Three-dimensional reconstructions of electrostatic potential distributions with 1.5-nm resolution using off-axis electron holography

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction experiments were carried out by observing high-resolution 3D electrostatic potential distributions of Pt nanoparticles using off-axis electron holographic tomography. These Pt nanoparticles were mounted on the surfaces of amorphous silicon pillars. In order to realize high-resolution observation, we developed a mechanically stable 3D specimen holder with small specimen drifts and vibrations. From the 3D electrostatic potential distribution data of Pt nanoparticles (2.0?nm in diameter), we obtained the resolution of 1.5?nm.  

Magnetization distribution of magnetic vortex of amorphous FeSiB investigated by electron holography and computer simulation

The three-dimensional spin structure of the magnetic vortex of FeSiB, an amorphous soft magnetic material, was investigated by holography observation and computer simulation. Magnetization distribution in the neighborhood of the vortex center was estimated from the phase distribution obtained by holography observation. To confirm this magnetization distribution, sample-tilting experiments were performed: when the sample was tilted with respect to the electron beam direction, the phase-image center was found to shift along the tilting axis. Finite-element computer simulation was carried out to estimate the amount of shifts of the phase-image center in the sample tilting from the experimental magnetization distributions in the no sample-tilting conditions. We found that the simulated shifts of the phase-image center were in good agreement with those in the sample-tilting experiment, thus confirming the magnetization distribution near the vortex center obtained by holography observation.  

Origin of low-frequency noise in pentacene field-effect transistors

Measurements of power spectral density (PSD) of low-frequency noise (LFN) in pentacene field-effect transistors reveal the preponderance of a 1/f-type PSD behavior with the amplitude varying as the squared transistor gain and increasing as the inverse of the gate surface area. Such features impose an interpretation of LFN by carrier number fluctuations model involving capture/release of charges on traps uniformly distributed over the gate surface. The surface slow trap density extracted by the noise analysis is close to the surface states density deduced independently from static I(V) data, which confirms the validity of the proposed LFN interpretation. Further, we found that the trap densities in bottom-contact (BC) devices were higher than in their top-contact (TC) counterparts, in agreement with observations of a poorer crystal structure of BC devices, in the contact regions in particular. At the highest bias the noise originating from the contact resistance is also shown to be a dominant component in the PSD, and it is well explained by the noise originating from a gate-voltage dependent contact resistance. A gate area scaling was also performed, and the good scaling and the dispersion at the highest bias confirm the validity of the applied carrier number fluctuations model and the predominant contact noise at high current intensities.  

Development of coherent scatterometry microscope

A new mask inspection system for EUVL is being developed. The resolution of previously developed actinic inspection systems, which employ FZP or Schwarzschild optics, is limited to 60 nm. This prompted us to develop a new unorthodox mask inspection system: a lensless microscope with a coherent light source. This system can detect defects only a few nanometers wide, and it enables CD measurements with a 3σ accuracy of 0.32 nm.  

Fabrication of high-aspect-ratio amorphous perfluorinated polymer structure for total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy

A method to fabricate microstructures that are ideal for optical applications was developed. This method enabled structures with a high aspect ratio to be fabricated from an amorphous perfluorinated polymer, CYTOP, which has an identical refractive index to that of water. Using the method, a microwell array device was developed for the purpose of high-throughput protein quantification. Evaluation of the optical properties of the array using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy demonstrated that the device did not interfere with TIRF imaging at the bottom of each microwell. This method can expand the possible applications of biophotonic devices as well as TIRF imaging.  

Non-destructive Characterization of Soot in Exhaust Filters Using Millimeter-wave Imaging

It is necessary to monitor the distribution of the soot that accumulates in the soot removal filter of an internal combustion engine to design the highly efficient filtering structure and optimize the timing of the filter renewal. However, there is no non-destructive inspection technique at present. In this study, we describe a non-destructive inspection system that can monitor the distribution of soot that accumulates in the filter using combination of millimeter-to-terahertz wave imaging and computed tomography. The transmittance of the filter shows a strong dependence on the angle of incidence because of its two-dimensional periodical shape. We identified a frequency at which photonic band gaps did not occur, and measured the three-dimensional tomographic image of the filter in a non-destructive manner.  

Characteristics of the Beam-Steerable Difference-Frequency Generation of Terahertz Radiation

We have investigated the characteristics of a terahertz (THz) beam steering method based on a combination of difference-frequency generation (DFG) with the principle of the phased array antenna. In the DFG of THz radiation from a nonlinear optical crystal pumped by optical beams, the phase front of the THz radiation is indirectly tilted by adjusting the relative incidence angle between the pump beams to the crystal. A magnification of the steering angle with a factor of 193 is demonstrated as the most important effect provided by the method. The effect allows the use of a high-speed optical deflector for adjusting the incidence angle, accelerating the steering more than a hundred times compared with mechanical methods. The phase mismatching between the THz radiation and the pump beams as well as the refraction at the crystal surface limit the steering angle of the THz radiation to 56°, full width at half maximum.  

MgSrSi-Type Compounds as a Possible New Family of Thermoelectric Materials

We calculated electronic structures and transport properties of 33 Zintl phase compounds M¹M²X (M¹, M² = Li, Na, Mg, K, Ca, Rb, Sr, Ba; X = Si, Ge, As, Se, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb, Bi) having orthorhombic MgSrSi-type (PbCl₂-type) structure. These compounds were calculated to be narrow-gap semiconductors or semimetals. By comparison with known thermoelectric materials, our analysis showed that these compounds are promising candidate new thermoelectric materials, when heavily doped with holes or electrons. The weak chemical bonds and the variety in constituent elements indicate the possibility to achieve high thermoelectric figure of merit.  

基于超快激光技术的THz波产生和探测

主要介绍利用超快激光技术产生和探测THz波辐射。THz波探测方法包括电光取样和空气探测。电光取样利用光学电光效应,采用探测激光偏振态的改变得到THz电场时域波形,广泛应用在TDS系统中。空气探测方法利用激光在空气中的三阶非线性效应,可以测得THz时域波形,并且该方法没有晶体的限制,因此可以探测频谱较宽的THz脉冲。产生THz的方法主要包括光电导天线、光学Dember效应、光整流和激光等离子体。其中前三者受到材料本征声子的影响,产生的THz谱宽有一定限制。倾斜激光脉冲波前入射非线性晶体光整流可以产生很强的THz波。双色飞秒激光脉冲与空气等离子体作用,可以产生较强的宽谱THz辐射,并且其谱宽与激光脉冲宽度密切相关。