Fast imaging method combining cantilever and feedback signals in contact-mode atomic force microscopy

A fast imaging method in a contact-mode atomic force microscope (AFM) is examined for its principle and performance, where the image is acquired by combining a cantilever signal and a feedback signal applied to a piezotube. The frequency component of the feedback signal is restricted in the lower frequency region to keep the linear relationship between the feedback signal and the displacement of the piezotube. It is shown that the image is basically independent of the feedback details since a wide detection bandwidth is certified by the cantilever response much faster than by the feedback response, allowing a fast scanning. The fast scanning, however, enhances the distortion in the transient region where surface height changes abruptly. This influence can be reduced by choosing the scan line direction for the data acquisition. The combination procedure also reduces the low-frequency noise in the feedback signal. A 512×512-pixel image was obtained in 90 s without sacrificing the resolution. Received: 24 November 1998 / Accepted: 31 March 1999 / Published online: 2 June 1999     

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy of photochemically produced NaH for the determination of relative dipole transition moments

-30 Cm of isolated lines in the A¹Σ⁺←X¹Σ⁺ NaH transition band were measured. Received: 18 November 1996/Revised version: 10 May 1997     

Concatenation of plasma filaments created in air by femtosecond infrared laser pulses

We report the first observation of the attachment of two single plasma filaments created collinearly in the atmosphere by IR femtosecond laser pulses. The linked filamentary structure is electrically conductive and emits sub-THz radiation over its entire length. Concatenation is achieved only for a specific time ordering between the two initial laser pulses. The pulse producing the filament closer to the laser source must be retarded with respect to the other pulse. This special time ordering is attributed to the acceleration of light in a self-guided pulse. Received: 4 March 2003 / Published online: 14 May 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +33-1/6931-9996, E-mail: stzortz@ensta.fr     

Preparation of P-rich InP surfaces via MOCVD and surface characterization in UHV

For the first time direct contamination-free transfer to UHV was achieved for the P-rich InP(100) surface that is the easiest to prepare and control in the MOCVD environment. To avoid contamination during transfer a commercial MOCVD apparatus was modified to allow for transfer of samples to the 10^-9 mbar UHV range within a very short time (less than 20 s) [1]. Epitaxial InP(100) films were prepared with TBP (tertiarybutylphosphine) and TMIn (trimethylindium) as precursors. In situ reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) was carried out in the MOCVD environment. After transfer of the sample to UHV the same RAS spectrum was recovered. Auger-electron spectra (AES) confirmed the P-termination of the surface reconstructions suggested by RAS. Received: 19 October 1998 / Accepted: 21 April 1999 / Published online: 14 July 1999     

Theory of optical bistability in a non-linear quasi-waveguide

Optical bistable behavior in a quasi-waveguide containing non-linear film has been experimentally investigated in several publications in the past years; however, the physical mechanism for optical bistability has not been theoretically explained. In the present letter, we propose a theoretical model and successfully explain the observed optical bistability of both the reflected light and the scattered light (m-lines) in a non-linear quasi-waveguide. The optical bistability in the non-linear quasi-waveguide is due to the scattering-type wavevector mismatch mechanism. Received: 10 July 2002 / Revised version: 10 September 2002 / Published online: 20 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +86-25/359-5535, E-mail: htwang@nju.edu.cn     

On the imaging mechanism of monatomic steps in graphite

The shape and the atomic arrangement of monolayer steps of graphite have been characterized by STM. The origin of the appearance of the imaged features along the steps is discussed, addressing for the first time both morphological and electronic considerations. Extended Hückel theoretical calculations of nanotubes are used to identify the contribution of the electronic structure to the STM image of monolayer steps. We show that mechanical tip–sample interactions dominate the imaging process of graphite, leading to step deformation during scanning and negative STM contrast of the atom positions in the hexagonal unit cell. Received: 11 April 2000 / Accepted: 18 April 2000 / Published online: 23 August 2000     

Temperature-dependent attenuation of surface acoustic waves in proton-exchanged 128°-rotated Y-cut LiNbO3

3 has been experimentally studied in the frequency range 100 to 460 MHz and in the temperature range 90 to 300 K. At room temperature, the proton exchange leads to the considerable enhancement of acoustic attenuation as compared to the pure samples. Annealing in air, in general, reduces the attenuation. However, an anomalous enhancement of the attenuation at several frequencies for particular conditions of annealing is observed. When the temperature is reduced, the attenuation decreases practically to zero in as-exchanged samples. In the annealed ones, the attenuation attains a minimum in the vicinity of 160 K, and begins to grow at lower temperatures. A sharp peak in the attenuation is observed at 210 K. Several different physical mechanisms including acousto-protonic interaction and structural phase transition seem to be responsible for the observed acoustic attenuation behaviour. Received: 17 July 1996/Accepted: 2 December 1996     

