Sub-100 nm resolution microscopy based on proximity projection grating scheme

Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) has been widely used in life science imaging applications. The maximum resolution improvement of SIM, compared to conventional bright field system is a factor of 2. Here we present an approach to structured illumination microscopy using the proximity projection grating scheme (PPGS), which has the ability to further enhance the SIM resolution without invoking any nonlinearity response from the sample. With the PPGS-based SIM, sub-100 nm resolution has been obtained experimentally, and results corresponding to 2.4 times resolution improvement are presented. Furthermore, it will be shown that an improvement of greater than 3 times can be achieved

Reconstructing World Politics: Norms, Discourse, and Community

This Article argues that the conventional (rationalist) approach to world politics characterized by political bargain cannot fully capture the new social reality under the contemporary global ambience where ideational factors such as ideas, values, culture, and norms have become more salient and influential not only in explaining but also in prescribing state behaviors. After bringing rationalism’s paradigmatic limitations into relief, the Article offers a sociological framework that highlights a reflective, intersubjective communication among states and consequent norm-building process. Under this new paradigm, one can understand an international organization as a “community” (Gemeinschaft), not as a mere contractual instrument of its contracting parties (Gesellschaft). The Article applies the new paradigm to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as it describes the WTO’s institutional evolution from a power-oriented, tariff-reducing contract to a norm-oriented world trade community

Modified Hagedorn formula including temperature fluctuation - Estimation of temperatures at RHIC experiments -

We have systematically estimated the possible temperatures obtained from an analysis of recent data on $p_t$ distributions observed at RHIC experiments. Using the fact that observed $p_t$ distributions cannot be described by the original Hagedorn formula in the whole range of transverse momenta (in particular above 6 GeV/c), we propose a modified Hagedorn formula including temperature fluctuation. We show that by using it we can fit $p_t$ distributions in the whole range and can estimate consistently the relevant temperatures, including their fluctuations.Comment: Some misprints corrected, references updated. To be published in Eur. Phys. J. C (2006

Non-iterative aberration retrieval based on the spot shape around focus

A non-iterative, robust, aberration retrieval method to determine primary aberrations by utilizing the intensity distribution at and around focus is presented. The primary Zernike aberrations (coma, spherical aberration and astigmatism) are retrieved by fitting a set of orthogonal circle functions within the central region of the intensity distribution recorded at 3 different axial planes, typically taken at best focus and either side of focus. Aberration indicators are derived from these fits for each primary aberration and it is shown that these indicators can be used for aberration retrieval. The selected indicators vary almost linearly with the magnitude of aberration up to 0.13λ rms, corresponding to a Strehl ratio of 0.44. In the presence of multiple primary aberrations, the method is found to be reliable for a total rms wavefront deviation below 0.10λ (Strehl ratio of 0.68). This approach is linear and non-iterative and will therefore be beneficial for applications where speed and limiting photon exposure is important such as wavefront correction in biomedical imaging