1,999 research outputs found
Interpreting motion and force for narrow-band intermodulation atomic force microscopy
Intermodulation atomic force microscopy (ImAFM) is a mode of dynamic atomic
force microscopy that probes the nonlinear tip-surface force by measurement of
the mixing of multiple tones in a frequency comb. A high cantilever
resonance and a suitable drive comb will result in tip motion described by a
narrow-band frequency comb. We show by a separation of time scales, that such
motion is equivalent to rapid oscillations at the cantilever resonance with a
slow amplitude and phase or frequency modulation. With this time domain
perspective we analyze single oscillation cycles in ImAFM to extract the
Fourier components of the tip-surface force that are in-phase with tip motion
() and quadrature to the motion (). Traditionally, these force
components have been considered as a function of the static probe height only.
Here we show that and actually depend on both static probe height
and oscillation amplitude. We demonstrate on simulated data how to reconstruct
the amplitude dependence of and from a single ImAFM measurement.
Furthermore, we introduce ImAFM approach measurements with which we reconstruct
the full amplitude and probe height dependence of the force components
and , providing deeper insight into the tip-surface interaction. We
demonstrate the capabilities of ImAFM approach measurements on a polystyrene
polymer surface.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
Solid-State Excitation Laser for Laser-Ultrasonics
The inspection speed of laser-ultrasonics compared with conventional ultrasonic testing is limited by the pulse repetition rate of the excitation laser. The maximum pulse repetition rate reported up to now for CO2-lasers, which are presently used for nearly all systems, is in the range of 400 Hz. In this paper a new approach based on a diode-pumped solid-state laser is discussed, which is currently being developed. This new excitation laser is designed for a repetition rate of 1 kHz and will operate at a mid-IR wavelength of 3.3 m. The higher repeti-tion rate enables a higher inspection speed, whereas the mid-IR wavelength anticipates a better coupling efficiency. The total power for pumping the laser crystals is transported via flexible optical fibres to the compact laser head, thus allowing operation on a robot arm. The laser head consists of a master oscillator feeding several lines of power amplifiers and in-cludes nonlinear optical wavelength conversion by an optical parametric process. It is char-acterized by a modular construction which provides optimal conditions for operation at high average power as well as for easy maintenance. These features will enable building reliable, long-lived, rugged, smart laser ultrasonic systems in futur
Phase imaging with intermodulation atomic force microscopy
Intermodulation atomic force microscopy (IMAFM) is a dynamic mode of atomic
force microscopy (AFM) with two-tone excitation. The oscillating AFM cantilever
in close proximity to a surface experiences the nonlinear tip-sample force
which mixes the drive tones and generates new frequency components in the
cantilever response known as intermodulation products (IMPs). We present a
procedure for extracting the phase at each IMP and demonstrate phase images
made by recording this phase while scanning. Amplitude and phase images at
intermodulation frequencies exhibit enhanced topographic and material contrast.Comment: 6 pages, 6 page
Diagnostic value of duplex ultrasound and liquid crystal contact thermography in preclinical detection of deep vein thrombosis after proximal femur fractures
During a prospective clinical study the diagnostic value of the two non-invasive examinations colour-coded duplex ultrasound (Duplex) and fluid crystal contact thermography (LCCT) was investigated in relation to phlebography, the standard examination for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in 112 patients with proximal femur fractures. In 19% of the patients, DVT was diagnosed by phlebography, with the main localisation in the lower leg in 19 of 21 (90%) thromboses. With a negative prediction value of 83%, Duplex is less suitable than LCCT under such difficult examination conditions as the early postoperative period. The specificity of Duplex is 95%, but the sensitivity only 18%. The specificity of LCCT is 85% and the sensitivity 75%. Considering the frequency of postoperative DVT after surgery on the legs, especially hip surgery, a postoperative screening for DVT should become mandatory. LCCT has proved to be a suitable, cheap, non-invasive examination with a negative prediction value of 94
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