Simultaneous Reflection and Transmission Measurements of Scandium Oxide Thin Films in the Extreme Ultraviolet

This project intends to study thin films of scandium oxide in the extreme ultraviolet. The goal is to experimentally determine the EUV optical constants for scandium oxide thin films, so that the optical performance of these films can be accurately described. These constants are necessary to supplement the analysis of the performance of scandium thin films, and will also provide insight into the potential use of scandium oxide thin films in future coating schemes

A Novel Technique for the Simultaneous Collection of Reflection and Transmission Data from Thin Films in the Extreme Ultraviolet

Studies of thin films in the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) are difficult given that most materials readily absorb photons of these energies. By depositing a thin film of the material of interest on a silicon photodiode, transmission measurements can be made throughout the EUV. If the measurements are made in a range of low absorption, the extinction coefficient, k, can be found with relative ease. However, if the material’s absorption is considerable, reflection measurements are needed to supplement the transmission data in order to find the optical constants n and k. The technique developed allows for reflection and transmission measurements to be taken simultaneously, which combined, account for all of the measurable photons from the original beam: (those which cannot be counted are photons absorbed into the thin film material). Also, the technique presented allows for data to be collected from practically all angles of incidence. This technique has been applied to a thin film of scandium oxide (d=65 nm), with measurements taken over wavelengths from 2.5-25 nm, and at angles of incidence 12 degrees from grazing to normal

Extreme Ultraviolet Application of Carbon Nanotube Structures

Windows for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sources are challenging because of the lack of transparent materials in these wavelengths. Thus, differential pumping apertures and slits are standard. Our group has developed a carbon nanotube (CNT) window consisting of a dense array of square holes. The open area allows a large range of wavelengths to be transmitted, and the high density of holes restricts gas flow, allowing a large pressure difference with differential pumping. The versatility of CNTs allows us to select the peak transmission and pressure ratio (low/high). We have observed pressure ratios of 0.000924, 0.000667, 0.000494, and 0.00118 for air at 298 K with (width-heigth in microns) 50-301, 50-654, 50-1045, and 200-675, respectively for (high) pressures up to 1 torr

The Effects of Oxidation on the Refractive Index of Uranium Thin Films in the Extreme Ultraviolet

We measured the transmittance and reflectance of two samples in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The samples were prepared with approximately 20 nm of UOx with one reactively sputtered onto a diode, and one allowed to oxidize naturally on an identical diode. Fitting the reflectance data to the Parratt model yielded a more precise thickness of the UOx film. This thickness combined with a simple analysis of the transmission measurements provides estimates for the imaginary part of the index of refraction for UOx at approximately every tenth of a nanometer from about 3 nm to 30 nm with emphasis in the 12- to 13-nm range. Using these values, a first approximation for the real part of the refractive index has also been calculated. These values provide researchers with information for modeling, design, and fabrication of optical systems in the extreme ultraviolet

Interferometric gated off-axis reflectometry (iGOR) - A label free method to measure lipid membrane dynamics and deduce biophysical properties

The function and organisation of proteins within the cell membrane is a fundamental area within cell biology, underpinning key processes. When investigating the interaction between proteins and lipid membranes, it is important to consider a dynamic system, as proteins and membrane phase behaviour are known to modulate the function of each other [1]. However, due to limits in technology, the study of membrane dynamics often falls short, especially when evaluating thickness and curvature. Traditional fluorescence methods suffer from photobleaching and phototoxicity [2]. Label-free techniques like iSCAT and mass photometry allow the observation of membrane components on a supported lipid bilayer which inevitably dampens fluctuations of the membrane [3], [4]. We have developed a technique, Interferometric gated off-axis reflectometry (iGOR), to alleviate these limitations by facilitating precise observation of a section of suspended lipid membrane. iGOR is a form of digital holography (see Fig. 1a,c) in which we combine measurements of membrane thickness and height to analyse membrane stiffness and phase transitions using thermal fluctuations. To maximise the temporal resolution our system acquires at 327Hz with an exposure time of 3ms

The Spillover of Daily Job Satisfaction onto Employees’ Family Lives: The Facilitating Role of Work-Family Integration

The longitudinal, multisource, multimethod study presented herein examines the role of employees' work-family integration in the spillover of daily job satisfaction onto daily marital satisfaction and affective states experienced by employees at home. The spillover linkages are modeled at the within-individual level, and results support the main effects of daily job satisfaction on daily marital satisfaction and affect at home, as well as the moderating effect of work-family integration on the strength of the within-individual spillover effects on home affect. That is, employees with highly integrated work and family roles exhibited stronger intraindividual spillover effects on positive and negative affect at home

Towards a Hybrid Method to Categorize Interruptions and Activities in Healthcare

Objective Interruptions are known to have a negative impact on activity performance. Understanding how an interruption contributes to human error is limited because there is not a standard method for analyzing and classifying interruptions. Qualitative data are typically analyzed by either a deductive or an inductive method. Both methods have limitations. In this paper a hybrid method was developed that integrates deductive and inductive methods for the categorization of activities and interruptions recorded during an ethnographic study of physicians and registered nurses in a Level One Trauma Center. Understanding the effects of interruptions is important for designing and evaluating informatics tools in particular and for improving healthcare quality and patient safety in general. Method The hybrid method was developed using a deductive a priori classification framework with the provision of adding new categories discovered inductively in the data. The inductive process utilized line-by-line coding and constant comparison as stated in Grounded Theory. Results The categories of activities and interruptions were organized into a three-tiered hierarchy of activity. Validity and reliability of the categories were tested by categorizing a medical error case external to the study. No new categories of interruptions were identified during analysis of the medical error case. Conclusions Findings from this study provide evidence that the hybrid model of categorization is more complete than either a deductive or an inductive method alone. The hybrid method developed in this study provides the methodical support for understanding, analyzing, and managing interruptions and workflow

The environment and physical activity: The influence of psychosocial, perceived and built environmental factors

This study sought to integrate perceived and built environmental and individual factors into the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to better understand adolescents' physical activity