Non‐contact evaluation of the electrical conductivity of thin metallic films by eddy current microscopy

An eddy current microscopy technique to evaluate the electrical conductivity of thin metallic films in a non‐contact manner is reported. A narrow track formed in an approximately 100 nm thick Au film was prepared, and a Co–Cr coated magnetic tip was driven to oscillate above the track both with and without current passing through the track. Despite the absence of current, the electromagnetic interaction between the tip and the stray magnetic field from the track gave rise to a phase delay in the probe. This was due to an eddy current being induced within part of the track. Moreover, measurements of the phase change in the probe oscillation for different metallic films with thicknesses of about 100 nm found this to be proportional to the electrical conductivity of the film. Finally, the electrical conductivity of an Al film was evaluated using the eddy current microscopy technique. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Describing and Evaluating an Exemplary Mathematics Elementary Staff Development Project

The purpose of this paper is to describe the model of a mathematics and science staff development cooperative and focus on the evaluation of the mathematics component. The Mathematics and Science Education Cooperative (MSEC) was a comprehensive, long‐range staff development program to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and science at the elementary school level. The special features of MSEC were (a) it provided year‐round, multiyear involvement, and (b) each year an affective strand was included. Statistically significant student mathematics results from the years 1998–2000 are presented.     

Synthesis and reaction of selenocarbamic acid sodium and potassium salts and organo-germanium, -tin,and -lead esters

Sodium 2 and potassium selenocarbamates 3 were found to be synthesized in moderate to good yields by the reaction of carbamoyl chlorides with sodium and potassium selenides. The salts 2 and 3 reacted with alkyl halides and organo-germanium, -tin, and -lead chlorides to give the corresponding esters 7–9 in good yields.