Measurement of contrast transfer function in super-resolution microscopy using two-color fluorescence dip spectroscopy

The contrast transfer function (CTF) of super-resolution microscopy was quantitatively investigated using a fluorescent scale. The scale has minute fluorescent line patterns, finer than 100 nm, and is suitable for measuring CTF in super-resolution microscopy. The measured CTF shows that super-resolution microscopy can indeed improve the optical properties of fluorescent images and enable us to observe a structure with the spatial resolution overcoming the diffraction limit. From the CTF, it has been found that super-resolution microcopy can resolve a 100 nm line-and-space pattern and provides a contrast of 10%. The CTF corresponds to a PSF with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 130 nm. An evaluation using a 100 nmphi fluorescent bead consistently supports the results given by the CTF for super-resolution microscopy.     

Application of femtosecond-laser induced nanostructures in optical memory

The femtosecond laser induced micro- and nanostructures for the application to the three-dimensional optical data storage are investigated. We have observed the increase of refractive index due to local densification and atomic defect generation, and demonstrated the real time observation of photothermal effect after the femtosecond laser irradiation inside a glass by the transient lens (TrL) method. The TrL signal showed a damped oscillation with about an 800 ps period. The essential feature of the oscillation can be reproduced by the pressure wave creation and propagation to the outward direction from the irradiated region. The simulation based on elastodynamics has shown that a large thermoelastic stress is relaxed by the generation of the pressure wave. In the case of soda-lime glass, the velocity of the pressure wave is almost same as the longitudinal sound velocity at room temperature (5.8 microm/ns). We have also observed the localized photo-reduction of Sm3+ to Sm2+ inside a transparent and colorless Sm(3+)-doped borate glass. Photoluminescence spectra showed that some the Sm3+ ions in the focal spot within the glass sample were reduced to Sm2+ ions after femtosecond laser irradiation. A photo-reduction bit of 200 nm in three-dimensions can be recorded with a femtosecond laser and readout clearly by detecting the fluorescence excited by Ar+ laser (lambda = 488 nm). A photo-reduction bit can be also erased by photo-oxidation with a cw Ar+ laser (lambda = 514.5 nm). Since photo-reduction bits can be spaced 150 nm apart in a layer within glass, a memory capacity of as high as 1 Tbit can be achieved in a glass piece with dimensions of 10 mm x 10 mm x 1 mm. We have also demonstrated the first observation of the polarization-dependent periodic nanostructure formation by the interference between femtosecond laser light and electron acoustic waves. The observed nanostructures are the smallest embedded structures ever created by light. The period of self-organized nanostructures can be controlled from approximately 140 to 320 nm by the pulse energy and the number of irradiated pulses. Furthermore, we have also observed the self-assembled sub-wavelength periodic structures created in silica glass by femtosecond pulses on the plane of the propagation of light.     

A statistically harmonized alignment-classification in image space enables accurate and robust alignment of noisy images in single particle analysis

In determining the three-dimensional (3D) structure of macromolecular assemblies in single particle analysis, a large representative dataset of two-dimensional (2D) average images from huge number of raw images is a key for high resolution. Because alignments prior to averaging are computationally intensive, currently available multireference alignment (MRA) software does not survey every possible alignment. This leads to misaligned images, creating blurred averages and reducing the quality of the final 3D reconstruction. We present a new method, in which multireference alignment is harmonized with classification (multireference multiple alignment: MRMA). This method enables a statistical comparison of multiple alignment peaks, reflecting the similarities between each raw image and a set of reference images. Among the selected alignment candidates for each raw image, misaligned images are statistically excluded, based on the principle that aligned raw images of similar projections have a dense distribution around the correctly aligned coordinates in image space. This newly developed method was examined for accuracy and speed using model image sets with various signal-to-noise ratios, and with electron microscope images of the Transient Receptor Potential C3 and the sodium channel. In every data set, the newly developed method outperformed conventional methods in robustness against noise and in speed, creating 2D average images of higher quality. This statistically harmonized alignment-classification combination should greatly improve the quality of single particle analysis.     

Silicon precipitation via photoinduced reaction using femtosecond laser

Silicon precipitation inside a glass is an important technique for silicon photonics. We successfully precipitated silicon inside silicate glasses containing an Al metal film using femtosecond laser irradiation. First, the Al-inserted sandwiched glass was fabricated by the direct bonding method. The results of a tensile test indicated that the adhesive strength of the sandwich structure reached approximately 4 MPa. Next, femtosecond laser pulses were focused at the Al/glass interface in the sandwich structure. A transmission electron microscopy photograph at the focus of the laser showed that the Al particles were dispersed into the glass substrate to a depth of approximately 2 microm from the initial Al layer. In addition, Raman spectra indicated that silicon had formed at the interface between the glass and Al film after the laser irradiation. The morphology or the particle size of the precipitated silicon was successfully modified by changing the repetition rate or the pulse energy of the laser.     

Architecture of colloidal crystals constructed by silica hybrid nanoparticles

Silica (SiO₂)‐crosslinked polystyrene (PS) particles possessing photofunctional N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (DC) groups on their surface were prepared by the free‐radical emulsion copolymerization of a mixture of SiO₂ (diameter D_n = 192 nm), styrene, divinyl benzene, 4‐vinylbenzyl N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (VBDC), and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate with a radical initiator under UV irradiation. In this copolymerization, the inimer VBDC had the formation of a hyperbranched structure by a living radical mechanism. These particles had DC groups on their surface. Subsequently, poly(methyl methacrylate) brushes encapsulated SiO₂ particles were synthesized by the grafting from a photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) approach of methyl methacrylate initiated by SiO₂‐crosslinked PS particles as a macroinitiator. We constructed the colloidal crystals using these photofunctional particles. Moreover, the SiO₂ particle array of colloidal crystals was locked by radical photopolymerization with vinyl monomer as a matrix. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Self-adjustment of Young's modulus in biomedical titanium alloys during orthopaedic operation

In spinal fixation devices, the Young's modulus of the metallic implant rod should be not only sufficiently low to prevent stress shielding for the patient but also sufficiently high to suppress springback for the surgeon. This paper proposes a novel function of biomedical titanium alloys—self-adjustment of Young's modulus. Deformation-induced ω phase transformation was introduced into β-type titanium alloys so that the Young's modulus of only the deformed part would increase during operation, while that of the non-deformed part would remain low. The Young's modulus increase by deformation was investigated for a binary Ti-12Cr alloy. This alloy successfully underwent deformation-induced ω phase transformation and exhibited the increase in the Young's modulus by deformation.     

Deflection of wafers and cantilevers with Pt/LNO/PZT/LNO/Pt/Ti/SiO2 multilayered structure

The present paper describes a Pt/LNO/PZT/LNO/Pt/Ti/SiO₂ multilayers deposited on 4-inch Si wafers. We have evaluated the variation of the deflection of the Si wafers with deposition of each of the thin films. The deposition of the multilayers has resulted in downward deflection (center is higher than edge) of the Si wafers. The multilayers have been also deposited onto SOI wafers and fabricated into piezoelectric micro cantilevers through MEMS bulk micromachining. The micro cantilevers have shown the upward deflection. We have characterized the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the PZT thin films through electrical tests of the micro cantilevers. The dielectric constant, saturation polarization, remanent polarization and coercive field were measured to be 1050, 31.3 μC/cm², 9.1 μC/cm² and 21 kV/cm, respectively. The transverse piezoelectric constant, d₃₁, was measured to be − 110 pm/V from the DC response of the micro cantilevers.