution holographic images (both phase and amplitude) of the objects. This wide-field and high-resolution on-chip microscope, being compact and light-weight, would be important for global health problems such as diagnosis of infectious diseases in remote locations. Toward this end, we validate the performance of this field-portable microscope by imaging human malaria parasites (Plasmodium falciparum) in thin blood smears. Our results constitute the first-time that a lensfree on-chip microscope has successfully imaged malaria parasites.     

Direct Visualization of Electromagnetic Microfields by Superposition of Two Kinds of Electron Holograms

A new electron holographic method is presented to directly visualize pure phase objects such as electromagnetic microfields, which is achieved by superposition of two kinds of electron holograms. The method is very simple and is twice as sensitive as the conventional double-exposure electron holography and the four-electron-wave interference. Using this technique, an electric field around a charged latex sphere and a magnetic field around a barium ferrite particle have been directly observed.     

Electron holography for analysis of atomic structures

The major limitation of electron microscopy can be overcome by means of electron holography; the electron wave carrying the object information is optically transferred from the electron microscope to a computer for subsequent correction of aberrations and thorough wave optical analysis.     

Chemical and Structural Evolution of Silica Alcogels During their Formation: Acoustical Study

Silica aerogels are materials of very high porosity obtained through a sol-gel process. Since their structural properties greatly influence their acoustical and mechanical properties, it is important to follow how the different chemical reactions occur during this process. We present a study of these evolutions for two different types of alcogels through acoustical measurements in the ultrasonic range. These samples have been chosen because of the significantly different behavior of the derived aerogels. The data obtained during gelation show fluctuations of the velocity that can be interpreted in terms of chemical changes. The absence of major changes in the velocity before and after gelation is explained with the aid of Biot's theory of acoustic propagation in porous media.     

DIFFRACTION AND HOLOGRAPHY WITH PHOTOELECTRONS AND FLUORESCENT X-RAYS

We consider studies of the atomic and magnetic structure near surfaces by photoelectron diffraction and by the holographic inversion of both photoelectron diffraction data and diffraction data involving the emission of fluorescent x-rays. The current status of photoelectron diffraction studies of surfaces, interfaces, and other nanostructures is first briefly reviewed, and then several recent developments and proposals for future areas of application are discussed. The application of full-solid-angle diffraction data, together with simultaneous characterization by low energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy, to the epitaxial growth of oxides and metals is considered. Several new avenues that are being opened up by third-generation synchrotron radiation sources are also discussed. These include site-resolved photoelectron diffraction from surface and interface atoms, the possibility of time-resolved measurements of surface reactions with chemical-state resolution, and circular dichroism in photoelectron angular distributions from both non-magnetic and magnetic systems. The addition of spin to the photoelectron diffraction measurement is also considered as a method for studying short-range magnetic order, including the measurement of surface magnetic phase transitions. This spin sensitivity can be achieved through either core-level multiplet splittings or circular-polarized excitation of spin-orbit-split levels. The direct imaging of short-range atomic structure by both photoelectron holography and two distinct types of x-ray holography involving fluorescent emission is also discussed. Both photoelectron and x-ray holography have demonstrated the ability to directly determine at least approximate atomic structures in three dimensions. Photoelectron holography with spin resolution may make it possible also to study short-range magnetic order in a holographic fashion. Although much more recent in its first experimental demonstrations, x-ray fluorescence holography should permit deriving more accurate atomic images for a variety of materials, including both surface and bulk regions.     

Low-frequency raman scattering from methylene-oxyethylene-methylene triblock oligomers

Low-frequency Raman spectra are reported for monodisperse methylene-oxyethylene-methylene triblock oligomers. Assignments are made to the longitudinal acoustical modes (LAMs) of the oxyethylene block and the methylene block. The results for LAM-1 can be modeled by the vibrations of rods with perturbing forces and masses. The results for LAM-3 are not so readily modeled.     

14-Fluoro-bacteriorhodopsin gelatin films for dynamic holography recording

The first dynamic holography recording using 14-fluoro-(14-F) bacteriorhodopsin (BR) gelatin films has been achieved. 14-F BR is an artificial BR pigment made by reconstitution of bacterioopsin (native BR without chromophore) with synthetic 14-F retinal. Low-intensity red light from a cw He-Ne laser was used for dynamic holography recording on the 14-F wild type (WT) BR and 14-F D96N mutant BR in gelatin films. There is not true comparing the diffraction efficiency for 14-F D96N BR and 14-F WT gelatin film, unlike the increased diffraction efficiency for D96N BR gelatin film with native chromophore relative to the WT BR gelatin film with native chromophore. Pre-illumination with blue light of the 14-F BR gelatin films significantly increases the diffraction efficiency of both the 14-F WT and the 14-F D96N BR pigments. The sequential application of blue and red laser beams indicates that 14-F BR gelatin films can be useful for optical memory.     

A Recording Medium Based on Copolymer of 4-((1,5-Dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)diazenyl)phenyl Methacrylate with Nonyl Methacrylate for Polarization Holography

A recording medium based on a novel copolymer of 4-((4-hydroxyphenyl)diazenyl)-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one with nonyl methacrylate is created, and the possibility of its use for polarization holography is investigated. It is shown that, for films based on this copolymer, holograms can be recorded without special heating due to a fairly low softening temperature. The recorded holograms are characterized by low noisiness.     

