42 research outputs found
Thermoplastic deformation of silicon surfaces induced by ultrashort pulsed lasers in submelting conditions
A hybrid 2D theoretical model is presented to describe thermoplastic
deformation effects on silicon surfaces induced by single and multiple
ultrashort pulsed laser irradiation in submelting conditions. An approximation
of the Boltzmann transport equation is adopted to describe the laser
irradiation process. The evolution of the induced deformation field is
described initially by adopting the differential equations of dynamic
thermoelasticity while the onset of plastic yielding is described by the von
Mise's stress. Details of the resulting picometre sized crater, produced by
irradiation with a single pulse, are then discussed as a function of the
imposed conditions and thresholds for the onset of plasticity are computed.
Irradiation with multiple pulses leads to ripple formation of nanometre size
that originates from the interference of the incident and a surface scattered
wave. It is suggested that ultrafast laser induced surface modification in
semiconductors is feasible in submelting conditions, and it may act as a
precursor of the incubation effects observed at multiple pulse irradiation of
materials surfaces.Comment: To appear in the Journal of Applied Physic
Tailoring surface topographies on solids with Mid-IR femtosecond laser pulses
Irradiation of solids with ultrashort pulses using laser sources in the
mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral region is a yet predominantly unexplored field
that opens broad possibilities for efficient and precise surface texturing for
a wide range of applications. In the present work, we investigate both
experimentally and theoretically the impact of laser sources on the generation
of surface modification related effects and on the subsequent surface
patterning of metallic and semiconducting materials. Through a parametric study
we correlate the mid-IR pulsed laser parameters with the onset of material
damage and the formation of a variety of periodic surface structures at a laser
wavelength of {\lambda}L=3200 nm and a pulse duration of {\tau}p=45 fs. Results
for nickel and silicon indicate that the produced topographies comprise both
high and low spatial frequency induced periodic structures, similar to those
observed at lower wavelengths, while groove formation is absent. The
investigation of the damage thresholds suggests the incorporation of nonlinear
effects generated from three-photon-assisted excitation (for silicon) and the
consideration of the role of the non-thermal excited electron population (for
nickel) at very short pulse durations. The results demonstrate the potential of
surface structuring with mid-IR pulses, which can constitute a systematic novel
engineering approach with strong fields at long-wavelength spectral regions
that can be used for advanced industrial laser applications
Dynamics of ripple formation on silicon surfaces by ultrashort laser pulses in sub-ablation conditions
An investigation of ultrashort pulsed laser induced surface modification due
to conditions that result in a superheated melted liquid layer and material
evaporation are considered. To describe the surface modification occurring
after cooling and resolidification of the melted layer and understand the
underlying physical fundamental mechanisms, a unified model is presented to
account for crater and subwavelength ripple formation based on a synergy of
electron excitation and capillary waves solidification. The proposed
theoretical framework aims to address the laser-material interaction in
sub-ablation conditions and thus minimal mass removal in combination with a
hydrodynamics-based scenario of the crater creation and ripple formation
following surface irradiation with single and multiple pulses, respectively.
The development of the periodic structures is attributed to the interference of
the incident wave with a surface plasmon wave. Details of the surface
morphology attained are elaborated as a function of the imposed conditions and
results are tested against experimental data
Two fermion relativistic bound states: hyperfine shifts
We discuss the hyperfine shifts of the Positronium levels in a relativistic
framework, starting from a two fermion wave equation where, in addition to the
Coulomb potential, the magnetic interaction between spins is described by a
Breit term. We write the system of four first order differential equations
describing this model. We discuss its mathematical features, mainly in relation
to possible singularities that may appear at finite values of the radial
coordinate. We solve the boundary value problems both in the singular and non
singular cases and we develop a perturbation scheme, well suited for numerical
computations, that allows to calculate the hyperfine shifts for any level,
according to well established physical arguments that the Breit term must be
treated at the first perturbative order. We discuss our results, comparing them
with the corresponding values obtained from semi-classical expansions.Comment: 16 page
Nemo: a computational tool for analyzing nematode locomotion
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans responds to an impressive range of
chemical, mechanical and thermal stimuli and is extensively used to investigate
the molecular mechanisms that mediate chemosensation, mechanotransduction and
thermosensation. The main behavioral output of these responses is manifested as
alterations in animal locomotion. Monitoring and examination of such
alterations requires tools to capture and quantify features of nematode
movement. In this paper, we introduce Nemo (nematode movement), a
computationally efficient and robust two-dimensional object tracking algorithm
for automated detection and analysis of C. elegans locomotion. This algorithm
enables precise measurement and feature extraction of nematode movement
components. In addition, we develop a Graphical User Interface designed to
facilitate processing and interpretation of movement data. While, in this
study, we focus on the simple sinusoidal locomotion of C. elegans, our approach
can be readily adapted to handle complicated locomotory behaviour patterns by
including additional movement characteristics and parameters subject to
quantification. Our software tool offers the capacity to extract, analyze and
measure nematode locomotion features by processing simple video files. By
allowing precise and quantitative assessment of behavioral traits, this tool
will assist the genetic dissection and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms
underlying specific behavioral responses.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures. accepted by BMC Neuroscience 2007, 8:8
Heuristic Models of Two-Fermion Relativistic Systems with Field-Type Interaction
We use the chain of simple heuristic expedients to obtain perturbative and
exactly solvable relativistic spectra for a family of two-fermionic bound
systems with Coulomb-like interaction. In the case of electromagnetic
interaction the spectrum coincides up to the second order in a coupling
constant with that following from the quantum electrodynamics. Discrepancy
occurs only for S-states which is the well-known difficulty in the bound-state
problem. The confinement interaction is considered too.
PACS number(s): 03.65.Pm, 03.65.Ge, 12.39.PnComment: 16 pages, LaTeX 2.0