MSTAR: a submicrometer absolute metrology system

The Modulation Sideband Technology for Absolute Ranging (MSTAR) sensor permits absolute distance measurement with subnanometer accuracy, an improvement of 4 orders of magnitude over current techniques. The system uses fast phase modulators to resolve the integer cycle ambiguity of standard interferometers. The concept is described and demonstrated over target distances up to 1 m. The design can be extended to kilometer-scale separations.     

Electrochemically deposited photoactive CdIn2Se4 thin films: Structural and optical studies

Electrochemical synthesis of photoactive cadmium-indium-selenide (CdIn₂Se₄) thin films at ambient temperature was reported. The nanocrystalline nature and 1:2:4 elemental chemical stoichiometric ratio for Cd, In and Se were obtained from the X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analysis, respectively. Irregular shaped islands of about 400-500 nm in sizes composed of large number of small (∼30-40 nm) spherical grains were confirmed from the atomic force microscopy and the scanning electron microscopy images. The photoelectrochemical measurement of CdIn₂Se₄ film electrode in presence of 1 M polysulphide electrolyte revealed 0.42% photoelectrochemical device conversion efficiency, under the light illumination intensity of 80 mW/cm².     

Observation of large CP violation in the neutral B meson system

We present a measurement of the standard model CP violation parameter sin2 phi(1) based on a 29.1 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed as a J/psi K(S), psi(2S)K(S), chi(c1)K(S), eta(c)K(S), J/psi K(L), or J/psi K(*0) decay and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points, we determine sin2 phi(1) = 0.99+/-0.14(stat)+/-0.06(syst). We conclude that we have observed CP violation in the neutral B meson system.     

Manipulation of light at the nanoscale for high-performance spectroscopic and optical applications

In this paper, we explore the use of nanostructures for a number of fascinating applications. These applications based on nanostructures include (1) optical sensors, (2) nanopixel printing, (3) improving the resolution of imaging techniques, and (4) lithography. In the sensing field, nanostructures are exploited for advanced sensor performance, namely, the label-free and enhanced sensitivity of (1) the surface plasmon resonance sensor and (2) the extraordinary optical transmission sensor and (3) the high sensitivity and selectivity of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In addition, research using nanostructures for visual applications was introduced for (1) harnessing nanostructures for full-color pixel printing and (2) exploiting metallic nanostructures to enhance the imaging resolution under diffraction limits based on the plasmonic effect. Finally, we introduce low cost, high accuracy, and fast lithographic methods based on the plasmonic effect by exploiting metallic nanostructures.     

Fabrication and comparison of PMN-PT single crystal, PZT and PZT-based 1-3 composite ultrasonic transducers for NDE applications

This paper describes fabrication and comparison of PMN-PT single crystal, PZT, and PZT-based 1-3 composite ultrasonic transducers for NDE applications. As a front matching layer between test material (Austenite stainless steel, SUS316) and piezoelectric materials, alumina ceramics was selected. The appropriate acoustic impedance of the backing materials for each transducer was determined based on the results of KLM model simulation. Prototype ultrasonic transducers with the center frequencies of approximately 2.25 and 5 MHz for contact measurement were fabricated and compared to each other. The PMN-PT single crystal ultrasonic transducer shows considerably improved performance in sensitivity over the PZT and PZT-based 1-3 composite ultrasonic transducers.     

Charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The first measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair √ S NN = 2.76 TeV is presented. For an event sample corresponding to the most central 5% of the hadronic cross section, the pseudorapidity density of primary charged particles at midrapidity is 1584 ± 4(stat) ± 76(syst), which corresponds to 8.3 ± 0.4(syst) per participating nucleon pair. This represents an increase of about a factor 1.9 relative to pp collisions at similar collision energies, and about a factor 2.2 to central Au-Au collisions at √ S NN = 2.76 TeV. This measurement provides the first experimental constraint for models of nucleus-nucleus collisions at LHC energies.     

Micromorphology of epicuticular wax structures of the garden strawberry leaves by electron microscopy: Syntopism and polymorphism

Ultrastructural aspects of leaf epicuticular wax structures were investigated in the garden strawberry Fragaria × ananassa by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of two cultivars (Maehyang and Red Pearl) were collected and subjected to surface observations and ultrathin sections. The most prominent leaf epicuticular wax structures included membraneous platelets and angular rodlets. Most wax platelets were membraneous, and appeared to protrude from the surface at an acute angle. Angular rodlets were usually bent and had rather distinct facets in the abaxial surface of the two cultivars. Membraneous platelets were predominant on the adaxial surface of Maehyang, whereas the adaxial surface of Red Pearl was characterized by angular rodlets. However, both cultivars possessed angular rodlets on the abaxial surface, simultaneously. The combination of air-drying without vacuum and in-lens imaging of secondary electron signals with a field emission gun could impart the superb resolution at low electron dose with minimal specimen shrinkage. In vertical profiles of the leaf epidermis, epicuticular waxes were observed above the cuticle layer, and measured approximately as 50 nm in thickness. The natural epicuticular waxes were seemingly mixtures of electron-dense microfibrils, and heterogeneous in shape on ultrathin sections. Distinct crystal-like strata could be hardly discernable in the wax structures. These results suggest that the garden strawberry has the nature of syntopism within one plant and polymorphism within the same species in the formation and occurrence of leaf epicuticular waxes.     

Thermal Hysteresis Accompanying Incommensurate-Commensurate Phase Transition in Mixed Crystals (K1-xCsx)2ZnCl4

The mixed crystal (K_1-xCs_x)₂ZnCl₄ with x = 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 0.2 with optical quality has been grown by the Czochralski method. Using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), we determined the amount of Cs ion included in the mixed crystal. By using of DTA and DSC, we observed the change of T_c and T_i. The thermal hysteresis in the dielectric constants show strong dependence on the thermal process and on the amount of impurity which are explained by the influence of the thermal process and impurity, respectively on the creation, annihilation, and growth of discommensuration (DC).     

Charge‐Induced Unzipping of Isolated Proteins to a Defined Secondary Structure

Here we present a combined experimental and theoretical study on the secondary structure of isolated proteins as a function of charge state. In infrared spectra of the proteins ubiquitin and cytochrome c, amide I (C=O stretch) and amide II (N–H bend) bands can be found at positions that are typical for condensed‐phase proteins. For high charge states a new band appears, substantially red‐shifted from the amide II band observed at lower charge states. The observations are interpreted in terms of Coulomb‐driven transitions in secondary structures from mostly helical to extended C₅‐type hydrogen‐bonded structures. Support for this interpretation comes from simple energy considerations as well as from quantum chemical calculations on model peptides. This transition in secondary structure is most likely universal for isolated proteins that occur in mass spectrometric experiments.