Scanning tunneling spectroscopy under large current flow through the sample

We describe a method to make scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy imaging at very low temperatures while driving a constant electric current up to some tens of mA through the sample. It gives a new local probe, which we term current driven scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. We show spectroscopic and topographic measurements under the application of a current in superconducting Al and NbSe(2) at 100 mK. Perspective of applications of this local imaging method includes local vortex motion experiments, and Doppler shift local density of states studies.     

Fractionation of oligomers of linear alphaolefins in a molecular evaporator

Oligomers of higher alphaolefins, mainly of 1-decene and 1-octene have important applications as synthetic lubricating oils or their components. The results of fractionation of polydecene, polyoctene, and polybutene oils in a wiped-film molecular evaporator, for the purpose of preparing narrow distillate cuts, are presented in the paper. Characteristics and properties of the fractions obtained are shown, and the possibilities for this distillation method in the fractionation of polyolefin oils discussed.     

Exploring the molecular forces within and between CbsA S-layer proteins using single molecule force spectroscopy

We used single molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM) to gain insight into the molecular forces driving the folding and assembly of the S-layer protein CbsA. Force curves recorded between tips and supports modified with CbsA proteins showed sawtooth patterns with multiple force peaks of 58+/-26pN that we attribute to the unfolding of alpha-helices, in agreement with earlier secondary structure predictions. The average unfolding force increased with the pulling speed but was independent on the interaction time. Force curves obtained for CbsA peptides truncated in their C-terminal region showed similar periodic features, except that fewer force peaks were seen. Furthermore, the average unfolding force was 83+/-45pN, suggesting the domains were more stable. By contrast, cationic peptides truncated in their N-terminal region showed single force peaks of 366+/-149pN, presumably reflecting intermolecular electrostatic bridges rather than unfolding events. Interestingly, these large intermolecular forces increased not only with pulling speed but also with interaction time. We expect that the intra- and intermolecular forces measured here may play a significant role in controlling the stability and assembly of the CbsA protein.     

Watching molecular processes with the atomic force microscope: dynamics of polymer adsorption and desorption at the single molecule level

The formation of networks is an important step in the synthesis of many biological assemblies. For example, during the synthesis of plant cell walls the factors which dictate the arrangement of the polymeric constituents that make up the cell wall are not yet understood. Factors such as site‐directed binding provide a possible theoretical background for beginning to understand the assembly of complex biological structures, but modelling of this process is difficult, time consuming and lacks experimental methods for verification. Through the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) it has been demonstrated that changes in the binding of a single heterogeneous cell wall polysaccharide to a charged substrate can be followed in real time. Furthermore, subsequent image analysis allows the probability of binding of the molecule to be mapped to produce a real data set which is comparable with those obtained in simulation studies. In addition, these AFM studies have provided new mechanistic clues to the adsorption/desorption process of this polysaccharide.     

Transmission electron microscopy observation of a single Ni dot fabricated using scanning tunneling microscopy

Recent developments in high-technology experimental equipment and semiconductor micro fabrication technology have made it possible to study various characteristic quantum phenomena such as quantized conductance and coulomb-blockade effects at the nano-scale level. One recent study attempted to fabricate a normal-super-normal double tunneling junction in a split-gate wire. In this study, we describe the results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation of a single 100 nm wide and 200 nm high Ni dot, which had been fabricated using scanning tunneling microscopy (SEM), placed on the top of the bridge of a Si-doped GaAs epitaxial layer grown by molecular beam epitaxy using a Riber 32 apparatus. The results from the successful use of TEM to observe the results of a SEM fabrication procedure support the contention that the fabricated Ni dot became a poly-crystal that was amorphous between GaAs crystal and a surface dot fabricated by applying voltage pulse to a STM tip, covered by an oxygenated film approximately 20 nm thick.     

Dependence of surface morphology on molecular structure and its influence on the properties of OLEDs

Most organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have a multilayer structure composed of organic layers such as a hole injection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer (HTL), an emission layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ETL) and an electron injection layer (EIL) sandwiched between two electrodes. The organic layers are thin solid films with a thickness from a few nano meters to a few tenths nano meter, respectively. Surface morphology of an organic thin solid film in OLEDs depends on the molecular structure of the organic material and has an affect on device performance. To analyze the effect of surface morphology of an organic thin solid film on fluorescence and electroluminescence (EL) properties, thin solid films of 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(julolidin-4-yl-vinyl)-4H-pyran (DCM2) and new red fluorophores, (2E,2′E)-3,3′-[4,4″-bis(dimethylamino)-1,1′:4′,1″-terphenyl-2′,5′-diyl]bis[2-(2-thienyl)acrylonitrile] (ABCV-Th) and (2Z,2′Z)-3,3′-[4,4″-bis(dimethylamino)-1,1′:4′,1″-terphenyl-2′,5′-diyl]bis(2-phenylacrylonitrile) (ABCV-P) were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The samples for EL and AFM measurement were fabricated by the high-vacuum thermal deposition (8×10⁻⁷ Torr) of organic materials onto the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate, in which the layer structures of samples for AFM measurement and those for EL measurement were ITO/NPB (40 nm)/red emitters (80 nm) and ITO/NPB (40 nm)/red emitters (80 nm)/BCP (30 nm)/Liq (2 nm)/Al (100 nm), respectively. The analysis based on AFM measurements well supported that the photoluminescence properties and the device performance were very much dependent upon surface morphology of an organic thin layer.     

