Backscatter linear and circular polarization analysis of roughened aluminum

A study of cross-polarized and copolarized intensities backscattered from roughened aluminum surfaces is presented for both linear and circular incident polarization states. The angular variation of measured Mueller matrices is shown to contain only diagonal elements, as predicted by the reciprocity theorem. The ratio of cross-depolarized to copolarized scattered intensities is significantly larger for circular than for linear input polarization states. In the linear case the ratio saturates beyond 50 degrees , whereas in the circular case the ratio continues to increase monotonically with angle. A phenomenological model for copolarization and cross-polarization intensities is shown to predict the observed behavior of both linear and circular input polarization states up to incident angles of 70 degrees .     

Oxidation of aluminum and relevant polarization in dc biased silver metaphosphate glass

A comprehensive study was made on biasing the silver metaphosphate glass with a dc pulse train, by using sputtered aluminum or evaporated aluminum as the anode. Oxidation of aluminum proceeded at the anode-glass interface, and relevant polarization and depolarization peaks were seen at the onsets of biasing and off biasing, respectively. It was suggested tentatively that the polarization arose from orientational motion of the P—O dipoles within the oxide, with 54 ± 1 kJ/mol as the activation energy for relaxation.     

Enhanced deposition of cubic boron nitride films on roughened silicon and tungsten carbide-cobalt surfaces

We report the influence of substrate surface roughness on cubic boron nitride (cBN) film deposition under low-energy ion bombardment in an inductively coupled plasma. Silicon and cemented tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) surfaces are roughened by low-energy ion-assisted etching in a hydrogen plasma, followed by deposition in a fluorine-containing plasma. Infrared absorption coefficients are measured to be 22,000 cm⁻¹ and 17,000 cm⁻¹ for sp²-bonded BN and cBN phases, respectively, for our films. For the silicon substrates, the film growth rate and the cBN content in the film increase with increasing the surface roughness, while the amount of sp²BN phase in the film shows only a small increase. A larger surface roughness of the substrate results in a smaller contact angle of water, indicating that a higher surface free energy of the substrate contributes to enhancing growth of the cBN film. For the WC-Co substrates, the film growth rate and the cBN content in the film increase similarly by roughening the surface.     

Morphological relaxation of glass surfaces

A model for calculating the morphological relaxation of two-dimensional glass profiles for arbitrary temperature-time schedules is described. The model is based on a Fourier expansion of the surface profile for which the decay with time can easily be calculated for each of the separate terms. The effect of the variable temperature with time was accounted for by discretization of the temperature-time profile. Necessary input data are the viscosity and surface tension of the glass. The sensitivity to various geometrical details is limited, but heating/cooling effects appeared to be important. The predictions of the model are verified by measurements on glass samples with various profiles and relaxed according to a certain temperature-time schedule. Using a surface tension value of 0.19 N m^–1, as determined with recent fibre-on-plate experiments, excellent agreement between theory and experiment was obtained. Possible options for extension to threedimensional profiles are indicated.     

Ionic conduction and conduction polarization in oxide glass

Biasing of an oxide glass by an applied electric field is reviewed with emphasis on the present author's works on thermally stimulated polarization/depolarization current and its relationship with d.c./a.c. conduction and dielectric relaxation. Evidence is presented supporting the idea that in oxide glass conduction should be accompanied by polarization, termed conduction polarization.     

Argon plasma treatment of glass surfaces

The effect of argon plasma treatment of glass surfaces is studied by FTIR and SEM. The argon plasma on cleaned glass surfaces resulted in increased surface area due to microetching and surface rearrangement of the silicate network as indicated by the observed changes in the Si-O stretching infrared absorption. The result was a relative increase in surface hydrophilicity which could be optimized by the plasma reaction conditions. The etching action of the argon plasma on the substrate surfaces facilitated the removal of the micrometre thick sizing from the commercial fibres accompanied by little loss in tensile strength. Plasma was also used to graft selected monomers to the surface of glass fibres for enhancement of bond compatibility in a composite system. This grafting treatment was followed by an argon etching step. The argon plasma action on the coated surfaces improved the wettability further and increased the sur face area. Changes in surface chemistry that accompanied the argon etching treatment were very subtle in the case of the plasma polymer of allylamine, but proved significant in the case of the plasma polymer of hexamethyldisiloxane. On the latter surfaces, rearrangement of the siloxane (Si-O-Si) bonds to silylmethylene (Si-(CH₂) _n -Si) groups is suggested.     

Optical scattering from rough-rolled aluminum surfaces

Bidirectional, angular resolved scatterometry was used to evaluate the feasibility of using rolled aluminum as reflectors in solar thermal collectors and solar cells. Two types of rolled aluminum with different surface roughnesses were investigated. The results show that the smoother of the two samples [rms height, (0.20 ? 0.02) mum] can be used as a nonimaging, concentrating reflector with moderate reflection losses compared with those of optically smooth aluminum reflectors. The sample with the rougher surface [rms height, (0.6 ? 0.1) mum] is not suitable as a concentrating element but can be used as planar reflectors. The orientation of the rolling grooves is then of importance for minimizing reflection losses in the system.     

Absorption mapping for characterization of glass surfaces

The surface quality of bare substrates and preparation procedures take on an important role in optical coating performances. The most commonly used techniques of characterization generally give information about roughness and local defects. A photothermal deflection technique is used for mapping surface absorption of fused-silica and glass substrates. We show that absorption mapping gives specific information on surface contamination of bare substrates. We present experimental results concerning substrates prepared by different cleaning and polishing techniques. We show that highly polished surfaces lead to the lowest values of residual surface absorption. Moreover the cleaning behavior of surfaces of multicomponent glasses and their optical performance in terms of absorption are proved to be different from those of fused silica.     

