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Top 20 Most Read Articles
April 2012
The 20 articles with the most full-text downloads during the month, in descending order.
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A nanopositioner for scanning probe microscopy: The KoalaDrive Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 023703 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3681444 (4 pages) Online Publication Date: 7 February 2012
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We present a new type of piezoelectric nanopositioner called KoalaDrive which can have a diameter less than 2.5 mm and a length smaller than 10 mm. The new operating principle provides a smooth travel sequence and avoids shaking which is intrinsic to nanopositioners based on inertial motion with sawtooth driving signals. In scanning probe microscopy, the KoalaDrive can be used for the coarse approach of the tip or sensor towards the sample. Inserting the KoalaDrive in a piezo tube for xyz-scanning integrates a complete scanning tunneling microscope (STM) inside a 4 mm outer diameter piezo tube of <10 mm length. The use of the KoalaDrive makes the scanning probe microscopy design ultracompact and accordingly leads to a high mechanical stability. The drive is UHV, low temperature, and magnetic field compatible. The compactness of the KoalaDrive allows building a multi-tip STM as small as a single tip STM.
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Invited Review Article: Laser vaporization cluster sources Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 041101 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3697599 (19 pages) Online Publication Date: 12 April 2012
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The laser vaporization cluster source has been used for the production of gas phase atomic clusters and metal-molecular complexes for 30 years. Numerous experiments in the chemistry and physics of clusters have employed this source. Its operation is simple in principle, but there are many subtle design features that influence the number and size of clusters produced, as well as their composition, charge state, and temperature. This article examines all aspects of the design of these cluster sources, discussing the relevant chemistry, physics, and mechanical aspects of experimental configurations employed by different labs. The principles detailed here provide a framework for the design and implementation of this source for new applications. |
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Invited Review Article: Single-photon sources and detectors Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 071101 (2011); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3610677 (25 pages) Online Publication Date: 27 July 2011
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We review the current status of single-photon-source and single-photon-detector technologies operating at wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the infrared. We discuss applications of these technologies to quantum communication, a field currently driving much of the development of single-photon sources and detectors.
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Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 031301 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3688856 (11 pages) Online Publication Date: 13 March 2012
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The deleterious consequences of climate change are well documented. Future climate treaties might mandate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measurement from signatories in order to verify compliance. The acquisition of atmospheric chemistry would benefit from low cost, small size/weight/power of microsystems. In this paper, we investigated several key materials science aspects of a phase-change microvalve (PCμV) technology with low power/size/weight/cost for ubiquitous GHG sampling. The novel design, based on phase-change material low-melting-point eutectic metal alloys (indium-bismuth, InBi and tin-lead, SnPb), could be actuated at temperatures as low as 72 °C. Valve manufacturing was based on standard thick and thin-film processes and solder technologies that are commonly used in industry, enabling low-cost, high-volume fabrication. Aging studies showed that it was feasible to batch fabricate the PCμVs and store them for future use, especially in the case of SnPb alloys. Hermetic sealing of the valve prototypes was demonstrated through helium leak testing, and Mil spec leak rates less than 1 × 10−9 atm cm3/s were achieved. This confirms that the sample capture and analysis interval can be greatly expanded, easing the logistical burdens of ubiquitous GHG monitoring. Highly conservative and hypothetical CO2 bias due to valve actuation at altitude in 1 cm3 microsamplers would be significantly below 1.0 and 2.2 ppmv for heat-treated InBi and SnPb solders, respectively. The CO2 bias from the PCμV scales well, as a doubling of sampler volume halved the bias. We estimated the shelf life of the SnPb PCμVs to be at least 2.8 years. These efforts will enable the development of low cost, low dead volume, small size/weight microsystems for monitoring GHGs and volatile organic compounds. |
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High passive-stability diode-laser design for use in atomic-physics experiments Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 043101 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3698003 (9 pages) Online Publication Date: 4 April 2012
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We present the design and performance characterization of an external-cavity diode-laser system optimized for high stability, low passive spectral linewidth, low cost, and ease of in-house assembly. The main cavity body is machined from a single aluminum block for robustness to temperature changes and mechanical vibrations, and features a stiff and light diffraction-grating arm to suppress low-frequency mechanical resonances. The cavity is vacuum sealed, and a custom-molded silicone external housing further isolates the system from acoustic noise and temperature fluctuations. Beam shaping, optical isolation, and fiber coupling are integrated, and the design is easily adapted to many commonly used wavelengths. Resonance data, passive-linewidth data, and passive stability characterization of the new design demonstrate that its performance exceeds published specifications for commercial precision diode-laser systems. The design is fully documented and freely available.
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Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 023101 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3680593 (14 pages) Online Publication Date: 6 February 2012
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A capillary absorption spectrometer (CAS) suitable for IR laser isotope analysis of small CO2 samples is presented. The system employs a continuous-wave (cw) quantum cascade laser to study nearly adjacent rovibrational transitions of different isotopologues of CO2 near 2307 cm−1 (4.34 μm). This initial CAS system can achieve relative isotopic precision of about 10 ppm 13C, or ∼1‰ (per mil in delta notation relative to Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite) with 20–100 picomoles of entrained sample within the hollow waveguide for CO2 concentrations ∼400–750 ppm. Isotopic analyses of such gas fills in a 1-mm ID hollow waveguide of 0.8 m overall physical path length can be carried out down to ∼2 Torr. Overall 13C/12C ratios can be calibrated to ∼2‰ accuracy with diluted CO2 standards. A novel, low-cost method to reduce cw-fringing noise resulting from multipath distortions in the hollow waveguide is presented, which allows weak absorbance features to be studied at the few ppm level (peak-to-rms) after 1000 scans are co-added in ∼10 s. The CAS is meant to work directly with converted CO2 samples from a laser ablation-catalytic combustion micro-sampler to provide 13C/12C ratios of small biological isolates currently operating with spatial resolutions ∼50 μm. |
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WSXM: A software for scanning probe microscopy and a tool for nanotechnology Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78, 013705 (2007); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2432410 (8 pages) Online Publication Date: 31 January 2007
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In this work we briefly describe the most relevant features of WSXM, a freeware scanning probe microscopy software based on MS-Windows. The article is structured in three different sections: The introduction is a perspective on the importance of software on scanning probe microscopy. The second section is devoted to describe the general structure of the application; in this section the capabilities of WSXM to read third party files are stressed. Finally, a detailed discussion of some relevant procedures of the software is carried out.
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Photoacoustic imaging in biomedicine Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 041101 (2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2195024 (22 pages) Online Publication Date: 17 April 2006
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Photoacoustic imaging (also called optoacoustic or thermoacoustic imaging) has the potential to image animal or human organs, such as the breast and the brain, with simultaneous high contrast and high spatial resolution. This article provides an overview of the rapidly expanding field of photoacoustic imaging for biomedical applications. Imaging techniques, including depth profiling in layered media, scanning tomography with focused ultrasonic transducers, image forming with an acoustic lens, and computed tomography with unfocused transducers, are introduced. Special emphasis is placed on computed tomography, including reconstruction algorithms, spatial resolution, and related recent experiments. Promising biomedical applications are discussed throughout the text, including (1) tomographic imaging of the skin and other superficial organs by laser-induced photoacoustic microscopy, which offers the critical advantages, over current high-resolution optical imaging modalities, of deeper imaging depth and higher absorption contrasts, (2) breast cancer detection by near-infrared light or radio-frequency–wave-induced photoacoustic imaging, which has important potential for early detection, and (3) small animal imaging by laser-induced photoacoustic imaging, which measures unique optical absorption contrasts related to important biochemical information and provides better resolution in deep tissues than optical imaging.
