Non-destructive Probe Research Articles

Detection of nanoscale embedded layers using laboratory specular X-ray diffraction

Unusual specular X-ray diffraction patterns have been observed from certain thin film intergrowths of metal monochalcogenide (MX) and transition metal dichalcogenide (TX2) structures. These patterns exhibit selective “splitting” or broadening of selected (00l) diffraction peaks, while other (00l) reflections remain relatively unaffected [Atkins et al., Chem. Mater. 24, 4594 (2012)]. Using a simplified optical model in the kinematic approximation, we illustrate that these peculiar and somewhat counterintuitive diffraction features can be understood in terms of additional layers of one of the intergrowth components, MX or TX2, interleaved between otherwise “ideal” regions of MX-TX2 intergrowth. The interpretation is in agreement with scanning transmission electron microscope imaging, which reveals the presence of such stacking “defects” in films prepared from non-ideal precursors. In principle, the effect can be employed as a simple, non-destructive laboratory probe to detect and characterize ultrathin layers of one material, e.g., 2-dimensional crystals, embedded between two slabs of a second material, effectively using the two slabs as a highly sensitive interferometer of their separation distance.

Correlation of non-destructive electromechanical probe (Arthro-BST) assessment with histological scores and mechanical properties in human tibial plateau

Correlation of non-destructive electromechanical probe (Arthro-BST) assessment with histological scores and mechanical properties in human tibial plateau

Nondestructive selective probing of phononic excitations in a cold Bose gas using impurities

We introduce a detector that selectively probes the phononic excitations of a cold Bose gas. The detector is composed of a single impurity atom confined by a double-well potential, where the two lowest eigenstates of the impurity form an effective probe qubit that is coupled to the phonons via density-density interactions with the bosons. The system is analogous to a two-level atom coupled to photons of the radiation field. We demonstrate that tracking the evolution of the qubit populations allows probing both thermal and coherent excitations in targeted phonon modes. The targeted modes are selected in both energy and momentum by adjusting the impurity's potential. We show how to use the detector to observe coherent density waves and to measure temperatures of the Bose gas down to the nanokelvin regime. We analyze how our scheme could be realized experimentally, including the possibility of using an array of multiple impurities to achieve greater precision from a single experimental run.

Possibilities of CT Scanning as Analysis Method in Laser Additive Manufacturing

Laser additive manufacturing is an established and constantly developing technique. Structural assessment should be a key component to ensure directed evolution towards higher level of manufacturing. The macroscopic properties of metallic structures are determined by their internal microscopic features, which are difficult to assess using conventional surface measuring methodologies. X-ray microtomography (CT) is a promising technique for three-dimensional non-destructive probing of internal composition and build of various materials.Aim of this study is to define the possibilities of using CT scanning as quality control method in LAM fabricated parts. Since the parts fabricated with LAM are very often used in high quality and accuracy demanding applications in various industries such as medical and aerospace, it is important to be able to define the accuracy of the build parts. The tubular stainless steel test specimens were 3D modelled, manufactured with a modified research AM equipment and imaged after manufacturing with a high-power, high-resolution CT scanner. 3D properties, such as surface texture and the amount and distribution of internal pores, were also evaluated in this study.Surface roughness was higher on the interior wall of the tube, and deviation from the model was systematically directed towards the central axis. Pore distribution showed clear organization and divided into two populations; one following the polygon model seams along both rims, and the other being associated with the concentric and equidistant movement path of the laser. Assessment of samples can enhance the fabrication by guiding the improvement of both modelling and manufacturing process.