Thermally stimulated polarization current in sodium germanate glass

The electrical conductivity of XNa₂O·(100–X)GeO₂ glasses where X is 0.19 and 27.5 mol%, was studied by means of the technique of thermally stimulated polarization current. The compositional dependence of the parameter ₀ T/n ^1/3, where ₀ is the preexponential facor for conductivity and n is the nominal concentration of sodium ions, suggests that these glasses contain some sort of inhomogeneities. This suggestion is supported by the phase diagram.     

Field-assisted diffusion bonding and bond characterization of glass to aluminum

The bonding of glass wafers to aluminum foils in multi-layer assemblies was investigated by the field-assisted diffusion bonding process. Bonding was effected at temperatures in the range 350–450 °C and with an applied voltage in the range 400–700 V under a pressure of 0.05 MPa. The experimental parameters of voltage and temperature were the main factors in influencing the ionic current leading to the formation of the depleted layer. The peak current in three-layer samples (glass/aluminum/glass) during bonding is twice that for the case of the two-layer samples (aluminum/glass). SEM and EDS analyses showed the presence of transition layers near the glass/aluminum interface, and XRD data demonstrated the phase structure of the glass/aluminum interface. The tensile strength of the bonded material increased markedly with increasing temperature and applied voltage. Fracture occurred in the glass phase near the interface with the aluminum. Finite element analysis showed the residual deformation in three-layer samples to be significantly lower than in two-layer samples. The symmetry in three-layer samples resulted in the absence of strain, an important advantage in MEMS fabrication.     

Segmentation of rough surfaces using a polarization imaging system

A polarimetric vision system yielding a roughness-segmentation-based image is described. As a general principle, the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of a surface is assumed to be related to its local irregularities, i.e., its roughness. This BRDF is seen as the sum of a specular and a diffuse component. In this paper we propose to introduce polarization measurements in order to estimate this roughness parameter without requiring any assumption for the model of the diffuse component, nor is diffuse-specular separation required. Moreover, with the proposed method, the refractive indices of the observed objects are estimated at each pixel. Examples are given for quality control applications.     

Controlling binding site densities on glass surfaces

The density of surface-immobilized ligands or binding sites is an important issue for the development of sensors, array- or chip-based assays, and single-molecule detection methods. The goal of this research is to control the binding site density of reactive ligands on surfaces by diluting surface amine groups in self-assembled and cross-linked monolayers on glass prepared from solutions containing very low concentrations of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and much higher concentrations of (2-cyanoethyl)triethoxysilane. The surface amine sites are suitable for attaching labels and ligands by reaction with succinimidyl ester reagents. Labeling the amine sites with fluorescent molecules and imaging the single molecules with fluorescence microscopy provides a means of determining the density of amine sites on the surface, which were incorporated into the self-assembled monolayer with micrometer spacings in proportion to the concentration of APTES in the synthesis. Biotin ligands were also bound to these surface amine sites using a succinimidyl ester linker, and the immobilized biotin was then reacted with either streptavidin-conjugated gold colloid particles or fluorescently labeled neutravidin. Imaging of these samples yields consistent amine and biotin site coverages, indicating that quantitative control and chemical conversion of binding sites can be achieved at very low (<10(-7)) fractions of a monolayer.     

Radiation effects on lead silicate glass surfaces

Radiation-induced changes in the microstructure of lead silicate glass were investigated in situ under Mg K irradiation in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Lead-oxygen bond breaking resulting in the formation of pure lead was observed. The segregation, growth kinetics and the structural relaxation of the lead, with corresponding changes in the oxygen and silicon on the glass surfaces were studied by measuring the time-dependent changes in concentration, binding energy shifts, and the full width at half maximum. A bimodal distribution of the oxygen XPS signal, caused by bridging and non-bridging oxygens, was found during the relaxation process. All experimental data indicate a reduction of the oxygen concentration, a phase separation of the lead from the glass matrix, and the metallization of the lead occurred during and after the X-ray irradiation.     

Impact of small steel spheres on glass surfaces

A high speed photographic study has been made as part of a detailed investigation of the impact of small steel spheres ( 800 and 1000 m diameter) on to Pyrex and soda-lime glasses. The velocity of the spheres was varied from 20 to 300 m sec^–1 and the fracturing process during the complete impact cycle was followed. Observations revealed substantial differences in the behaviour of the two glasses, particularly at higher velocities; Pyrex behaved as though indented by a sphere, whereas soda lime glass behaved as though indented with a pointed indenter. As with quasi-static pointed indentations, cracking was observed during the unloading cycle. It was also found that the angle of the Hertzian cone crack in Pyrex glass varied in a systematic manner with velocity. Rebound velocity, time of contact and extent of flattening of the steel spheres were also recorded. The relevance of these observations to impact erosion and strength degradation of brittle materials is pointed out.     

Investigation of surface roughness on etched glass surfaces

Roughening the surface of solar cells is a common practice within the photovoltaic industry as it reduces reflectance, and thus enhances the performance of devices. In this work the relationship between reflectance characterized by the haze parameter, surface roughness and optical properties was investigated. To achieve this goal, model samples were prepared by hydrofluoric acid etching of glass for various times and measured by optical microscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Our investigation showed that the surface reflectance was decreased not only by the roughening of the surface but also by the modification of the depth profile and lowering of the refractive index of the surface domain of the samples.