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Optical tweezer arrays and optical substrates created with diffractive optics Rev. Sci. Instrum. 69, 1974 (1998); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1148883 (4 pages)
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We describe a simple method for creating multiple optical tweezers from a single laser beam using diffractive optical elements. As a demonstration of this technique, we have implemented a 4×4 square array of optical tweezers—the hexadeca tweezer. Not only will diffractively generated optical tweezers facilitate many new experiments in pure and applied physics, but they also will be useful for fabricating nanocomposite materials and devices, including photonic bandgap materials and optical circuit elements. © 1998 American Institute of Physics. |
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Femtosecond pulse shaping using spatial light modulators Rev. Sci. Instrum. 71, 1929 (2000); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1150614 (32 pages)
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We review the field of femtosecond pulse shaping, in which Fourier synthesis methods are used to generate nearly arbitrarily shaped ultrafast optical wave forms according to user specification. An emphasis is placed on programmable pulse shaping methods based on the use of spatial light modulators. After outlining the fundamental principles of pulse shaping, we then present a detailed discussion of pulse shaping using several different types of spatial light modulators. Finally, new research directions in pulse shaping, and applications of pulse shaping to optical communications, biomedical optical imaging, high power laser amplifiers, quantum control, and laser-electron beam interactions are reviewed. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. |
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Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75, 2787 (2004); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1785844 (23 pages) Online Publication Date: 2 September 2004
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Since their invention just over 20 years ago, optical traps have emerged as a powerful tool with broad-reaching applications in biology and physics. Capabilities have evolved from simple manipulation to the application of calibrated forces on—and the measurement of nanometer-level displacements of—optically trapped objects. We review progress in the development of optical trapping apparatus, including instrument design considerations, position detection schemes and calibration techniques, with an emphasis on recent advances. We conclude with a brief summary of innovative optical trapping configurations and applications. |
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Thermal conductivity measurement from 30 to 750 K: the 3ω method Rev. Sci. Instrum. 61, 802 (1990); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1141498 (7 pages)
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An ac technique for measuring the thermal conductivity of dielectric solids between 30 and 750 K is described. This technique, the 3ω method, can be applied to bulk amorphous solids and crystals as well as amorphous films tens of microns thick. Errors from black‐body radiation are calculated to be less than 2% even at 1000 K. Data for a‐SiO2, Pyrex 7740, and Pyroceram 9606 are compared to results obtained by conventional techniques. |
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Ultrafast optical parametric amplifiers Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74, 1 (2003); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1523642 (18 pages) Online Publication Date: 16 January 2003
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Over the last decade there have been spectacular developments in ultrafast laser technology, due to the introduction of solid state active materials and of new mode-locking and amplification techniques. These advances, together with the discovery of new nonlinear optical crystals, have fostered the introduction of ultrafast optical parametric amplifiers as a practical source of femtosecond pulses tunable across the visible and infrared spectral ranges. This article summarizes the recent progress in the development of ultrafast optical parametric amplifiers, giving the basic design principles for different frequency ranges and in addition presenting some advanced designs for the generation of ultrabroadband, few-optical-cycle pulses. Finally, we also briefly discuss the possibility of applying parametric amplification schemes to large-scale, petawatt-level systems. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. |
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Ultra compact multitip scanning tunneling microscope with a diameter of 50 mm Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 033707 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3694990 (5 pages) Online Publication Date: 19 March 2012
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We present a multitip scanning tunneling microscope (STM) where four independent STM units are integrated on a diameter of 50 mm. The coarse positioning of the tips is done under the control of an optical microscope or scanning electron microscopy in vacuum. The heart of this STM is a new type of piezoelectric coarse approach called KoalaDrive. The compactness of the KoalaDrive allows building a four-tip STM as small as a single-tip STM with a drift of less than 0.2 nm/min at room temperature and lowest resonance frequencies of 2.5 kHz (xy) and 5.5 kHz (z). We present as examples of the performance of the multitip STM four point measurements of silicide nanowires and graphene.
