Low-energy ~1–1.5 kV! nitrogen-ion bombardment of sharply pointed Fe-3 at. % Mo tips is performed, at room temperature and 473 K, by applying a negative voltage to the tip in the presence of nitrogen gas ~10–10 Torr! in an ultrahigh vacuum atom-probe field-ion microscope ~APFIM!. Tip sharpening, as a consequence of sputtering, is observed directly in situ via APFIM. This sharpening phenomenon c...

Secondary electrons (SE) have been for many years the most user friendly, versatile, and convenient modes of imaging in the scanning electron microscope. The Helium Ion Microscope (HIM) also generates secondary electrons (iSE) and potentially offers significant advantages compared to the conventional SEM including much enhanced spatial resolution and improved image contrast. There are, however,...

The focused ion beam (FIB)/scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a scanning microscope with an electron column and an ion column embedded in the same specimen chamber; both beams are aiming at the same point on the specimen surface. The FIB, generated by a Ga Liquid Metal Ion Source (LMIS), impacts the sample normal to the surface and can be focused to a spot as small as few nanometres. The FIB...

OBJECTIVES To visualise the ultrastructure of the interface of SCA compomer adhesive and of Optibond composite adhesive in enamel and dentin, and to relate the findings to the marginal adaptation of these two products in mixed class V restorations. METHODS The ultrastructure was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with and without prior argon ion etching, an environmental ...

Introduction: Small field dosimetry is challenging for radiotherapy dosimetry. measurement of the output factor in the air and water (Sc, Scp) is one of the input parameters for commissioning of treatment planning systems and beam modeling. The aims of this study are to measured Sc,Scp for small fields with EBT2 and Ion chamber and design a appropriate mini-phantom for small fi...

This protocol describes how biological samples, like brain tissue, can be imaged in three dimensions using the focussed ion beam/scanning electron microscope (FIB/SEM). The samples are fixed with aldehydes, heavy metal stained using osmium tetroxide and uranyl acetate. They are then dehydrated with alcohol and infiltrated with resin, which is then hardened. Using a light microscope and ultramic...

The ability to evaluate structural-functional relationships in real time has allowed scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to assume a prominent role in post genomic biological research. In this mini-review, we highlight the development of imaging and ancillary techniques that have allowed SPM to permeate many key areas of contemporary research. We begin by examining the invention of the scanning tun...

Self-assembled monolayers of alkylthiolates on gold and alkylsilanes on silicon dioxide have been patterned photocatalytically on sub-100 nm length-scales using both apertured near-field and apertureless methods. Apertured lithography was carried out by means of an argon ion laser (364 nm) coupled to cantilever-type near-field probes with a thin film of titania deposited over the aperture. Aper...