Thermal stability of photovoltaic a-Si:H determined by neutron reflectometry

Neutron and X-ray reflectometry were used to determine the layer structure and hydrogen content of thin films of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) deposited onto crystalline silicon (Si) wafers for surface passivation in solar cells. The combination of these two reflectometry techniques is well suited for non-destructive probing of the structure of a-Si:H due to being able to probe buried interfaces and having sub-nanometer resolution. Neutron reflectometry is also unique in its ability to allow determination of density gradients of light elements such as hydrogen (H). The neutron scattering contrast between Si and H is strong, making it possible to determine the H concentration in the deposited a-Si:H. In order to correlate the surface passivation properties supplied by the a-Si:H thin films, as quantified by obtainable effective minority carrier lifetime, photoconductance measurements were also performed. It is shown that the minority carrier lifetime falls sharply when H has been desorbed from a-Si:H by annealing.

Nanoscale infrared spectroscopy as a non-destructive probe of extraterrestrial samples.

Advances in the spatial resolution of modern analytical techniques have tremendously augmented the scientific insight gained from the analysis of natural samples. Yet, while techniques for the elemental and structural characterization of samples have achieved sub-nanometre spatial resolution, infrared spectral mapping of geochemical samples at vibrational 'fingerprint' wavelengths has remained restricted to spatial scales >10 μm. Nevertheless, infrared spectroscopy remains an invaluable contactless probe of chemical structure, details of which offer clues to the formation history of minerals. Here we report on the successful implementation of infrared near-field imaging, spectroscopy and analysis techniques capable of sub-micron scale mineral identification within natural samples, including a chondrule from the Murchison meteorite and a cometary dust grain (Iris) from NASA's Stardust mission. Complementary to scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy probes, this work evidences a similarity between chondritic and cometary materials, and inaugurates a new era of infrared nano-spectroscopy applied to small and invaluable extraterrestrial samples.

ChemInform Abstract: Magnetic Reflectometry of Heterostructures

AbstractReview: 140 refs.

Proposal for monitoring and heralding position states of atoms in a one-dimensional waveguide

We study single-photon transport in a single-mode waveguide, in which two-level atoms in spatial superpositions are embedded. We find that the transmission of the photon can be used as a nondestructive probe for the coherence of the superposition. Under certain trapping configurations, the protocol proposed is shown to be independent of which wells the atoms are initially trapped in. Furthermore, we show that by looking at the transmission in a suitable regime, a maximally entangled state can be postselected from an unknown superposition.

Tensile strain mapping in flat germanium membranes

Scanning X-ray micro-diffraction has been used as a non-destructive probe of the local crystalline quality of a thin suspended germanium (Ge) membrane. A series of reciprocal space maps were obtained with ∼4 μm spatial resolution, from which detailed information on the strain distribution, thickness, and crystalline tilt of the membrane was obtained. We are able to detect a systematic strain variation across the membranes, but show that this is negligible in the context of using the membranes as platforms for further growth. In addition, we show evidence that the interface and surface quality is improved by suspending the Ge.

Non-Exponential Decay Curves in Delayed Luminescence

Delayed luminescence, contrary to popular belief, never follows an exponential de-cay law and the way it falls o can be an interesting, inexpensive and non-destructive probe ofboth nonliving and living systems. We discuss the basic ideas involved, deviations from expo-nential decay, new technologies for measurement, and possible applications. For living systemsexhibiting approximately hyperbolic decays, we make a possible connection to old ideas ofSzent-Gyorgyi on charge transfer complexes in biology.

Opportunities for Live Cell FT-Infrared Imaging: Macromolecule Identification with 2D and 3D Localization

Infrared (IR) spectromicroscopy, or chemical imaging, is an evolving technique that is poised to make significant contributions in the fields of biology and medicine. Recent developments in sources, detectors, measurement techniques and speciman holders have now made diffraction-limited Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging of cellular chemistry in living cells a reality. The availability of bright, broadband IR sources and large area, pixelated detectors facilitate live cell imaging, which requires rapid measurements using non-destructive probes. In this work, we review advances in the field of FTIR spectromicroscopy that have contributed to live-cell two and three-dimensional IR imaging, and discuss several key examples that highlight the utility of this technique for studying the structure and chemistry of living cells.

