Blu-ray Disc Research Articles

Using a scanning electron microscope in physics STEM education

This paper describes the use of a tabletop electron microscope in teaching college level physics. The workings and use of an electron microscope encompass many aspects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). A sequence of activities was constructed to compliment the instructional material in the physics course of the University of Queensland Foundation Year. A Hitachi TM4000 scanning electron microscope was used to obtain images to measure the track spacing of CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs. The nominal track spacings are 1.6 µm, 740 nm and 320 nm for CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs, respectively, comparable to the wavelength of visible light and therefore give rise to visible diffraction effects. The track spacing for a CD and DVD was measured using red, green and blue laser pointers with an accuracy well under 10%. The experiments described in this paper demonstrate how a scientific instrument such as a scanning electron microscope can be used to integrate the teaching of different STEM areas.

Theoretical Study of a Surface Collinear Holographic Memory

Holographic memory is currently attracting attention as a data storage system capable of achieving a data transfer rate of about 105~106105~106 times that of an optical disc such as Blu-ray disc. In conventional holographic memory, data is generally recorded by optical writing using volume holograms. However, a volume hologram has the problem not only that it is required to have high mechanical accuracy of a system and low coefficient of thermal expansion of a recording medium, because reconstruction tolerance is extremely low, but also that duplicating time efficiency is poor because whole data cannot be recorded at once. In this paper we proposed surface holographic memory that achieved a high data transfer rate, stable readout performance, and collective duplication by expressing holograms with fine surface asperity. Furthermore, the theoretical formulas of recording and reconstruction processes in the proposed system were derived and the reconstruction characteristics of the hologram were evaluated by numerical simulation. As a result, the proposed method generated reconstructed image readout with sufficient signal for a single page recording. However, the reconstructed image had noise, which was particular to a surface holographic memory.

Thermal, Optical, and Microstructural Properties of Magnetron Sputter-Deposited CuSi Films for Application in Write-Once Blu-Ray Discs

In this study, 16-nm-thick CuSi films were deposited at room temperature by DC magnetron sputtering. The thermal, optical, and microstructural properties of CuSi films were investigated in detail. Moreover, the CuSi film was further used as a recording layer for write-once blu-ray disc (BD-R) applications. Based on the result of the reflectivity–temperature measurement, the CuSi layer had a decrease in the reflectivity between 180 and 290 °C. The as-deposited CuSi film possessed the Cu3Si phase. After annealing at 300 °C, the Si atoms existed in the CuSi film segregated and crystallized to the cubic Si phase. The activation energy of Si crystallization in the CuSi film was determined to be 1.2 eV. The dynamic tests presented that the BD-R containing the CuSi recording layer had minimum jitter values of 7.0% at 6 mW and 7.2% at 9 mW, respectively, for 1× and 4× recording speeds. This reveals that the CuSi film has great potential in BD-R applications.

Enzyme Inhibition Microassays on Blu-Ray Disks for Drug Discovery

An enzyme inhibition-based assay for drug discovery developed by microarraing on Blu-ray disks is presented. As a proof-of-concept, the system screens a selected molecule library of potential chemi...

Sensor characterization by comparative measurements using a multi-sensor measuring system

Abstract. Typical 3-D topography sensors for the measurement of surface structures in the micro- and nanometre range are atomic force microscopes (AFMs), tactile stylus instruments, confocal microscopes and white-light interferometers. Each sensor shows its own transfer behaviour. In order to investigate transfer characteristics as well as systematic measurement effects, a multi-sensor measuring system is presented. With this measurement system comparative measurements using five different topography sensors are performed under identical conditions in a single set-up. In addition to the concept of the multi-sensor measuring system and an overview of the sensors used, surface profiles obtained from a fine chirp calibration standard are presented to show the difficulties of an exact reconstruction of the surface structure as well as the necessity of comparative measurements conducted with different topography sensors. Furthermore, the suitability of the AFM as reference sensor for high-precision measurements is shown by measuring the surface structure of a blank Blu-ray disc.

Blu-ray DVD as SERS substrate for reliable detection of albumin, creatinine and urea in urine

We report here the working of a simple reproducible surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate by efficiently guiding localized plasmon resonance (LSPR) field of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through trapping it in the nano channels of a blu-ray digital versatile disc (BRDVD). SERS based sensing of the designed substrate has been performed. The trapped AuNPs in the channel of the BRDVD generate guided mode resonance (GMR) field and the photon lifetime of the coupled em field in the channel increases which accounts for overall enhancement of the local field intensity. These two factors are primarily responsible for enhancement of the scattered Raman signal from the substrate. The proposed SERS substrate yields reasonably stable signal intensity over a period of 45 days. With the designed substrate Raman signal intensities of three clinically important chemicals namely albumin, creatinine and urea in urine have been measured and quantified reliably. The minimum concentration of albumin, creatinine and urea which can be measured by Raman spectrometer are 0.1 μg/mL, 0.2 μg/mL and 0.6 μg/mL respectively. These values are well below the normal range and thus meet the requirement of detection and analysis of these chemicals for different clinical purposes.

Reduction in Higher-order Resonance Amplitude of Objective Lens Actuator with Three-polar Magnetic Structure for Optical Disc Drives

An electromagnetic objective lens actuator for optical disc drives has been developed in order to reduce higher-order resonance amplitude in frequency response characteristics of the actuator. The actuator has a configuration in which each set of three adjacent magnets is located to oppose each of the two sides of the lens holder and each polarization of the center magnet is set in reverse to those of the two outside magnets. The driving force in the positive focusing direction is generated at the focusing coil portions opposing the two outside magnets and the driving force in the negative focusing direction is generated at the focusing coil portions opposing the center magnet. This driving force distribution cancels the bending deformation of the vibration mode at the higher-order resonance. The resulting amplitude of the higher-order resonance in the focusing direction of the developed actuator with this three-polar magnetic structure for 9.5 mm-height Blu-ray Disc drives was successfully reduced to 2 dB or under.

Enhanced organic solar cell performance: Multiple surface plasmon resonance and incorporation of silver nanodisks into a grating-structure electrode

In this study, plasmonic nanostructures were examined to enhance the light harvesting of organic thin-film solar cells (OSCs) by multiple surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena originating from the grating-coupled configuration with a Blu-ray Disc recordable (BD-R)-imprinted aluminum (Al) grating structure and the incorporation of a series of silver nanodisks (Ag NDs). The devices with such a configuration maximize the light utilization inside OSCs via light absorption, light scattering, and trapping via multiple surface plasmon resonances. Different types and sizes of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), i.e., gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), Ag nanospheres (Ag NSs), and Ag NDs, were used, which were blended separately in a PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer (HTL). The device structure comprised of grating-imprinted-Al/P3HT:PCBM/Ag ND:PEDOT:PSS/ITO. Results obtained from the J–V curves revealed that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of grating-structured Al/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/ITO is 3.16%; this value is ~6% higher than that of a flat substrate. On the other hand, devices with flat Al and incorporated Au NPs, Ag NSs, or Ag NDs in the HTL exhibited PCEs ranging from 3.15% to 3.37%. Furthermore, OSCs with an Al grating substrate were developed by the incorporation of the Ag ND series into the PEDOT:PSS layer. Compared with that of a reference device, the PCEs of the devices increased to 3.32%–3.59% (11%–20% improvement), indicating that the light absorption enhancement at the active layer corresponds to the grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance and localized surface plasmon resonance excitations with strong near-field distributions penetrating into the active layer leading to higher efficiencies and subsequent better current generation.

Pink Floyd: The Early Years 1965–1972

Pink Floyd: <i>The Early Years 1965–1972</i>

Disk-based one-dimensional photonic crystal slabs for label-free immunosensing

One-dimensional photonic crystal slabs are periodic optical nanostructures that produce guided-mode resonance. They couple part of the incident light into the waveguide generating bandgaps in the transmittance spectrum, whose position is sensitive to refractive index variations on their surface. In this study, we present one-dimensional photonic crystal slab biosensors based on the internal nanogrooved structure of Blu-ray disks for label-free immunosensing. We demonstrated that this polycarbonate structure coated with a critical thickness of TiO2 generates guided-mode resonance. Its optical behavior was established comparing it with other compact disk structures. The results were theoretically calculated and experimentally demonstrated, all them being in agreement. The bioanalytical performance of these photonic crystals was experimentally demonstrated in a model assay to quantify IgGs as well as in two immunoassays to determine the biomarkers C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase (detection limits of 0.1, 87, and 13 nM, respectively). The results are promising towards the development of new low-cost, portable, and label-free optical biosensors that join these photonic crystals with dedicated bioanalytical scanners based on compact disk drives.

Reduced distortion in high-index microsphere imaging by partial immersion.

We experimentally demonstrate that pincushion distortion is obvious when using a BaTiO3 glass (BTG) microsphere fully immersed in ethanol or SU-8 2002 resist to image a Blu-ray disk with sub-diffraction features. The distortion is related to the layer thickness of the immersing medium. For a BTG microsphere partially immersed in the SU-8 resist where the SU-8 thickness is around 4/5 the diameter of the microsphere, its distortion decreases dramatically, but it can still clearly resolve the Blu-ray disk. For such a partially immersed microsphere, the calculated position of the photonic nanojet is outside the microsphere and close to the object, indicating the microsphere has a super-resolution imaging property, and the distortion simulated by ZEMAX is decreased.

