Nanoimaging with a compact extreme-ultraviolet laser

Includes bibliographical references (page 2097).Images with a spatial resolution of 120-150 nm were obtained with 46.9 nm light from a compact capillary-discharge laser by use of the combination of a Sc-Si multilayer-coated Schwarzschild condenser and a freestanding imaging zone plate. The results are relevant to the development of compact extreme-ultraviolet laser-based imaging tools for nanoscience and nanotechnology

Structural transformations in Sc/Si multilayers irradiated by EUVlasers

Multilayer mirrors for the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) are keyelements for numerous applications of coherent EUV sources such as newtabletop lasers and free-electron lasers. However the field ofapplications is limited by the radiation and thermal stability of themultilayers. Taking into account the growing power of EUV sources thestability of the optics becomes crucial. To overcome this problem it isnecessary to study the degradation of multilayers and try to increasetheir temporal and thermal stability. In this paper we report the resultsof detailed study of structural changes in Sc/Simultilayers when exposedto intense EUV laser pulses. Various types of surface damage such asmelting, boiling, shockwave creation and ablation were observed asirradiation fluencies increase. Cross-sectional TEM study revealed thatthe layer structure was completely destroyed in the upper part ofmultilayer, but still survived below. The layers adjacent tothe substrateremained intact even through the multilayer surface melted down, thoughthe structure of the layers beneath the molten zone was noticeablychanged. The layer structure in this thermally affected zone is similarto that of isothermally annealed samples. All stages of scandium silicideformation such as interdiffusion, solid-state amorphization, silicidecrystallization, etc., are present in the thermally affected zone. Itindicates a thermal nature of the damage mechanism. The tungstendiffusion barriers were applied to the scandium/silicon interfaces. Itwas shown that the barriers inhibited interdiffusion and increased thethermal stability of Sc/Si mirrors

Radon in Antarctica

The paper reviews results of radon measurements obtained in Antarctic research stations in the last 40 years by both active and passive radon monitors. A brief description of the radon laboratory set-up in the Ukrainian Academician Vernadsky station on the Antarctic Peninsula (W 64°16′, S 65°15′), where radon is measured by two types of etched track Rn dosimeter and 4 types of continuous radon monitoring devices is presented. Some selected results of research work are described related to: (i) analysis of radon storms, defined as an abrupt increase of 222Rn during the occurrence of a cyclone, and its applicability for the study of the transport of air masses of continental origin to Antarctica; (ii) a study of the correlation of changes of radon concentration and geomagnetic field induced by tectonic activity and its application to predicting tectonomagnetic anomalies, and (iii) verification of a newly developed theoretical model based on noise analysis of the measured radon signal for earthquake prediction. Suggestions for future utilization of radon for basic research in Antarctica (and not only in Antarctica) conclude the contribution

Laser-affected structure and optical properties of semiconductor thin films with Ag nanoparticles

International audienc

Disorders of the cardiovascular system performance in the early post-castration period in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer and their correction with the low-dose xenon therapy

Aims The aim hereof is to study the cardiovascular system disorders in the early post-castration period in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer and a possibility of correction of such disorders with the low-dose xenon therapy. Materials and methods The study involved 28 female patients of reproductive age (49.8 ± 0.5 years) diagnosed with locally advanced cervical cancer. The main test group consisted of 16 patients, who received the xenon therapy in addition to the main treatment in the early post-castration period. The reference group included 12 female patients without xenon therapy. The cardiovascular system functional state was evaluated with cardiac analyzer Cardiocode at three stages: before surgical intervention, on postsurgery day 3 and upon the completion of the therapy. Results and conclusions Early manifestations of the post-ovariectomy syndrome in the postsurgery period in female patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were accompanied by a disorder in the cardiovascular bio-adaptive and metabolic regulatory mechanisms of the uncompensated distress type, an excess of the phosphocreatine concentration and a decrease in the oxygen level in the myocardium. Upon the completion of the therapy in the reference group patients, changes in the coronary vessels hemodynamics, the dominance of the anaerobic energy exchange in the myocardium, pronounced neurovegetative and psychoemotional disorders have been revealed. The use of the low-dose xenon therapy in the main test group patients has contributed to normalization of myocardial metabolism, recovery of the aerobic energy exchange, and neutralization of neurovegetative and psychoemotional manifestations of the post-ovariectomy syndrome. Thus, the diagnostics of cardiovascular disorders in the early postsurgery period as well as the correction of the disorders and abnormalities with the low-dose xenon therapy are of great importance in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in oncogynecologic patients with the post-ovariectomy syndrome

Nano-imaging with compact extreme ultraviolet lasers

Includes bibliographical references (page 25).Recent advances in nanotechnology and nanoscience have created the need for new compact and practical imaging tools capable of resolving nanometer scale features. Although optical microscopy is unsurpassed in its versatility, the resolution of conventional optical microscopes is limited by the wavelength of the illuminating source to sizes that are typically larger than 200 nm

Reflection mode imaging with nanoscale resolution using a compact extreme ultraviolet laser

Includes bibliographical references (pages 3983-3984).We report the demonstration of reflection mode imaging of 100 nm-scale features using 46.9 nm light from a compact capillary-discharge laser. Our imaging system employs a Sc/Si multilayer coated Schwarzschild condenser and a freestanding zone plate objective. The reported results advance the development of practical and readily available surface and nanostructure imaging tools based on the use of compact sources of extreme ultraviolet light

Cardiometry in oncology: new digital possibilities for analyzing the cardiovascular system state in cancer patients

The new high-tech era begins not with supply of an innovative product to the market, but rather with an intellectual leap in the field of open issues in fundamental engineering, healthcare and education. In the present essay, an example of the successful translation of mathematical, physics- and engineering-related philosophy into the digital platform of Cardiometry is discussed. The theory of hemodynamics, the laws of axiomatics, logic and adaptation can be expressed in terms of mathematics. The original analytical software used in PC-assisted device Cardiocode allows carrying out a phase analysis of the hemodynamics within an extended range. Pilot studies conducted by us in cancer patients at the stages of multi-course chemotherapy have revealed abnormalities and disorders in hemodynamics, energy exchange and adaptation expectancy of the heart at early stages of cancer treatment that is of prognostic significance. Pronounced processes of destabilization in hemodynamics, a suppressed energy exchange and a degradation of adaptation capabilities by the end of the chemotherapy courses involves the appearance of cardiotoxic effects. Based on records covering the specific frequencies discovered in ECG & Rheogram, the R-R interval scatter plots, the metabolic parameters and the Baevsky stress index, we have demonstrated cardioprotective influence made by xenon as a possible solution of the indicated problem. Thus, the Cardiocode technology supports diagnostics by offering an original cardiometric approach, significantly broadening the notion of cardio-oncology from the perspective of the cardiotoxicity pathogenesis under the cancer development conditions and in treatment thereof