Investigation of pulsed eddy current probes for detection of defects in riveted structures

The fatigue crack is the threat to integrity and safety of fuselage lap-joints. Quantification of fatigue cracks by designing and utilisation of an optimised electromagnetic nondestructive evaluation probe can insure the flight safety of aircrafts. In this paper, pulsed eddy current (PEC) for detection and characterisation of fatigue cracks is investigated. The principle of PEC is analysed first, from which four different models of PEC probes are simulated in ANSYS. The signal features, namely zero-crossing time, zero-crossing frequency and peak value are extracted from the time and frequency domains in an effort to qualitatively compare the crack detectability of the four models. The sensitivities of the different probes to cracks are analysed quantitatively. The difference in detectability among the probes is investigated based on the working principle. Simulation results show that the probe consisting of two horizontal detecting coils along with a magnetic field shield focusing the flux has the highest detectability. The conclusions derived from the simulation study are also validated by experiments.

Theoretical structures of the satellite and hypersatellite M-x-ray lines of uranium

The structure of satellite (additional vacancies in N and/or O shells) and hypersatellite (additional vacancies in M or M and N shells) Mα1,2 and Mβ1 lines in the x-ray spectra of heavy atoms can be explained precisely by taking into account the extensive multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock calculations. The presented results are a precursor for the reliable quantitative interpretation of a very complex origin structure of Mα1,2 and Mβ1 lines in various high-resolution x-ray spectra of heavy atoms induced by different light and heavy projectiles. Moreover, the intensities of the M-x-ray lines of uranium can be helpful in the application of x-ray measurements from UO2 as a reference material (virtual standard) for non-destructive wavelength-dispersive electron probe microanalysis.

Mini Tensiometer-Time Domain Reflectometry Coil Probe for Measuring Soil Water Retention Properties

Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is used widely for measuring soil-water content. New TDR coil probe technology facilitates the development of small, nondestructive probes for simultaneous measurement of soil-water content (θ) and soil-water potential (ψ). In this study we developed mini tensiometer-time domain reflectometry (T-TDR) coil probes, 6-mm wide and 32-mm long. The coil probes were calibrated against a conventional three-rod probe and were used for measuring θ for a aggregated volcanic ash soil (VAS) and a uniform sand. A commonly-used dielectric mixing model did not accurately describe the measured relation between the dielectric constant of the T-TDR coil probe (εcoil) and θ, and a new calibration model for εcoil (θ) was proposed instead. The new model assumes single-region behavior for sand and two-region behavior for aggregated VAS, when plotting the normalized dielectric constant of the coil probe (εcoil–ε dry; where εdry is the dielectric constant of the T-TDR coil probe for air-dried material) as a function of θ. The new calibration model accurately described the (εcoil–ε dry)-θ relations measured by 7 T-TDR coil probes on both sand and VAS. Additionally, there was a good agreement between measured soil-water retention curves (ψ > –100 cm H2O) by the new T-TDR coil probes and independent measurements by the hanging water column method.

Non-invasive imaging of the crystalline structure within a human tooth

The internal crystalline structure of a human molar tooth has been non-destructively imaged in cross-section using X-ray diffraction computed tomography. Diffraction signals from high-energy X-rays which have large attenuation lengths for hard biomaterials have been collected in a transmission geometry. Coupling this with a computed tomography data acquisition and mathematically reconstructing their spatial origins, diffraction patterns from every voxel within the tooth can be obtained. Using this method we have observed the spatial variations of some key material parameters including nanocrystallite size, organic content, lattice parameters, crystallographic preferred orientation and degree of orientation. We have also made a link between the spatial variations of the unit cell lattice parameters and the chemical make-up of the tooth. In addition, we have determined how the onset of tooth decay occurs through clear amorphization of the hydroxyapatite crystal, and we have been able to map the extent of decay within the tooth. The described method has strong prospects for non-destructive probing of mineralized biomaterials.

