MFM imaging of micron-sized permalloy ellipses

The magnetic domain structure of micron-sized elliptic permalloy elements has been studied by magnetic force microscope (MFM) measurements, and has been compared to results from micromagnetic simulations. The elements all have the same aspect ratio, whereas the inter-elemental distance has been varied. Both the zero-field states and in field domain configurations have been studied. In zero-applied field, two different stable flux-closure states were found in both the MFM measurements and in the simulations. The different stable domain states occur as a result of minute differences in the local magnetic environment occurring during the demagnetization process. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tip-enhanced fluorescence imaging of quantum dots

We have imaged the fluorescence from a single quantum dot cluster using an apertureless scanning near-field optical microscope. When a sharp gold tip is brought within a few nanometers from the sample surface, the resulting enhancement in quantum dot fluorescence in the vicinity of the tip leads to a resolution of about 60 nm. We determine this enhancement of the fluorescence to be about fourfold in magnitude, which is consistent with the value expected as a result of competition between fluorescence quenching and electromagnetic field enhancement. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

IMAGING OF SURFACE-PLASMON PROPAGATION AND EDGE INTERACTION USING A PHOTON SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPE

We report the direct imaging of surface plasmon propagation on thin silver films using the photon scanning tunneling microscope. It is found that the surface plasmon remains tightly confined in the original launch direction with insignificant scattering to other momentum states. A propagation length of 13.2 mum is measured at lambda = 632.8 nm. We also present images showing the interaction of a surface plasmon with the edge of the metal film supporting it. The most remarkable feature is the absence of a specularly reflected beam.

Mechanical characterization of the varian Exact-arm and R-arm support systems for eight aS500 electronic portal imaging devices

The aim of this study is to compare the positioning accuracy at different gantry angles of two electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) support arm systems by using EPID difference images as a measure for displacement. This work presents a comparison of the mechanical performance of eight Varian aS500 (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) EPIDs, mounted using either the Varian Exact-arm or R-arm.

Optimization of image quality and dose for Varian aS500 electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs)

This study was carried out to investigate whether the electronic portal imaging (EPI) acquisition process could be optimized, and as a result tolerance and action levels be set for the PIPSPro QC-3V phantom image quality assessment. The aim of the optimization process was to reduce the dose delivered to the patient while maintaining a clinically acceptable image quality. This is of interest when images are acquired in addition to the planned patient treatment, rather than images being acquired using the treatment field during a patient's treatment. A series of phantoms were used to assess image quality for different acquisition settings relative to the baseline values obtained following acceptance testing. Eight Varian aS500 EPID systems on four matched Varian 600C/D linacs and four matched Varian 2100C/D linacs were compared for consistency of performance and images were acquired at the four main orthogonal gantry angles. Images were acquired using a 6 MV beam operating at 100 MU min(-1) and the low-dose acquisition mode. Doses used in the comparison were measured using a Farmer ionization chamber placed at d(max) in solid water. The results demonstrated that the number of reset frames did not have any influence on the image contrast, but the number of frame averages did. The expected increase in noise with corresponding decrease in contrast was also observed when reducing the number of frame averages. The optimal settings for the low-dose acquisition mode with respect to image quality and dose were found to be one reset frame and three frame averages. All patients at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre are now imaged using one reset frame and three frame averages in the 6 MV 100 MU min(-1) low-dose acquisition mode. Routine EPID QC contrast tolerance (+/-10) and action (+/-20) levels using the PIPSPro phantom based around expected values of 190 (Varian 600C/D) and 225 (Varian 2100C/D) have been introduced. The dose at dmax from electronic portal imaging has been reduced by approximately 28%, and while the image quality has been reduced, the images produced are still clinically acceptable.

