Characterization and optimization of liquid electrodes for lateral dielectrophoresis

Using the concept of insulator-based "electrodeless" dielectrophoresis, we present a novel geometry for shaping electric fields to achieve lateral deviation of particles in liquid flows. The field is generated by lateral planar metal electrodes and is guided along access channels to the active area in the main channel. The equipotential surfaces at the apertures of the access channels behave as vertical "liquid" electrodes injecting the current into the main channel. The field between a pair of adjacent liquid electrodes generates the lateral dielectrophoretic force necessary for particle manipulation. We use this force for high-speed deviation of particles. By adding a second pair of liquid electrodes, we focus a particle stream. The position of the focused stream can be swept across the channel by adjusting the ratio of the voltages applied to the two pairs. Based on conformal mapping, we provide an analytical model for estimating the potential at the liquid electrodes and the field distribution in the main channel. We show that the simulated particle trajectories agree with observations. Finally, we show that the model can be used to optimize the device geometry in different applications.     

Total cross sections,elastic scattering observables and direct reconstruction of scattering matrix in np Interactions between 0.8 and 1.1 GeV at SATURNE II

Neutron-proton total cross section differences with the beam and target polarizations orientated either transversally or longitudinally with respect to the beam direction, as well as 11 spin dependent elastic scattering observables measured at SATURNE II as a function of energy and angle are presented. A major part of results was measured using the quasimonoenergetic polarized neutron beam and/or the polarized proton target. A small part of data was obtained using a polarized deuteron beam considered as a beam of quasifree neutrons and protons. The present paper represents a review of measured observables. Several sets of present data are compared with results obtained in other laboratories below 0.8 GeV. Imaginary parts of spin dependent forward amplitudes for np scattering and for the isospin stateI=0 were determined. First direct reconstruction of the np scattering matrix at 0.84 GeV is shown.We acknowledge support for this work from J. Arvieux, R. Beurtey, P. Borgeaud, P. A. Chamouard, A. Fleury, E. Heer, J. M. Laget, L. Musílek, L. Price, N. A. Russakovich, J. Saudinos, and J. Tolar. Discussions with J. Franz, J. M. Lagniel, C. Lechanoine-Leluc, G. Milleret, I. Strakovsky, and Y. Terrien have solved several problems. The exploitation of the polarized target owes a lot to G. Guillier, Ph. Marlet and J. Mommejat. We thank T. Lambert, E. Perrin, J. Poupard and J. P. Richeux for their efficient help in preparation of the experiment and the SATURNE II crew for unusual accelerator operations. Finally, we express our gratitude to Françoise Haroutel, who efficiently helped overcome all administrative requirements concerning a large international colaboration. This work was partly supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and by the US Department of Energy Contract No. W-31-109-ENG-38.     

The nucleon facility at PSI

The new nucleon area (NA) at PSI is designed as a multi-purpose facility with nucleon beams. The area can be used for experiments with polarized or unpolarized protons or neutrons. For both kinds of nucleons the available energy ranges from about 100 MeV up to a maximum of about 590 MeV.     

A virtual valve for smooth contamination-free flow switching

We present a channel geometry that allows for clean switching between different inlets of a microchip without any contamination of the inlets or the downstream flow. We drive this virtual valve with a pneumatic pressure setup that minimizes disturbance of the downstream flow during the switching procedure by simultaneous variation of the pressures applied to the different inlets. We assess the efficiency of the setup by spectroscopic measurement of downstream dye concentrations, and demonstrate its practical utility by sequentially constructing multiple layers of alginate hydrogel. The method is potentially useful for a whole series of further applications, such as changing perfusion liquids for cell culture and cell analysis, metering, chemical-reaction initiation and multi-sample chromatography, to name a few.     

Measurements of the two and three spin-index observables inn p elastic scattering between 0.80 and 1.10 GeV

We present data of several rescattering observables measured inn p elastic scattering between 0.80 and 1.10 GeV. The SATURNE II polarized beam of free neutrons obtained from the break-up of polarized deuterons was scattered on the Saclay polarized frozen-spin proton target. Three different configurations of beam and target polarization directions were used: the observablesD _onon andK _onno were measured with the normal-normal spin configuration at eight energies;N _onkk ,D _os″ok andK _os″ko were determined with the longitudinal-longitudinal configuration at six energies;N _onsk ,D _os″ok andK _os″so with the sideway-longitudinal configuration at six energies. Part of the data was obtained with an unpolarized CH₂ target where only the two spin-index polarization transfer parametersK _os″ko andK _os″so were determined. Data are compared with phase shift analyses predictions and with the LAMPF results at 0.788 GeV. Present results are the first measurements of rescattering observables above 0.80 GeV. They provide an important contribution to any future theoretical or phenomenological analysis.

     

Dielectrophoretic sorting on a microfabricated flow cytometer: label free separation of Babesia bovis infected erythrocytes

Dielectrophoresis is a method that has demonstrated great potential in cell discrimination and isolation. In this study, the dielectrophoretic sorting of normal and Babesia bovis infected erythrocytes was performed using a microfabricated flow cytometer. Separation was possible through exploitation of the dielectric differences between normal and infected erythrocytes, essentially due to the higher ionic membrane permeability of B. bovis infected cells. Sorting experiments were performed inside a microchip made from Pt microelectrodes and SU-8 channels patterned on a glass substrate. Optimum cell separation was achieved at 4 MHz using an in vitro culture of B. bovis suspended in 63 mS/m phosphate buffer and applying a sinusoidal voltage of 15 V peak-to-peak. Normal erythrocytes experienced stronger positive dielectrophoresis (pDEP) than B. bovis infected cells, moving them closer to the microelectrodes. Under these conditions it was possible to enrich the fraction of infected cells from 7 to 50% without the need of extensive sample preparation or labelling. Throughout the experiments very few microliters of sample were used, suggesting that this system may be considered suitable for integration in a low-cost automated device to be used in the in situ diagnostic of babesiosis.     

Tracking and synchronization of the yeast cell cycle using dielectrophoretic opacity

Cell cycle synchronization is an important tool for the study of the cell division stages and signalling. It provides homogeneous cell cultures that are of importance to develop and improve processes such as protein synthesis and drug screening. The main approach today is the use of metabolic agents that block the cell cycle at a particular phase and accumulate cells at this phase, disturbing the cell physiology. We provide here a non-invasive and label-free continuous cell sorting technique to analyze and synchronize yeast cell division. By balancing opposing dielectrophoretic forces at multiple frequencies, we maximize sensitivity to the characteristic shape and internal structure changes occurring during the yeast cell cycle, allowing us to synchronize the culture in late anaphase.     

Study of spin effects in neutron-proton interactions at intermediate energies at PSI

An intensive program of n-p measurement of spin observables in elastic and pion production reactions has been performed at the Paul Scherrer Institute taking advantage of the high intensity polarized neutron beam. In the elastic reaction 16 different spin observables have been measured for kinetic energies from 210 to 590 MeV with the centre of mass angular range from 60 to 180 degrees. This will allow to perform direct reconstruction in the model independent way of the isospin I=0 scattering amplitudes in elastic NN interaction. Three body final state process \(\vec np - pp\pi ^ - \) with polarized neutrons in exclusive experiment has been investigated.