Nondestructive Probing Scheme of Quantum State Without Quantum Correlation

We study a scheme that an auxiliary qubit is introduced for probing the information of the given bipartite quantum state, while the correlations of the probed quantum state and even the probed state itself are not disturbed after the probing, which means nondestructive probing. We find that, in order to guarantee the invariance of the correlations of the probed state, neither quantum entanglement nor quantum discord between the auxiliary qubit and the probed states can be present. This could make us reconsider the role of quantum correlation in some quantum information processing tasks.

Cold atoms in cavity-generated dynamical optical potentials

We review state-of-the-art theory and experiment of the motion of cold and ultracold atoms coupled to the radiation field within a high-finesse optical resonator in the dispersive regime of the atom-field interaction with small internal excitation. The optical dipole force on the atoms together with the back-action of atomic motion onto the light field gives rise to a complex nonlinear coupled dynamics. As the resonator constitutes an open driven and damped system, the dynamics is non-conservative and in general enables cooling and confining the motion of polarizable particles. In addition, the emitted cavity field allows for real-time monitoring of the particle's position with minimal perturbation up to sub-wavelength accuracy. For many-body systems, the resonator field mediates controllable long-range atom-atom interactions, which set the stage for collective phenomena. Besides correlated motion of distant particles, one finds critical behavior and non-equilibrium phase transitions between states of different atomic order in conjunction with superradiant light scattering. Quantum degenerate gases inside optical resonators can be used to emulate opto-mechanics as well as novel quantum phases like supersolids and spin glasses. Non-equilibrium quantum phase transitions, as predicted by e.g. the Dicke Hamiltonian, can be controlled and explored in real-time via monitoring the cavity field. In combination with optical lattices, the cavity field can be utilized for non-destructive probing Hubbard physics and tailoring long-range interactions for ultracold quantum systems.

Visualization of solitary waves via laser Doppler vibrometry for heavy impurity identification in a granular chain

We study the propagation of highly nonlinear solitary waves in a one-dimensional granular chain composed of homogeneous spherical particles that includes a heavy impurity. We experimentally investigate the transmission and backscattering behavior of solitary waves in the region of the impurity by using a laser Doppler vibrometer. To assess the sensitivity of solitary waves to various impurity masses, this non-contact measurement technique is complemented by a conventional contact measurement method based on an instrumented sensor particle. By leveraging these two schemes, we find that the travelling time and attenuation of backscattered solitary waves are highly sensitive to the location and mass of an inserted impurity. The experimental results are found to be in satisfactory agreement with the numerical results obtained from a discrete element model and the theoretical predictions based on nonlinear wave dynamics and classical contact theory. This study demonstrates that laser Doppler vibrometry can be an efficient tool to visualize highly nonlinear wave propagation in granular media. With a view towards potential applications, highly nonlinear solitary waves can be employed as nondestructive probing signals to identify heavy impurities embedded in ordered granular architectures.

Micro-Absorption Spectroscopy at the Single Cell Level from the Ultraviolet to the Near-Infrared

Micro-absorption spectroscopy provides a label-free nondestructive probe of biomolecules and their interaction at the single cell level. Our setup employs a confocal detection system to probe and spectrally resolve the attenuation of a white light beam in the axial direction. The method can be used to study cells in their native environment with a spatial resolution of two micron. We present measurements in the UV spectral range (220 - 350 nm) where aromatic amino acids and bases in nucleic acid absorb. To establish the accuracy of the method, we have measured the concentration dependence of the optical absorption of tryptophan, phenylalanine and DNA bases in a microcapillary with 50 micron pathlength and a volume of a few hundred nanoliters. The absorption in the micro setup is found to vary linearly with concentration. We explore applications to protein and DNA solution in nanoliter quantities and single cells.

Reducing number fluctuations of ultracold atomic gases via dispersive interrogation

We have used nondestructive laser probing to follow the central density evolution of a trapped atomic cloud during forced evaporative cooling. This was achieved in a heterodyne dispersive detection scheme. We propose to use this as a precursor measurement for predicting the atom number subsequent to evaporation and provide a simple experimental demonstration of the principle leading to a conditional reduction of classical number fluctuations.