Comparison of digital and optical processing of time varying pulsed laser excited photothermal spectroscopy signals

In the formation of an image each small volume element of the object is correlated to an areal element in the image. The structure or detail of the object is represented by changes in intensity from element to element, and this variation of intensity (contrast) is determined by the interaction of the electrons with the specimen, and by the optical processing of the information-carrying electrons. Both conventional and scanning transmission electron microscopes form images which may be considered in this way, but the mechanism of image construction is very different in the two cases. Although the electron-object interaction is the same, the optical treatment differs.

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Observations on the growth of YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films on MgO by pulsed-laser ablation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100089652 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

pp. 1068-1069

Author(s):

M. Grant Norton ◽

C. Barry Carter

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Thin Films ◽

Laser Ablation ◽

Substrate Surface ◽

Pulsed Laser ◽

Pulsed Laser Ablation ◽

Thin Film Deposition ◽

Film Deposition ◽

Laser Ablation Process ◽

Deposition Parameters

Pulsed-laser ablation has been widely used to produce high-quality thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-δ on a range of substrate materials. The nonequilibrium nature of the process allows congruent deposition of oxides with complex stoichiometrics. In the high power density regime produced by the UV excimer lasers the ablated species includes a mixture of neutral atoms, molecules and ions. All these species play an important role in thin-film deposition. However, changes in the deposition parameters have been shown to affect the microstructure of thin YBa2Cu3O7-δ films. The formation of metastable configurations is possible because at the low substrate temperatures used, only shortrange rearrangement on the substrate surface can occur. The parameters associated directly with the laser ablation process, those determining the nature of the process, e g. thermal or nonthermal volatilization, have been classified as ‘primary parameters'. Other parameters may also affect the microstructure of the thin film. In this paper, the effects of these ‘secondary parameters' on the microstructure of YBa2Cu3O7-δ films will be discussed. Examples of 'secondary parameters' include the substrate temperature and the oxygen partial pressure during deposition.

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Microanalysis of silicate glass films grown on α-Al2O3 by pulsed-laser deposition

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100148022 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 438-439

Author(s):

Michael P. Mallamaci ◽

James Bentley ◽

C. Barry Carter

Keyword(s):

Liquid Phase ◽

Single Crystal ◽

Pulsed Laser Deposition ◽

Pulsed Laser ◽

Ceramic Materials ◽

Laser Deposition ◽

Triple Junctions ◽

Ion Milling ◽

Multicomponent Oxides ◽

Glass Films

Glass-oxide interfaces play important roles in developing the properties of liquid-phase sintered ceramics and glass-ceramic materials. Deposition of glasses in thin-film form on oxide substrates is a potential way to determine the properties of such interfaces directly. Pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) has been successful in growing stoichiometric thin films of multicomponent oxides. Since traditional glasses are multicomponent oxides, there is the potential for PLD to provide a unique method for growing amorphous coatings on ceramics with precise control of the glass composition. Deposition of an anorthite-based (CaAl2Si2O8) glass on single-crystal α-Al2O3 was chosen as a model system to explore the feasibility of PLD for growing glass layers, since anorthite-based glass films are commonly found in the grain boundaries and triple junctions of liquid-phase sintered α-Al2O3 ceramics.Single-crystal (0001) α-Al2O3 substrates in pre-thinned form were used for film depositions. Prethinned substrates were prepared by polishing the side intended for deposition, then dimpling and polishing the opposite side, and finally ion-milling to perforation.

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TEM sample preparation of wear-tested room-temperature pulsed-laser-deposited thin films of MoS2 by ultramicrotomy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100151428 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 1118-1119

Author(s):

Pamela F. Lloyd ◽

Scott D. Walck

Keyword(s):

Thin Films ◽

Sample Preparation ◽

Room Temperature ◽

High Vacuum ◽

Pulsed Laser ◽

Ultra High Vacuum ◽

Wear Testing ◽

Preparation Technique ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Aerospace Applications

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a novel technique for the deposition of tribological thin films. MoS2 is the archetypical solid lubricant material for aerospace applications. It provides a low coefficient of friction from cryogenic temperatures to about 350°C and can be used in ultra high vacuum environments. The TEM is ideally suited for studying the microstructural and tribo-chemical changes that occur during wear. The normal cross sectional TEM sample preparation method does not work well because the material’s lubricity causes the sandwich to separate. Walck et al. deposited MoS2 through a mesh mask which gave suitable results for as-deposited films, but the discontinuous nature of the film is unsuitable for wear-testing. To investigate wear-tested, room temperature (RT) PLD MoS2 films, the sample preparation technique of Heuer and Howitt was adapted.Two 300 run thick films were deposited on single crystal NaCl substrates. One was wear-tested on a ball-on-disk tribometer using a 30 gm load at 150 rpm for one minute, and subsequently coated with a heavy layer of evaporated gold.

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