A method for automatic correction of drift-distorted SPM images

A method for automatic correction of drift-distorted surface images obtained using a scanning probe microscope is developed. For the case of slowly varying drifts, simple linear transformations describing the observed distortions are constructed. One or two pairs of counter-scanned images (CSIs) are used as initial data. A system of linear equations is solved by finding the coordinate of the same surface feature in each CSI. The solutions obtained, i.e., linear transformation coefficients, are used to correct drift-induced distortions in horizontal and vertical planes. Two nonlinear drift correction methods are proposed, which provide a better accuracy in comparison with the linear correction method. The developed method can be used in feature-oriented scanning of the surface.     

Mechanical Activation and Thermal Treatment of Low-Energy Nb-2Si Powder Blend. I. the Experiment

Russian Physics Journal - The paper presents the experimental results of mechanical activation, annealing and thermal treatment of Nb– 2Si powder blend. It is shown that mechanical activation...     

Crystal structure of sodium potassium zinc diphosphate NaKZnP2O7

Single crystals of NaKZnP₂O₇ were grown, and their crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction (space group P2₁/n, a = 12.585(5) Å, b = 7.277(5) Å, c = 7.428(5) Å, β = 90.00(5)°, Z = 4, 1916 F(hkl), R ₁ = 0.0461). The structure contains a 3D tetrahedral zinc phosphate framework with a system of intersecting channels running along the b and c axes. The sodium and potassium atoms are coordinated to six and seven oxygen atoms, respectively, and reside inside these channels; the potassium cations, which are larger than the sodium cations, are located at channel intersections.     

Ethylenediaminetetraacetato-monoperoxo complexes of vanadium(V)

Summary The monoperoxo complexes, M₂[VO(HEDTA)(O₂)]· 4H₂O, where M is K⁺ or NH ₄ ⁺ and H₄EDTA is ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid, were prepared and characterized by Raman and i.r. spectra in the solid state and in aqueous solution. The single crystal X-ray study revealed a pentagonal bipyramidal anion structure with a tetradentate HEDTA(3—) ligand. The decomposition of complexes in aqueous solution to blue vanadium(IV) complexes as end products proceeds via a nonperoxo complex of vanadium.     

Copper(II) complexation with ampicillin,amoxicillin, and cephalexin

The interaction of Cu²⁺ ions with ampicillin, amoxicillin, and cephalexin (L) anions in an aqueous solution at 20°C with 0.1 M KNO₃ as a background electrolyte was studied by pH-potentiometry. Formation of CuL⁺ and Cu(OH)L complexes was revealed, and their stability constants were determined.     

Light driven self-drilling in glasses

It is shown that ArF laser beam may act as effective driller producing in fuzed quartz micron radius channel up to 1 cm long while diameter of light spot is few millimeters. Drill formation is accompanied by compaction effect in the drill walls therefore material is not thrown out the channel.     

Determining the term structure of interest rates

The term structure of interest rates described by the zero-coupon yield curve is considered in developed countries as the main indicator of the financial market condition, one of the most important macroeconomic parameters, and a reference standard for security pricing in other sectors of the fixed-income market financial instruments. In this article, a new numerical method for constructing the term structure of interest rates from the quotes of a group of bonds of the same credit quality and liquidity is proposed.     

Crystallization and thermochromism of annealed heterostructures containing titanium and tungsten oxide films

Crystalline phases in heterostructures containing titanium and tungsten oxide films are studied after step annealing in vacuum at temperatures between 500 and 750°C. The films are deposited on a silica glass substrate by dc reactive magnetron sputtering. It is found that crystalline phases in single layers and bilayer structures form in a different way. In the latter, crystallization is influenced by the order of layer arrangement on the substrate. Thermochromism in structures annealed in vacuum is due to the oxygen-deficient phase WO_{3 ? x} belonging to the hexagonal syngony. This phase intensely grows as the temperature rises from 650 to 750°C.