Dependence of the friction process on the molecular structure and architecture of thin polymer films

The frictional properties of a homologous series of poly(n-alkyl methacrylates) (PnAMA) and a series of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films, cast from a variety of solvents, are characterized. The choice of polymer film was driven by the consideration of the possible mechanisms for the accommodation of a macroscopically applied shear stress by molecular entities. Two possible mechanisms are proposed: (i) the relative flexibility of the polymer backbone chain. For this purpose the PnAMAs have been chosen. By varying the length of the substituent chain, the relative molecular freedom around the backbone chain is altered. These molecular differences are sensed in the frictional properties at the macroscopic level, and (ii) the molecular organization is also proposed to be a factor in determining the friction response of a particular polymer film. For this purpose, the frictional properties of PMMA films cast from different solvents are investigated. There is observed to be a strong influence of the molecular organization on the frictional properties of the solvent cast PMMA films. The molecular probe employed to characterize the molecular environment is vibrational spectroscopy. Conformationally sensitive vibrational modes are used to determine the relative flexibility of the backbone chain and the organization of the chain network.     

Background removal in scanning tunneling spectroscopy of single atoms and molecules on metal surfaces

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy has developed into a powerful spectroscopic technique that has found wide application in the atomic scale characterization of the electronic properties of clean surfaces as well as adsorbates and defects at surfaces. However, it still lacks the standard methods for data treatment and removal of artifacts in spectra as they are, e.g., common in photoemission spectroscopy. The properties of the atomic scale tip apex--the probe of the instrument--tend to introduce spurious background signals into tunneling spectra. We present and discuss two methods which permit to extract tip-independent information from low temperature tunneling spectra acquired on single atoms and molecules on single crystal surfaces by background subtraction. The methods rely on a characterization of the tip on the clean metal surface. The performance of both methods is demonstrated and compared for simulated and experimental tunneling spectra.     

密度比对半主动拍动翼海流能采集系统影响研究

针对基于振荡水翼的海流能采集系统水动力学机理尚不完全清楚的问题,对半主动海流能采集系统的各项参数进行了数值模拟研究。半主动海流能采集系统俯仰运动由执行机构通过外力控制,升沉运动由作用在水翼上的水动力激发。先研究了最大有效攻角、拍动频率对系统能量采集效率的影响,进一步研究了水翼与流体的密度比对系统能量采集效率的影响。研究结果表明,密度比对系统的能量采集效率有较大影响,在所选用的参数范围内,能量采集效率随着密度比减小而增大。因此,水翼本身的惯性的影响在半主动海流能采集系统的研究中不可忽略。     

Response analysis for identifying the origin of photo-modulated current contrasts in scanning tunneling microscopic imaging semiconductor surfaces

Inhomogeneities in semiconductor solids can be imaged by two-dimensional mapping of the amplitude of periodically modulated tip current in scanning tunneling microscopy that is induced by illumination of semiconductor samples with a chopped light. It has been shown that it is possible to distinguish between plural origins of the photo-modulated current by analyzing the response properties of the current signal. A judicial choice of the modulation frequency is important for the required contrasts to be obtained.     

Effect of the molecular weight on deformation states of the polystyrene film by AFM single scanning

Nanobundles patterns can be formed on the surface of most thermoplastic polymers when the atomic force microscope (AFM)‐based nanomechanical machining method is employed to scratch their surfaces. Such patterns are reviewed as three‐dimensional sine‐wave structures. In the present study, the single‐line scratch test is used firstly to study different removal states of the polystyrene (PS) polymer with different molecular weights (MWs). Effects of the scratching direction and the scratching velocity on deformation of the PS film and the state of the removed materials are also investigated. Single‐wear box test is then employed to study the possibility of forming bundle structures on PS films with different MWs. The experimental results show that the state between the tip and the sample plays a key role in the nano machining process. If the contact radius between the AFM tip and the polymer surface is larger than the chain end‐to‐end distance, it is designated as the “cutting” state that means the area of both side ridges is less than the area of the groove and materials are removed. If the contact radius is less than the chain end‐to‐end distance, it is designated as the “plowing” state that means the area of both side ridges is larger than the area of the groove and no materials are removed at all. For the perfect bundles formation on the PS film, the plowing state is ideal condition for the larger MW polymers because of the chains’ entanglement. SCANNING 35:308‐315, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