Non-contact optical super-resolution imaging study based on height-variable microsphere

Super-resolution images can be achieved by coupling the microscale dielectric microsphere with white-light optical microscopy. This paper presented a method for adjusting the distance between microsphere and sample to study the imaging ability of the microsphere. By this method, the nanofeatures on the Blu-ray disc surface could be observed. The super-resolution images when microspheres at different heights were compared to analyse the changing trend of imaging ability with distance. The optical simulation results illustrated that super-resolution imaging ability was related to the position of the photonic nanojet. As the photonic nanojet was inside the sample, the super-resolution image could be achieved even if the microspheres didn’t touch the sample. This work has great significance for manipulating microsphere to non-contact image.

First principles study of the electronic and optical properties of crystalline and liquid Sb2Te3: Phase-transition-induced changes in optical properties

To clarify the mechanism by which the optical properties of Sb2Te3 change because of its solid–liquid phase transition, we carried out ab initio calculations of the electronic and optical properties of Sb2Te3 in both the crystalline and liquid states. The calculated results indicate that the density of states around the Fermi level increases because of melting and that the energy bandgap observed in the crystalline state consequently disappears. The imaginary part of optical dielectric functions of crystalline Sb2Te3 has a large peak at a photon energy of ħω = 1.5 eV. When Sb2Te3 melts, it exhibits somewhat metallic optical properties and its optical absorption at ħω = 3.06 eV, which is used in Blu-ray Disc systems, decreases. This decrease in optical absorption is proposed to result from a large reduction of the optical transition strength at ħω ≈ 1.5 eV.

Blu-Ray Media Stability and Suitability for Long-Term Storage

Abstract The most recent generation of optical disc media available is the Blu-ray format. Blu-rays offer significantly more storage capacity than compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs) and thus are an attractive option for the storage of large image or audio and video files. However, uncertainty exists on the stability and longevity of Blu-ray discs and the literature does not contain much information on these topics. In this study, the stabilities of Blu-ray formats such as read-only movie discs as well as many different brands of recordable and erasable media were evaluated. Testing involved the exposure of samples to conditions of 80 °C and 85 % relative humidity for intervals up to 84 days. Overall, the stability of the Blu-ray formats was poor with many discs significantly degraded after only 21 days of accelerated ageing. In addition to large increases in error rates, many discs showed easily identifiable visible degradation in several different forms. In a comparison with other optical disc formats examined previously, Blu-ray stability ranked very low. Other data from the study indicated that recording Blu-ray media with low initial error rates is challenging for some brands at this time, which is a factor that ultimately affects longevity.

Super-resolution imaging properties of cascaded microsphere lenses.

In this paper, the imaging properties of a cascaded microsphere lens are studied. The cascaded microsphere lens consists of two lenses. A hexagonally close-packed 960-nm-diameter array of polystyrene microspheres is used as the first lens. The second lens is a single silica microsphere with a diameter of about 5μm. A Blu-ray disc is observed by both the cascaded microsphere lens and the single silica microsphere. Studies reveal that the magnification of the cascaded microsphere lens is about 1.4times greater than that of the single silica microsphere, while the field of view of the cascaded microsphere lens, which is close to the diameter of the polystyrene microsphere, is decreased. The focal position of the cascaded lens microsphere must be close to the sample in order to observe it.

Saving The Harold Lloyd Film Archives: Interview With Suzanne Lloyd and Richard Simonton

