Precision positioning using a novel six axes compliant nano-manipulator

In this paper, a novel micro-scale nano-manipulator capable of positioning in six degrees of freedom (DOF) is introduced. Undesired deflections, while operating in a specific DOF, are restricted by the aid of distinctive design of flexure hinges and actuators’ arrangements. The compliant mechanism is actuated by thermo-electro-mechanical actuators, as they could be integrated and exert large forces in a nanometer resolution. The actuators are bidirectional capable of applying force in both transverse and longitudinal directions. Performance of the two degrees of freedom actuator is thoroughly explored via numerical and analytical analyses, showing a good agreement. The workspace and performance of the precision positioner is studied using finite element methods. Finally, identification of forward and inverse kinematic of the nano-manipulator is performed utilizing neural network concept. A well-trained and appropriate neural network can efficiently replace the time-consuming and complex analytical and experimental methods

Techniques for Consecutive TEM and Atom Probe Tomography Analysis of Nanowires

Nanowires show great promise for development in many technological applications including electronics, photonics, and displays . Due to the fine scale of nanowires, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) are among a limited number of techniques that can measure the crystallographic and chemical nature of these structures which ultimately define their performance

Techniques for Consecutive TEM and Atom Probe Tomography Analysis of Nanowires

Nanowires show great promise for development in many technological applications including electronics, photonics, and displays . Due to the fine scale of nanowires, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) are among a limited number of techniques that can measure the crystallographic and chemical nature of these structures which ultimately define their performance

Helical Structures in Vertically Aligned Dust Particle Chains in a Complex Plasma

Self-assembly of structures from vertically aligned, charged dust particle bundles within a glass box placed on the lower, powered electrode of a RF GEC cell were produced and examined experimentally. Self-organized formation of one-dimensional vertical chains, two-dimensional zigzag structures and three-dimensional helical structures of triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, and heptagonal symmetries are shown to occur. System evolution is shown to progress from a one-dimensional chain structure, through a zigzag transition to a two-dimensional, spindle-like structure and then to various three-dimensional, helical structures exhibiting multiple symmetries. Stable configurations are found to be dependent upon the system confinement, (where are the horizontal and vertical dust resonance frequencies), the total number of particles within a bundle and the RF power. For clusters having fixed numbers of particles, the RF power at which structural transitions occur is repeatable and exhibits no observable hysteresis. The critical conditions for these structural transitions as well as the basic symmetry exhibited by the one-, two- and three-dimensional structures that subsequently develop are in good agreement with the theoretically predicted configurations of minimum energy determined employing molecular dynamics simulations for charged dust particles confined in a prolate, spheroidal potential as presented theoretically by Kamimura and Ishihara [10]

ERGOS: Multi-degrees of Freedom and Versatile Force-Feedback Panoply

International audienceThis paper deals with the design of a generic force feedback devices technology. System compactness, accessible number of degrees of freedom, morphology, resolution of the physical variables, frequency bandwidth are the main criteria the ERGOS technology answers to. This technology is successfully applied in two various fields: virtual bowed string instrument and nano-manipulator, applications presented in this paper

Programming moir\'e patterns in 2D materials by bending

Moir\'e superlattices in twisted two-dimensional materials have generated tremendous excitement as a platform for achieving quantum properties on demand. However, the moir\'e pattern is highly sensitive to the interlayer atomic registry, and current assembly techniques suffer from imprecise control of the average twist angle, spatial inhomogeneity in the local twist angle, and distortions due to random strain. Here, we demonstrate a new way to manipulate the moir\'e patterns in hetero- and homo-bilayers through in-plane bending of monolayer ribbons, using the tip of an atomic force microscope. This technique achieves continuous variation of twist angles with improved twist-angle homogeneity and reduced random strain, resulting in moir\'e patterns with highly tunable wavelength and ultra-low disorder. Our results pave the way for detailed studies of ultra-low disorder moir\'e systems and the realization of precise strain-engineered devices

Nano-manipulation of diamond-based single photon sources

The ability to manipulate nano-particles at the nano-scale is critical for the development of active quantum systems. This paper presents a new technique to manipulate diamond nano-crystals at the nano-scale using a scanning electron microscope, nano-manipulator and custom tapered optical fibre probes. The manipulation of a ~ 300 nm diamond crystal, containing a single nitrogen-vacancy centre, onto the endface of an optical fibre is demonstrated. The emission properties of the single photon source post manipulation are in excellent agreement with those observed on the original substrate.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure