Imaging of near-field interference patterns by aperture-type SNOM - influence of illumination wavelength and polarization state.

Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) in combination with interference structures is a powerful tool for imaging and analysis of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). However, the correct interpretation of SNOM images requires profound understanding of principles behind their formation. To study fundamental principles of SNOM imaging in detail, we performed spectroscopic measurements by an aperture-type SNOM setup equipped with a supercontinuum laser and a polarizer, which gave us all the degrees of freedom necessary for our investigation.

Dynamic switching of the spin circulation in tapered magnetic nanodisks.

Magnetic vortices are characterized by the sense of in-plane magnetization circulation and by the polarity of the vortex core. With each having two possible states, there are four possible stable magnetization configurations that can be utilized for a multibit memory cell. Dynamic control of vortex core polarity has been demonstrated using both alternating and pulsed magnetic fields and currents.

An ultra-low energy (30-200 eV) ion-atomic beam source for ion-beam-assisted deposition in ultrahigh vacuum.

The paper describes the design and construction of an ion-atomic beam source with an optimized generation of ions for ion-beam-assisted deposition under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. The source combines an effusion cell and an electron impact ion source and produces ion beams with ultra-low energies in the range from 30 eV to 200 eV. Decreasing ion beam energy to hyperthermal values (≈10(1) eV) without loosing optimum ionization conditions has been mainly achieved by the incorporation of an ionization chamber with a grid transparent enough for electron and ion beams.

Focused ion beam fabrication of spintronic nanostructures: an optimization of the milling process.

Focused ion beam (FIB) milling has been used to fabricate magnetic nanostructures (wires, squares, discs) from single magnetic layers (Co, permalloy) and spin-valve (permalloy/Cu/Co) multilayers (thicknesses 5-50 nm) prepared by ion beam sputtering deposition. Milled surfaces of metallic thin films typically exhibit residual roughness, which is also transferred onto the edges of the milled patterns. This can lead to domain wall pinning and influence the magnetization behaviour of the nanostructures.

Imaging reflectometry in situ.

An innovative method of in situ real-time optical monitoring of thin film deposition and etching is presented. In this technique, intensity maps of a thin film corresponding to a series of wavelengths selected by a monochromator (300-800 nm) are recorded by a CCD camera. From the maps the reflectance spectra at individual points of the sample surface can be extracted.

Prediction of creatinine clearance from serum creatinine concentration based on lean body mass.

An equation for predicting endogenous creatinine clearance (CrCl) in adults and children (with both stable and unstable renal function) from serum creatinine concentration is presented. The predictions are compared with four other available estimating methods, bases on values in 110 subjects with renal impairment of widely differing degrees. In patients with stable and with unstable renal function the corelaion between measured and predicted CrCl was better with the new equation.

Daily single-dose gentamicin therapy in experimental pyelonephritis.

The therapeutic efficacy of gentamicin given once or three times a day was compared in a model of experimental renal infection in rats. The same amount of gentamicin given either in a single injection or three injections a day produced no statistically significant difference in the treatment of incipient infection. The effect of this mode of administration on advanced infection depended on the length of the therapy.