Chemical-state specificity in surface structure determination

In the pursuit of an understanding of complex surfaces, the problem of obtaining quantitative structural information about local adsorbate geometry is especially difficult. Conventional diffraction methods rely on long-range order of the adsorbed species, rarely present in complex coadsorption systems. Elementally specific local structural probes can help, but ultimately one also requires chemical-state specificity. This can be achieved in structural methods that involve detection of photoelectrons through the well-known ‘chemical shifts’ in core-level photoelectron binding energies; specific methods of this type are scanned-energy mode photoelectron diffraction (PhD) and normal-incidence X-ray standing waves (NISXW). Recent examples of chemical-shift PhD and NIXSW applications to complex coadsorption systems and to larger molecular adsorbates demonstrate this potential. Received: 28 April 2000 / Accepted: 6 June 2000 / Published online: 7 March 2001     

(4×2) and (2×4) reconstructions of GaAs and InP(001) surfaces

Received: 21 March 1997/Accepted: 12 August 1997     

Evolution of the deposition rate during pulsed laser deposition of hydroxyapatite coatings and its relation with target morphology

The evolution of the deposition rate during pulsed laser deposition of hydroxyapatite coatings with a KrF excimer laser was studied. This evolution was related to the changes produced on the target morphology during laser irradiation. Laser fluences in the 1.0–5.2 J/cm² range, typical for the deposition of hydroxyapatite coatings, were investigated. Deposition rates were measured through a quartz-crystal microbalance, and the target surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy. At the lowest fluences, the deposition rate decreases as the number of pulses increases. At the same time, a cone structure is developed on the target surface. At the highest fluences, the deposition rate increases with the number of pulses. In this case, the target surface becomes rough but cones are not formed. In all cases, an enlargement of the effective irradiated area results. This enlargement produces the effect of fluence dilution and also an increase of the emitting area. These opposite effects could account for the different evolutions found for the deposition rate. At low fluences the effect of fluence dilution would predominate over the increase of the emitting area, and at high fluences the second effect would predominate over the first. Received: 28 September 2000 / Accepted: 4 October 2000 / Published online: 10 January 2001     

The role of sample rotation and oblique ion incidence on quantum-dot formation by ion sputtering

Starting from a theory recently proposed by Kahng et al. that explains the formation of ordered dots by ion sputtering under normal ion incidence, it was demonstrated that extending this theory to ion sputtering under oblique ion incidence with simultaneous sample rotation offers the self-organized formation of dots by ion sputtering for a large variety of different ion/material combinations. While for sputtering under normal incidence the shape of the collision cascade must be anisotropic, where the lateral straggling exceeds the longitudinal straggling, this constraint is not necessary under oblique incidence. Received: 16 May 2001 / Accepted: 10 September 2001 / Published online: 17 October 2001     

Origin of low-frequency spectrum structure of four-photon scattering in liquid water

-1 has been found experimentally in liquid water. The theoretical interpretation relates these spectral features to an interference of strictional and orientational contributions to the scattered signal. Received: 16 October 1996     

Structure and topography modifications of austenitic steel surfaces after friction in sliding contact

Friction experiments between two austenitic stainless steel (AISI 304L) surfaces in sliding contact were carried out under very low loads in two liquid environments, namely demineralized water and methanol, in order to study the correlation between surface damage (wear and surface topography) and structural modifications (phase formation and microstructure). The particularity of our approach was to perform the tests under Hertzian pressures, which were several orders of magnitude lower than the elastic limit of stainless steel. The structural modifications produced during friction were analysed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and the surface topography was studied by scanning electron microscopy and three-dimensional (3D) profiling. Whatever the experimental conditions investigated, the morphology of the damage observed on both surfaces consisted of very fine, smooth and parallel grooves typical of an abrasive wear process of a ductile material caused by the ploughing action of hard particles. From the beginning of the tests, the transformation of austenite into martensite was observed in the superficial layers and the dominant presence of martensite was identified in the wear debris. These results suggest that, under our experimental conditions, abrasion is the dominant mechanism of material removal. Received: 12 March 2002 / Accepted: 3 May 2002 / Published online: 10 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +33-5/4949-6692, E-mail: jean.paul.riviere@univ-poitiers.fr     

Mammalian cell traces – morphology, molecular composition, artificial guidance and biotechnological relevance as a new type of “bionanotube”

During locomotion, adherently growing cells release highly ordered structures consisting of filaments and patches often dendritically organised. Such traces can be re-incorporated by the donor cell or disconnected and lost. Here, we present the results of a three-year research programme into trace formation and structural organisation including the influence of substrate surface properties. Some phenomena may, ultimately, have medical or technological applications. These include: (i) the deposition and re-incorporation of cellular material as cells move forward and backward; (ii) the ability of cells to differentiate between their own and foreign traces; (iii) the presence of receptors in the intact membrane envelope of filaments and patches; and (iv) the cytoplasmic content of patches. Trace formation is physiologically controlled and a characteristic of many types of actively migrating higher animal and human cells. Possible applications and perspectives are discussed and the importance of cell-trace elements as “bionanotubes” and biological submicron compartments of cells is explained. Received: 5 February 2001 / Accepted: 6 February 2001 / Published online: 23 May 2001     

Restructuring of the surface region in SrTiO3

 The combination of x-ray diffraction analysis with surface sensitive techniques reveals a chemical inhomogeneity in the surface region of monocrystals of SrTiO₃ prepared under low and high partial pressure of oxygen at elevated temperatures. A solid state reaction leads to the formation of a multilayer-type structure. For oxidized crystals we observe AO-rich Ruddlesden-Popper phases at the surface and Magnelli phases of Ti in deeper layers of the surface region. The order of the layered structure is reversed for the reduced crystals with Ti-oxides of different oxidation levels at the surface and Ruddlesden-Popper phases in lower parts of the surface region. It is argued that this restructuring influences the electrical properties of SrTiO₃. Received: 12 July 1996/Accepted: 24 July 1996     

Synthesis of DLC films by PLD from liquid target and dependence of film properties on the synthesis conditions

DLC (Diamond-like carbon films) were prepared by pulsed laser ablation of a liquid target at substrate temperatures from 18 to 600°C using 248 nm KrF excimer laser. The sp³ hybridization state carbon formation was additionally promoted by gaseous H₂O₂ flow through the reaction chamber and substrate excitation by the same laser beam. Deposited DLC films were characterised by Raman scattering spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Comparative AFM and Raman study shows that the increase in the content of sp³ type bonding in DLC is in correlation with the increase of the surface roughness of the samples prepared.     

Origin of reciprocal circular birefringence observed in X-cut, Z-propagation LiNbO3 polarization transformers

Polarimetric investigation reveals up to ≈ 2 rad of reciprocal circular retardation present in 10 commercial X-cut, Z-propagation LiNbO₃ polarization transformers from two suppliers. A recent experiment confirms the static polarization mode coupling observed in polarization transformers which are fabricated in-house using either off-axis or principal-axis propagation. Optical activity is responsible for the nonideal behavior of the integrated electro-optic waveplates. This phenomenon is explained and accurately modelled using LiNbO₃ anisotropy. Furthermore the procedure required to make the polarization transformers ideal is given. Received: 16 May 2001 / Revised version: 9 August 2001 / Published online: 23 October 2001     

Light scattering from mesoscopic objects in diffusive media

No direct imaging is possible in turbid media, where light propagates diffusively over length scales larger than the mean free path .The diffuse intensity is, however, sensitive to the presence of any kind of object embedded in the medium, e.g. obstacles or defects. The long-ranged effects of isolated objects in an otherwise homogeneous, non-absorbing medium can be described by a stationary diffusion equation. In analogy with electrostatics, the influence of a single embedded object on the intensity field is parametrized in terms of a multipole expansion. An absorbing object is chiefly characterized by a negative charge, while the leading effect of a non-absorbing object is due to its dipole moment. The associated intrinsic characteristics of the object are its capacitance Q or its effective radius ,and its polarizability P. These quantities can be evaluated within the diffusion approximation for large enough objects. The situation of mesoscopic objects, with a size comparable to the mean free path, requires a more careful treatment, for which the appropriate framework is provided by radiative transfer theory. This formalism is worked out in detail, in the case of spherical and cylindrical objects of radius R, of the following kinds: (i) totally absorbing (black), (ii) transparent, (iii) totally reflecting. The capacitance, effective radius, and polarizability of these objects differ from the predictions of the diffusion approximation by a size factor, which only depends on the ratio .The analytic form of the size factors is derived for small and large objects, while accurate numerical results are obtained for objects of intermediate size .For cases (i) and (ii) the size factor is smaller than one and monotonically increasing with ,while for case (iii) it is larger than one and decreasing with . Received: 7 August 1998 / Accepted: 3 September 1998     

Filamentation of ultrashort light pulses in a liquid scattering medium

We have studied filamentation of 1-ps laser pulses in a scattering medium (aqueous suspension of 2-μm polystyrene microspheres) and compared filamentation dynamics to that in pure water. Our results indicate that light scattering does not alter filamentation dynamics in general, but rather results in farther position of the nonlinear focus, shorter filament length, and the development of speckle structure in the peripheral part of the beam. The experimental observations are qualitatively reproduced by the numerical model which accounts for diffraction, self-focusing, multiphoton absorption, and light scattering introduced through a stochastic diffusion and diffraction term.     

Near-field effect in two-atom system

The self-consistent problem is solved for the interaction of two dipole atoms situated at arbitrary distance from one another with the field of quasiresonant light wave. Atoms are considered to be linear Lorenz oscillators. Polarizing fields inside the system include both Coulomb and retarding parts. The solutions obtained are investigated for the case when atoms have the same polarizabilities and interatomic distance is much less than external light wavelength. Formulas for electric fields inside and outside of small object are obtained. It is shown that longitudinal and transverse optical oscillations are possible to exist inside small two-atom object. Dispersion laws of these oscillations depend upon interatomic distance and upon angle between axis of the system and the direction of propagation of external wave. The field outside the small object in wave zone is linearly polarized with the choice of linear polarization of external field. However, the directions of polarization of these waves are different and depend essentially upon frequency. The amplitude of field outside small object in wave zone is shown to depend essentially on the frequency of external field and interatomic distance. The results obtained are treated as near-field effect in the optics of small objects making it possible to investigate the structure of small objects with optical radiation. Received 26 October 1998 and Received in final form 26 January 2000