Revisiting Koreas Northern Limit Line and Proposed Special Zone for Peace and Cooperation

This article examines the prospects for the realization of the agreement signed at the 2007 inter-Korean summit to transform the conflict-susceptible Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea into a border area where South and North Korea jointly promote peace and prosperity. To realize this agreement the two Koreas must integrate new ideas and plans by viewing the NLL as a space of common benefit rather than a line of military confrontation. The establishment of the West Sea Special Zone for Peace and Cooperation focuses on security and economic issues. Implementation of the agreement requires particular attention to development of a comprehensive plan, including promotion of ecological, environmental, historical, and cultural assets, as well as inter-Korean fishery cooperation

Near-field photoluminescence obervation of Zn2SiO4 : Mn2+nanocrystals

International audienc

Influence of tip modulation on image formation in scanning near-field optical microscopy

International audienceModulation of the probe height in a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) is a technique that is commonly used for both distance control and separation of the near-field signal from a background. Detection of higher harmonic modulated signals has also been used to obtain an improvement in resolution, the elimination of background, or artifacts in the signal. This article presents a theoretical model for the effects induced in SNOM images by modulation of the probe. It is shown that probe modulation introduces a spatial filter into the image, generally suppressing propagating field components and enhancing the strength of evanescent field components. A simple example of detection of a single evanescent field above a prism is studied in some detail, and a complicated dependence on modulation parameters and waveform is shown. Some aspects of the application of this theory in a general experimental situation are discussed. Simulated images are displayed to explicitly show the effects of varying modulation amplitude with first and second harmonic detection. Finally, we discuss the suppression of background artifacts due to propagating fields through the use of higher harmonic detection

Error signal artifact in apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy

International audienceApertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy is a method for obtaining subwavelength optical images of nanostructures. However, great care must be taken to avoid artifactual images. We report on one artifact related to the error signal in cantilever vibration amplitude when operating in tapping mode atomic force microscopy. The artifact is described experimentally and modeled by electromagnetic calculations based on the finite element method. We report specific steps to identify and avoid this artifact with experimental results on gold nanostructures. It is suggested that future apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy studies verify that optical image does not correlate with error signal