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Calibration of atomic‐force microscope tips Rev. Sci. Instrum. 64, 1868 (1993); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1143970 (6 pages)
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Images and force measurements taken by an atomic‐force microscope (AFM) depend greatly on the properties of the spring and tip used to probe the sample’s surface. In this article, we describe a simple, nondestructive procedure for measuring the force constant, resonant frequency, and quality factor of an AFM cantilever spring and the effective radius of curvature of an AFM tip. Our procedure uses the AFM itself and does not require additional equipment. |
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Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 043103 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3700216 (6 pages) Online Publication Date: 5 April 2012
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We demonstrate the integration of a linear quadrupole trap with a simple time-of-flight mass spectrometer with medium-mass resolution (m/Δm ∼ 50) geared towards the demands of atomic, molecular, and chemical physics experiments. By utilizing a novel radial ion extraction scheme from the linear quadrupole trap into the mass analyzer, a device with large trap capacity and high optical access is realized without sacrificing mass resolution. This provides the ability to address trapped ions with laser light and facilitates interactions with neutral background gases prior to analyzing the trapped ions. Here, we describe the construction and implementation of the device as well as present representative ToF spectra. We conclude by demonstrating the flexibility of the device with proof-of-principle experiments that include the observation of molecular-ion photodissociation and the measurement of trapped-ion chemical reaction rates.
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Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78, 031101 (2007); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2709758 (20 pages) Online Publication Date: 30 March 2007
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The technique of atom probe tomography (APT) is reviewed with an emphasis on illustrating what is possible with the technique both now and in the future. APT delivers the highest spatial resolution (sub-0.3-nm) three-dimensional compositional information of any microscopy technique. Recently, APT has changed dramatically with new hardware configurations that greatly simplify the technique and improve the rate of data acquisition. In addition, new methods have been developed to fabricate suitable specimens from new classes of materials. Applications of APT have expanded from structural metals and alloys to thin multilayer films on planar substrates, dielectric films, semiconducting structures and devices, and ceramic materials. This trend toward a broader range of materials and applications is likely to continue.
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Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometer with Improved Resolution Rev. Sci. Instrum. 26, 1150 (1955); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1715212 (8 pages) Online Publication Date: 29 December 2004
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A new type of ion gun is described which greatly improves the resolution of a nonmagnetic time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. The focusing action of this gun is discussed and analyzed mathematically. The validity of the analysis and the practicability of the gun are demonstrated by the spectra obtained. The spectrometer is capable of measuring the relative abundance of adjacent masses well beyond 100 amu. |
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A highly stable DC power supply for precision magnetic field measurements and other purposes Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 045101 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3698208 (6 pages) Online Publication Date: 2 April 2012
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A homogeneous magnetic field is essential for the 3He neutron spin filter used to polarize neutron beams and analyze neutron spins in neutron scattering. The required spatial uniformity of the magnetic field is on the order of 10−4/cm or less. To measure such uniformity, one needs a DC current source with a current stability much better than 10−4. However, laboratory DC power supplies, which are commonly used in many 3He neutron spin filters, do not have such stabilities. To attain a highly stable current with a common laboratory DC power supply for every 3He neutron spin filter, a simple feedback circuit has been developed to keep the output current stable up to 10−6. Such a highly stable current or voltage from a common laboratory DC power supply can also be used for various other research applications. |
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Rev. Sci. Instrum. 76, 061101 (2005); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1927327 (12 pages) Online Publication Date: 26 May 2005
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Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) are drawing interest from both technical and scientific communities. These are electromechanical systems, much like microelectromechanical systems, mostly operated in their resonant modes with dimensions in the deep submicron. In this size regime, they come with extremely high fundamental resonance frequencies, diminished active masses,and tolerable force constants; the quality (Q) factors of resonance are in the range Q ∼ 103–105—significantly higher than those of electrical resonant circuits. These attributes collectively make NEMS suitable for a multitude of technological applications such as ultrafast sensors, actuators, and signal processing components. Experimentally, NEMS are expected to open up investigations of phonon mediated mechanical processes and of the quantum behavior of mesoscopic mechanical systems. However, there still exist fundamental and technological challenges to NEMS optimization. In this review we shall provide a balanced introduction to NEMS by discussing the prospects and challenges in this rapidly developing field and outline an exciting emerging application, nanoelectromechanical mass detection.
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