单弯头条件下A+K流量计前直管段长度研究

A+K平衡流量计是由美国国家航空航天局马歇尔航空飞行中心设计发明的一种新型的差压式流量仪表,与其他的差压式流量计相比,它具有精确度高、量程比宽、直管段短等多项优点.本文针对其所需的直管段长度短的优点,研究了等效直径比分别为0.25/0.45/0.7,口径为50 mm的3种结构的A+K平衡流量计,在上游安装单个90°弯头时所需的最短直管段长度.通过对实流实验和仿真实验获取的数据结果进行定性和定量的分析来预测上游安装单个90°弯头时不同直管段长度对A+K平衡流量计流出系数的影响,并将平均流出系数相对误差和附加不确定度作为单弯头安装条件对流量计性能影响的评价指标,最后给出上游安装单个90°弯头的最短直管段长度.     

基于单电流检测的电动变桨系统容错控制

针对电动变桨系统中常见的电流传感器故障,提出一种基于单电流检测的电动变桨系统变论域模糊容错控制方法。当变桨系统发生单个或两个电流传感器故障时,该方法利用直流母线电流传感器对所缺失的电流信息进行重构,保证三相电流能在任意两个相邻采样周期内得到及时更新,确保闭环系统稳定,并通过自适应阈值故障判断法完成故障相电流传感器的切换及容错。针对调制法引起的重构信号误差及电动变桨系统的主要控制目标,将变论域模糊控制方法应用于速度环,以改善系统抗负载扰动能力,提高容错系统鲁棒性。结果表明,该容错控制方法使得变桨系统在传感器故障情况下,牺牲部分系统性能后依然具有较理想的控制特性,并且该方法的正确性也得到了验证。     

Three-dimensional incompressible flow of a gas through feed holes into an annular space of finite length

This paper presents a theoretical model of the three-dimensional flow of an incompressible gas in a concentric double-plane admission externally pressurised gas journal bearing. Inertia effects and the discreteness of the feed holes are included. The flow map demonstrates the formation of a vena contracta at the commencement of the film, downstream of the feed holes, as well as detailed behaviour of the streaklines within the film. The pressure profile obtained shows a depression at the vena contracta, followed by a partial recovery which varies around the feed holes, depending on whether the local flow is exiting between the rows of holes or outboard towards atmosphere. A comparison is also made with a similar one-dimensional incompressible flow solution to obtain flow and pressure factors, to account for the discreteness of the feed holes as well as inertia effects.     

Construction of a low-temperature thermodynamic measurement system for single crystal of molecular compounds under pressures

An apparatus to obtain low-temperature thermodynamic information under high pressures for a tiny single crystal of molecular compounds was developed based on the ac technique. To detect small temperature oscillation of a sample inside the cramp-type pressure cell, we have used a small ruthenium oxide chip sensor as a thermometer. The adoption of the four-terminal method by the ac resistance bridge has made high-resolution detection of thermal anomaly possible in the low-temperature region. The constructed high-pressure thermodynamic system was mounted on a 3He refrigerator and we have succeeded to detect the thermal anomaly in relevant to magnetic order of single crystal sample of Mn4-cluster complex up to 1.05 GPa. A distinct peak of the heat capacity and its upward shift with increasing pressures was observed using a tiny crystal of about 100 microg. The high-pressure behavior of the discontinuity of heat capacity at the superconductive transition of 6 mg of metal indium has also been detected by this apparatus. The details and performance of the technique are reported.     

Dependence of ion beam current on position of mobile plate tuner in multi-frequencies microwaves electron cyclotron resonance ion source

We are constructing a tandem-type electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). The first stage of this can supply 2.45 GHz and 11-13 GHz microwaves to plasma chamber individually and simultaneously. We optimize the beam current I(FC) by the mobile plate tuner. The I(FC) is affected by the position of the mobile plate tuner in the chamber as like a circular cavity resonator. We aim to clarify the relation between the I(FC) and the ion saturation current in the ECRIS against the position of the mobile plate tuner. We obtained the result that the variation of the plasma density contributes largely to the variation of the I(FC) when we change the position of the mobile plate tuner.     

Dependence of the magnetic field of a flaw on the distance to the surface of a tested article

The dependence of the magnetic field of a flaw on the distance to the surface of a tested article has been studied for rectangular slot-type flaws. For flaws with a small opening width, it can be considered that their magnetic field decreases in inverse proportion to this distance, but with an increase in the flaw width, the field decreases more slowly.     

Dependence identification in a time series on the basis of structural difference schemes

Optoelectronics, Instrumentation and Data Processing - The method of dependence identification is described, in which each model is compared to a linear or nonlinear structural difference scheme....