Scanning probe microscopy imaging of metallic nanocontacts

We show scanning probe microscopy measurements of metallic nanocontacts between controlled electromigration cycles. The nanowires used for the thinning process are fabricated by shadow evaporation. The highest resolution obtained using scanning force microscopy is about 3 nm. During the first few electromigration cycles the overall slit structure of the nanocontact is formed. The slit first passes along grain boundaries and then at a later stage vertically splits grains in the course of consuming them. We find that first the whole wire is heated and later during the thinning process as the slit forms the current runs over several smaller contacts which needs less power.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Comparison of 2D numerical models for the simulation of river-flooding in a semi-urban area

Water Qualit

On the Path towards Smart Mobility: the Journey of three Forerunner Cities Eindhoven, Manchester and Stavanger

Within the European Smart Cities and Communities Project - Triangulum (SCC1), focus areas have been selected for their transformation into living labs in the three cities, Eindhoven (NL), Manchester (UK) and Stavanger (NO). In Manchester it is a 2 km spine referred to as “The Corridor” that is home to two of the UK´s largest universities and one of the largest medical research campuses in Western Europe. In Eindhoven the former Philips industrial complex in the “Strijp-S” and the Eckart Vaartbroek neighbourhoods have been chosen for the implementation of the planned activities and in Stavanger the focus area is the Paradis/Hillevag district. These areas will be transformed into sustainable living environments during the course of the project, which started in February 2015 and will reach completion in January 2020. The aim is for them to become well-connected low carbon areas, which shall be reached by implementing clean technologies as well as innovative and alternative mobility concepts. Understanding the city context, their approach, as well as the challenges the cities have faced in the implementation, is the basis for initiating a replication process of similar projects not only in the Triangulum Follower Cities but in any other city willing to invest in the field of sustainable and future-oriented mobility. This paper describes the Triangulum Lighthouse Cities’ journeys to becoming a reference for smart mobility

Following the Smartness: Leipzig as a Follower City in a Horizon 2020 Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Project

For the European Union, smart cities are cities socially, environmentally and economically sustainable, preparing to be the catalysts of innovative changes for the world. Accordingly, the European Commission (EC) has a series of programmes to support the transition from cities to smart cities, such as the Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation. The Triangulum project is one of the first projects in this programme, which trusts on the idea of replicating solutions to reduce the risks for decision-makers and business alike. The goal of replication within these projects is to enable the Follower Cities to replicate the implementation of smart solutions done in the Lighthouse Cities. Triangulum developed the concept and framework of an extensive replication process that relied on workshops, city assessments, on-site visits and other tools, with dedicated personnel, time and budget. Through the funding possibilities of these programmes, the EC mobilises the smart city policy, providing the chance for cities to embark on the smart city world. Leipzig (Germany) is currently a Follower City within the project. It has changed from a shrinking city to the fastest growing city in Germany and now faces the challenges to accommodate the growing population, secure a new economy while improving its liveability and sustainability, with its ageing infrastructure and financial limitations. By seizing the momentum of growth, Leipzig seeks to overcome its restraints, especially the limited financial resources, exploring its potentials and thus following a new sustainable path through the smart city idea. This paper aims at identifying the real benefits of the 'replication' process designed within the project. By looking closely at Leipzig as a Follower City in Triangulum, it is possible to reflect on the meaning of replication in the European smart city context

Life after shock: the mission from Mars to Earth

Extract from introduction: The minerals of the Martian meteorites collected so far indicate an exposure to shock waves in the pressure range of 5 to 55 GPa [1]. As terrestrial rocks are frequently inhabited by microbial communities, rocks ejected from a planet by impact processes may carry with them endolithic microorganisms, if microbial life existed/exists on this planet

Shock recovery experiments confirm the possibility of transferring viable microorganisms from Mars to Earth

Extract from introduction: With regard to the impact and ejection phase we tested the case for the transfer of microorganisms from Mars to Earth. Using a high explosive set-up thin layers of bacterial endospores of Bacillus subtilis, of the lichen Xanthoria elegans and of the cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. embedded between two plates of gabbro were subjected to 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 GPa which is the pressure range observed in Martian meteorites [1]

STM-induced surface aggregates on metals and oxidized silicon

We have observed an aggregation of carbon or carbon derivatives on platinum and natively oxidized silicon surfaces during STM measurements in ultra-high vacuum on solvent-cleaned samples previously structured by e-beam lithography. We have imaged the aggregated layer with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amount of the aggregated material increases with the number of STM scans and with the tunneling voltage. Film thicknesses of up to 10 nm with five successive STM measurements have been obtained

Herstellung dünner metallischer Brücken durch Elektromigration und Charakterisierung mit Rastersondentechniken

In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden metallische Kontakte durch Elektronenstrahllithografie oder Bedampfen durch eine Maske sowie kontrollierte Elektromigration im Ultrahochvakuum hergestellt und mittels Rastersondentechniken charakterisiert. Aus den Rastersondenbildern lassen sich in Verbindung mit den Elektromigrationsdaten Rückschlüsse auf die Entstehung der Morphologie des erzeugten Kontakts ziehen

Herstellung dünner metallischer Brücken durch Elektromigration und Charakterisierung mit Rastersondentechniken

In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden metallische Kontakte durch Elektronenstrahllithografie oder Bedampfen durch eine Maske sowie kontrollierte Elektromigration im Ultrahochvakuum hergestellt und mittels Rastersondentechniken charakterisiert. Aus den Rastersondenbildern lassen sich in Verbindung mit den Elektromigrationsdaten Rückschlüsse auf die Entstehung der Morphologie des erzeugten Kontakts ziehen