High-contrast imaging search for planets and brown dwarfs around the most massive stars in the solar neighborhood

There has been a long-standing discussion in the literature as to whether core accretion or disk instability is the dominant mode of planet formation. Over the last decade, several lines of evidence have been presented showing that core accretion is most likely the dominant mechanism for the close-in population of planets probed by radial velocity and transits. However, this does not by itself prove that core accretion is the dominant mode for the total planet population, since disk instability might conceivably produce and retain large numbers of planets in the far-out regions of the disk. If this is a relevant scenario, then the outer massive disks of B-stars should be among the best places for massive planets and brown dwarfs to form and reside. In this study, we present high-contrast imaging of 18 nearby massive stars of which 15 are in the B2-A0 spectral-type range and provide excellent sensitivity to wide companions. By comparing our sensitivities to model predictions of disk instability based on physical criteria for fragmentation and cooling, and using Monte Carlo simulations for orbital distributions, we find that ~85% of such companions should have been detected in our images on average. Given this high degree of completeness, stringent statistical limits can be set from the null-detection result, even with the limited sample size. We find that

Lucky Imaging of transiting planet host stars with LuckyCam

We obtained high-resolution, high-contrast optical imaging in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey i′ band with the LuckyCam camera mounted on the 2.56 m Nordic Optical Telescope, to search for faint stellar companions to 16 stars harbouring transiting exoplanets. The Lucky imaging technique uses very short exposures to obtain near diffraction-limited images yielding sub-arcsecond sensitivity, allowing us to search for faint stellar companions within the seeing disc of the primary planet host. Here, we report the detection of two candidate stellar companions to the planet host TrES-1 at separations <6.5 arcsec and we confirm stellar companions to CoRoT-2, CoRoT-3, TrES-2, TrES-4 and HAT-P-7 already known in the literature. We do not confirm the candidate companions to HAT-P-8 found via Lucky imaging by Bergfors et al., however, most probably because HAT-P-8 was observed in poor seeing conditions. Our detection sensitivity limits allow us to place constraints on the spectral types and masses of the putative bound companions to the planet host stars in our sample. If bound, the stellar companions identified in this work would provide stringent observational constraints to models of planet formation and evolution. In addition, these companions could affect the derived physical properties of the exoplanets in these systems.

Investigation into the radiobiological consequences of pre-treatment verification imaging with megavoltage X-rays in radiotherapy

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pre-treatment verification imaging with megavoltage (MV) X-rays on cancer and normal cell survival in vitro and to compare the findings with theoretically modelled data. Since the dose received from pre-treatment imaging can be significant, incorporation of this dose at the planning stage of treatment has been suggested.

Methods: The impact of imaging dose incorporation on cell survival was investigated by clonogenic assay, irradiating DU-145 prostate cancer, H460 non-small cell lung cancer and AGO-1522b normal tissue fibroblast cells. Clinically relevant imaging-to-treatment times of 7.5 minutes and 15 minutes were chosen for this study. The theoretical magnitude of the loss of radiobiological efficacy due to sublethal damage repair was investigated using the Lea-Catcheside dose protraction factor model.

Results: For the cell lines investigated, the experimental data showed that imaging dose incorporation had no significant impact upon cell survival. These findings were in close agreement with the theoretical results.

Conclusions: For the conditions investigated, the results suggest that allowance for the imaging dose at the planning stage of treatment should not adversely affect treatment efficacy.

Advances in Knowledge: There is a paucity of data in the literature on imaging effects in radiotherapy. This paper presents a systematic study of imaging dose effects on cancer and normal cell survival, providing both theoretical and experimental evidence for clinically relevant imaging doses and imaging-to-treatment times. The data provide a firm foundation for further study into this highly relevant area of research.

Near Field Enhancement and Subwavelength Imaging Using Resonantly Loaded Apertures

It is demonstrated that the electromagnetic (EM) transmission through a subwavelength or non-resonant aperture in a conductive screen can be dramatically enhanced by loading it with folded metallic strips exhibiting resonant properties. When illuminated by an EM plane wave these loaded apertures enable very tight, subwavelength, collimation of the EM power in the near field zone. We propose planar and quasi-planar resonant insertion geometries that should allow, for the first time, two-dimensional dual-polarization subwavelength field confinement along with ability to focus both electric and magnetic fields. The proposed technique for resonance transmission enhancement and near field confinement forms a basis for a new class of microwave near field imaging probe with subwavelength resolution capable of operating over a wide range of imaging distances (0.05–$0.25lambda$). Measurement results demonstrate the possibility of high contrast (more than 3 dB in amplitude and 40 degrees in phase) near field subwavelength imaging of 2D and 3D resonant and non-resonant metallic and dielectric targets in free space and in moderately lossy layered media.