Search results for "Optical microscope"
showing 10 items of 157 documents
Dielectric versus topographic contrast in near-field microscopy
1996
Using a fully vectorial three-dimensional numerical approach (generalized field propagator, based on Green's tensor technique), we investigate the near-field images produced by subwavelength objects buried in a dielectric surface. We study the influence of the object index, size, and depth on the near field. We emphasize the similarity between the near field spawned by an object buried in the surface (dielectric contrast) and that spawned by a protrusion on the surface (topographic contrast). We show that a buried object with a negative dielectric contrast (i.e., with a smaller index than its surrounding medium) produces a near-field image that is reversed from that of an object with a posi…
Experimental demonstration of Bloch mode parity change in photonic crystal waveguide
2004
We experimentally show coupling between two photonic crystal waveguide Bloch modes having a different parity. A monomode ridge waveguide etched in a silicon-on-insulator substrate and connecting to the photonic crystal waveguide allows us to excite the even Bloch mode. Transmission measurements, performed on a broad spectral range, show the even mode propagation along the defect line. Then, spectrally resolved near-field patterns obtained by using a scanning near-field optical microscope in collection mode for wavelengths, inside and outside the multimode region of the photonic crystal waveguide, clearly demonstrate coupling phenomenon between even and odd modes.
Relationship between scanning near-field optical images and local density of photonic states
2001
From numerical calculations based on Green's dyadic formalism, we show that a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) working with a point-like illuminating probe delivers images that contain features directly related to the local density of photonic states (LDOS). More precisely, an unambiguous identification of the partial LDOSs (x, y or z polarized) can be made in the SNOM images when the solid angle of detection reaches 2π sr.
Diffusion in concentrated colloidal suspensions and glasses
1998
The well established analogy between colloidal suspensions and atomic fluids has been extended to the glass transition problem in the past few years. Colloids have become the ideal test case for checking glass transition theories; this was due to the possibility of modeling hard spheres with colloidal dispersions. Significant progress has also been made in instrumentation, especially in the development of light-scattering techniques allowing moderately turbid and nonergodic samples to be analyzed. Mode coupling theory has become a paradigm not only for the glass transition, but also for the understanding of dynamics in highly concentrated colloidal dispersions where crystallization is suppr…
Surface-relief gratings in halogen-bonded polymer-azobenzene complexes A concentration-dependence study
2017
In recent years, supramolecular complexes comprising a poly(4-vinylpyridine) backbone and azobenzene-based halogen bond donors have emerged as a promising class of materials for the inscription of light-induced surface-relief gratings (SRGs). The studies up to date have focused on building supramolecular hierarchies, i.e., optimizing the polymer–azobenzene noncovalent interaction for efficient surface patterning. They have been conducted using systems with relatively low azobenzene content, and little is known about the concentration dependence of SRG formation in halogen-bonded polymer–azobenzene complexes. Herein, we bridge this gap, and study the concentration dependence of SRG formation…
Polymer Solidification under Pressure and High Cooling Rates
2000
Abstract Polymer solidification under processing conditions is a complex phenomenon in which the kinetics of flow, high thermal gradients and high pressures determine the product morphology. The study of polymer structure formed under pressure has been mainly made using conventional techniques such as dilatometry and differential scanning calorimetry under isothermal conditions or non isothermal conditions but at cooling rates several orders of magnitude lower than those experienced in industrial processes. A new equipment has been recently developed and improved to study the crystallization of polypropylene when subjected to pressure and cooled rapidly. An experimental apparatus essentiall…
Multifunctional polyurethane foams with thermal energy storage/release capability
2020
In this work, polyurethane (PU) insulating panels containing different amounts of a microencapsulated paraffin with a nominal melting temperature of 24 °C, used as phase change material (PCM), were produced. The resulting panels behaved as multifunctional materials able to thermally insulate and simultaneously storing/releasing thermal energy near room temperature. The panels were characterized from a microstructural, thermal and mechanical point of view. Viscosity measurements highlighted an increase in the viscosity values of the PU liquid precursors due to the addition of the capsules, and this could lead to some difficulties during the production stages, especially in the mixing and foa…
Effect of Mechanoactivation on Interfacial Interaction in Metal/Oxide Systems
2006
Properties of interfaces in solid state metal/oxide joints (Al/SiO2, Al/MgO, Al/glass, Mg/MgO, Mg/SiO2, In/glass etc.) are reported. The interfaces were formed by plastic deformation of metal on the oxide surface at room temperature. Their structure, chemical composition, and micromechanical properties were studied by the AFM, XRD, SIMS, optical microscopy, and precision microindentation techniques. A noticeable adhesion was observed for metals with high affinity for oxygen and only in the regions of the maximum shear stress. Formation of an interfacial reaction zone with an oxygen concentration gradient is detected. In this zone metals are nanostructured and noticeably hardened. The effect…
Ultrathin Organic Multilayer Films Via Salt Formation: Easy Access To Tailor-made Coatings In The Thickness Range Of 1 Nm To 500 Nm
2005
The state of the art technologies for the preparation of well defined ultrathin films in the submicron range are the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique and self-assembly (SA) methods based on chemisorption [l]. Whereas the LBtechnique requires sophisticated apparatus and is generally limited to small film areas [2], the SA-methods are relatively simple [3,4], hut have not been employed for the preparation of films thicker than 8 layers ( 20nm) [4], probably due to the loss of chemical functionality. Our approach avoids these limits and extends the SA-concept by emploing salt formation as the driving force for the construction of multilayer supramolecular assemblies.
Number, Mass and Volume Distributions of Mineral Aerosol and Soils of the Sahara
1983
Abstract A direct method will be described to determine the complete mineral size distribution in aerosol (xylene-insoluble component) and soils (water-insoluble component) covering a size range from 0.01 up to 100 μm and 1000 μm radius, respectively, by using a combination of a scanning electron microscope, optical microscope and sieving. Aerosol and soil samples from the Sahara have been investigated. All mineral aerosol size distributions indicate a maximum between 0.06 and 0.08 μm radius and mineral particles have been found in the Aitken size range down to 0.02 μm radius. The concentration decrease toward larger particles is not uniform and shows considerable variations below 0.5 μm an…