Saving The Harold Lloyd Film Archives:Interview With Suzanne Lloyd and Richard Simonton Steven G. Farrell, Suzanne Lloyd, and Richard Simonton Click for larger view View full resolution Harold Lloyd's iconic hanging from a skyscraper's clock shot from Safety Last, 1923 (permission to use the photograph granted by Harold Lloyd Entertainment). Suzanne Lloyd has dedicated her energies to preserving the films of her grandfather. In this brief interview, she and co-archivist Richard Simonton respond to questions about the Harold Lloyd film collection. 1) (SGF) How were Harold Lloyd's films stored over the years? Where are they housed now? Harold's nitrate negatives and prints were stored in this vault on his estate, then later deposited with the UCLA Film and Television Archives in Santa Clarita, California. Films on safety stock were housed in a vault adjoining the garage building, where his 1924 and 1925 Rolls Royce automobiles were kept. Click for larger view View full resolution Harold Lloyd's private film vault. 2) (SGF): How were the films labeled? There was no definitive labeling scheme until the films went to UCLA, where labels now match the master inventory. 3)(SGF): Were they put in order by date of production or by title? They are in alphabetical order by title within the Harold Lloyd collection in the UCLA Archives database. 4) (SGF): How many films were in the collection? How many two-reel films versus feature-length films? Harold's collection of original master elements and projection prints included about 70 of the "Glass Character" one-reelers, 9 two-reelers, 4 three-reelers, 1 four-reeler, and 10 silent features of five reels in length or more. Also 7 sound feature films, 4 compilation films, and 50+ reels of home movies. Of course, a film such as a typical two-reeler, might exist as a domestic original negative, a foreign original negative, and an original print, as well as recent preservation [End Page 57] elements made from them, like master positives, dupe negatives, and safety prints. 5 (SGF): What were the condition of the films? Some of the silent films were still in perfect condition and could be preserved from the original camera negatives. Others were beyond saving (early one-reelers). Many were in-between and had to be restored as a composite of several negatives and prints. 6) (SGF): I have read that Rich Correll, who assisted you with the project, wasn't happy with the restoration done on the films. What was his issue? Did you share his opinion? Rich Correll and I were unhappy with some of the preservation efforts done during Harold's lifetime and threw away those that had no value. The new master positives I made during the 1970s are being used now for Blu-ray and DVD production. The Kid Brother was recently scanned at 4K from the master positive I had made from the original negative in 1974. The Criterion Blu-ray discs of Speedy and The Freshman were scanned from elements I made at that time and look beautiful after receiving full digital restorations. The original nitrate print of Safety Last was scanned at 2K for Blu-ray release. I hope you will view those films from the Criterion discs, preferably on a big screen to get the full impact. 7) (SGF): Did you uncover any gems that you weren't aware of? Many of the "Glass Character" one-reelers (1917 through 1919) turned out to be delights; others not so much. That was a time when Harold was developing what has been referred to as an everyman type of character. In other words, a normal human being in extraordinary circumstances, responding as we might, rather than an eccentric clown doing unusual things. This is what distinguished Harold Lloyd from Keaton and Chaplin. Harold's pre-Glass Character one-reelers (1915-17) employed a character called Lonesome Luke, which he modeled on Chaplin and other silent clowns of the period. But the later Harold Lloyd was a comic actor of great subtlety and skill, presenting situations with which anyone in the audience might identify and sympathize. 8) (SGF): Harold Lloyd archives have appeared all over the world! Which...

Gold/silver/gold trilayer films on nanostructured polycarbonate substrates for direct and label-free nanoplasmonic biosensing.

Ultrasmooth gold/silver/gold trilayer nanostructured plasmonic sensors were obtained using commercial Blu-ray optical discs as nanoslits-based flexible polymer substrates. A thin gold film was used as an adhesion and nucleation layer to improve the chemical stability and reduce the surface roughness of the overlying silver film, without increasing ohmic plasmon losses. The structures were physically and optically characterized and compared with nanostructures of single gold layer. Ultrasmooth and chemically stable trilayer nanostructures with a surface roughness <0.5 nm were obtained following a simple and reproducible fabrication process. They showed a figure of merit (FOM) value up to 69.2 RIU-1 which is significantly higher (more than 95%) than the gold monolayer counterpart. Their potential for biosensing was demonstrated by employing the trilayer sensor for the direct and refractometric (label-free) detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) biomarker in undiluted urine achieving a Limit of Detection (LOD) in the pM order.

Super-resolution imaging based on the temperature-dependent electron-phonon collision frequency effect of metal thin films

We herein propose a far-field super-resolution imaging with metal thin films based on the temperature-dependent electron–phonon collision frequency effect. In the proposed method, neither fluorescence labeling nor any special properties are required for the samples. The 100 nm lands and 200 nm grooves on the Blu-ray disk substrates were clearly resolved and imaged through a laser scanning microscope of wavelength 405 nm. The spot size was approximately 0.80 μm, and the imaging resolution of 1/8 of the laser spot size was experimentally obtained. This work can be applied to the far-field super-resolution imaging of samples with neither fluorescence labeling nor any special properties.

“Two Birds with One Stone”: Transmedia Serialisation in &lt;em&gt;Twin Peaks&lt;/em&gt;

“Two Birds with One Stone”: Transmedia Serialisation in &lt;em&gt;Twin Peaks&lt;/em&gt;

Potential of TePdO Media for Future Archival Storage Applications

Background: Electrical probe memory using chalcogenide alloy has recently become the research focus due to its potential for the future archival storage. Objective: In spite of its extraordinary electro-thermal characteristics, the stability of the chalcogenide alloy remains questionable because of the well-known resistance drift effect. Method: Therefore, we here investigated the possibility of using TePdO media that was previously implemented for Blu-Ray disc as an alternative material for electrical probe memory application. Result: A parametric approach was first deployed to find out the appropriate deposition conditions to optimize the TePdO resistivity around 100 ohm·cm. Subsequently the thickness of the TePdO film was optimized in terms of the amorphous resistivity, stability and threshold voltage. Conclusion: Finally, the write and readout performances of the electrical probe memory were reevaluated with the use of TePdO film with respect to the proposed optimized parameters.