Dye doped polymer films: From supramolecular photochemistry to the molecular computer

A new concept of “molecular computing” based on spectral hole-burning, the interaction of molecular energy levels with an externally applied electric field and the interferometric properties of holography is presented. The molecular processor introduced here relies on the spectroscopic properties of a dye doped polymer film, which simultaneously can be used for image recording and for parallel processing of the stored information.     

Phonons acoustiques chauds dans l'InP a basses temperatures

We present a numerical method of determination of steady state hot-electron and hot-phonon distribution functions. The coupled Boltzmann equations for acoustical phonons and for the electrons, in the Γ and L valleys of III–V semiconductor compounds, are solved. The computation are used for InP at 77 K. We obtain a significant modification of the distribution of hot acoustical phonons.     

Low-frequency Raman-active modes and temperature dependences in oligo-oxyethylene

Raman spectra have been recorded for monodisperse and polydisperse samples of oligooxyethylene at several temperatures in the range 310–77 K. Four scattering peaks are found with frequency dependent on temperature. One at 92–80 cm^?1 is unaffected by changes in chain length and is assigned to a lattice mode. The others are chain-length dependent and are assigned either to the longitudinal acoustical modes (LAM-1 and LAM-3)or, less certainly, to a transverse acoustical mode.     

Nematic Liquid Crystals as Media for Real-Time Holography

We report on a novel type of orientational photorefractive devices consisting of dye-doped or pure nematic liquid crystals. These systems can be employed as the recording media for real-time (dynamic) holography. Optical addressing of liquid crystal molecules is facilitated due to the natural tendency of molecular self-assembling in nematics and their easy reorientation upon action of an electric field. This field can be produced by incoming light via photoconductivity either in the bulk or at the surface of the nematic liquid crystal layer. We present an experimental study of dynamic self-diffraction of light on thin phase holograms formed in a nematic liquid crystal panel. Optically addressed spatial light modulators designed by us can be the active elements of image processing systems and in this communication we demonstrate the optical correlator performing image recognition.     

STUDY ON RED-SENSITIZED PHOTO-POLYMER SYSTEM FOR HOLOGRAPHY AND ITS PROPERTIES

Study on novel red sensitized photo polymer system for holography is the aim of this thesis. The components in the photo polymer system, for example, photo sensitizer, photoinitiator, monomer, copolymer, stabilizer and hardener, are selected by studying the mechanisms of photochemical reactions and dynamic processes in the area of photo polymer for holography.     

Tutorial on off-axis electron holography.

Through recent years, off-axis electron holography has helped us to understand and to overcome some experimental restrictions in transmission electron microscopy. With development of powerful electron microscopes, slow-scan CCD cameras, and computers, holography is not an academic technique anymore used by specialized laboratories. Holography has proven its wide range of applications in solving real-world problems in materials science and biology. At medium resolution, that is, on nanometer scale, holography allows access to large area phase contrast produced by magnetic fields and electric potentials. In the high-resolution domain, holography unveils its power by unscrambling amplitude and phase of the electron wave, resulting in an improved lateral resolution up to the information limit. Holography is a thoroughly quantitative method, and, in combination with the perfect zero-loss filtering inherent to this method, the interpretation of the reconstructed data is strongly simplified. After outlining the basics of holography, in this tutorial we focus on development of a step-by-step procedure for recording and reconstruction of holograms. At the end, some recent applications are discussed.     

Surface holography with LEED electrons

The present status of surface holography using low energy electron diffraction intensities is described. It is shown that diffuse intensity distributions appearing with disordered adsorption on a crystalline substrate can be interpreted in a holographic sense by the single adatom acting as a beam splitter for the primary electron beam. We demonstrate that intensities taken at many energies need to enter the reconstruction integral in order to retrieve well resolved atomic images. We also show that the method can be extended to use also discrete superstructure spot intensities instead of diffuse maps, so opening the field to ordered superstructures. The power and applicability of the method is discussed.     

Sample preparation for precise and quantitative electron holographic analysis of semiconductor devices.

Wedge polishing was used to prepare one-dimensional Si n-p junction and Si p-channel metal-oxide-silicon field effect transistor (pMOSFET) samples for precise and quantitative electrostatic potential analysis using off-axis electron holography. To avoid artifacts associated with ion milling, cloth polishing with 0.02-microm colloidal silica suspension was used for final thinning. Uniform thickness and no significant charging were observed by electron holography analysis for samples prepared entirely by this method. The effect of sample thickness was investigated and the minimum thickness for reliable results was found to be approximately 160 nm. Below this thickness, measured phase changes were smaller than expected. For the pMOSFET sample, quantitative analysis of two-dimensional electrostatic potential distribution showed that the metallurgical gate length (separation between two extension junctions) was approximately 54 nm, whereas the actual gate length was measured to be approximately 70 nm by conventional transmission electron microscopy. Thus, source and drain junction encroachment under the gate was 16 nm.