NIST Technicalendar October 6 to October 10, 2008 The NIST Technicalendar is issued each Friday. All items MUST be submitted electronically from this web page by 12:00 NOON each Wednesday unless otherwise stated in the NIST Technicalendar. The address for online weekly editions of the NIST Technicalendar and NIST Administrative Calendar is: http://www.nist.gov/tcal/.

In this Issue: Meetings at NIST Meetings Elsewhere Announcements Talks by NIST Personnel NIST Web Site Announcements NIST Administrative Calendar (current)   NIST Vacancy Announcements (current)

Also available: Previous Issues of the Technicalendar Quick Technicalendar (current) Last week's Quick Technicalendar Last week's Technicalendar Detailed Search NIST Journal of Research (Current TOC) Change User Options

10:30 AM - Disruptive Technologies Through Nanostructures

10:00 AM - Picometer-Scale Accuracy in Pitch Measurements Using Microscopes

1:30 PM - Measuring and Characterizing the Conductance of a Single Molecule

10:30 AM - Lead in Potable Water as a Public Health Threat
10:30 AM - Nanoparticles with key-lock interactions: from self-assembly to drug delivery

10:30 AM - The Nanoindentation in Polymeric Materials
2:00 PM - CANCELLED*****Shedding Light on Dark Matter*****CANCELLED

10/6 -- MONDAY

10:30 AM - NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: Disruptive Technologies Through Nanostructures
As nanostructure technology continues to mature, fabrication processes which are compatible with realistic manufacturing techniques are now being developed. Consequently, disruptive technologies that were previously confined to laboratory test-beds are being implemented in commercial settings. This talk will focus on the impact of nanostructures in two areas: energy recovery and power electronics. Specifically, significant challenges associated with measurements and establishing of metrics for non-equilibrium charge and phonon transport in reduced-dimensional systems will be discussed.
Fred Sharifi , GE Research.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Nikolai Zhitenev, 301-975-6039, nikolai.zhitenev@nist.gov)


10/7 -- TUESDAY

10:00 AM - CERAMICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Picometer-Scale Accuracy in Pitch Measurements Using Microscopes
We discuss some metrology requirements of the optical and magnetic data storage industries. Current and new media formats require nanometer control of track pitch and feature size variation. Nanometer control implies picometer metrology. We use an ordinary open-loop AFM with additional offline calibration and measurement software to measure pitch and pitch variation. On a 144 nm pitch 2-Dimensional square grating, we measured average pitch to an accuracy of 40 pm (1s). Accuracy was confirmed by optical diffraction measurements at a national standards laboratory (PTB). We discuss the traceability path, showing how diffraction and microscopy work together to provide surprisingly low uncertainty. Our analysis method also works with SEM images. Measurements of a 35 nm pitch 2-dimensional grating showed individual pitch variation of 80 pm (1 s). This precision suggests one could measure the average pitch to an accuracy of 10 pm (1 s), thereby providing a very useful traceable standard. We also report pattern angle and skewness with resolution better than 0.1°.
Don Chernoff , Advanced Surface Microscopy Inc.
Materials Bldg, Rm. A252. (NIST Contact: Vincent Hackley, 301-975-5790, vincent.hackley@nist.gov)


10/8 -- WEDNESDAY

1:30 PM - CENTER FOR NANOSCALE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR: Measuring and Characterizing the Conductance of a Single Molecule
Measuring the conductance of a single molecule junction is becoming a standard measurement process in nanotechnology; however, there is a clear need for additional methods for measuring and characterizing a single molecule bound to two electrodes. This talk will discuss measuring the conductance of biological samples such as DNA and amino acids, as well as the development of new instruments for measuring and characterizing a single molecule junction. DNA studies were carried out in aqueous solution using readily available characterization techniques such as systematically changing the length, sequence, base-pair matching, temperature, and electrochemical potential of the system to attempt to elucidate the conduction mechanism. Such studies reinforced the need for faster measurement tools and better characterization techniques for single molecule junctions. Thus, the Conductance Screening Tool was developed to provide an order of magnitude increasing in the speed of measurement over previous designs. This tool has since been used to determine the conductance of individual amino acid residues without chemical modification. And finally, to advance characterization capabilities, a low temperature STM was developed and used to perform Inelastic Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy (IETS) on a single molecule bound to two electrodes. These measurements demonstrate that changes in the IET spectrum of a single molecule occur simultaneously with changes in the conductance and configuration of the molecular junction.
Joshua Hihath , Arizona State University.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Vladimir Aksyuk, 301-975-2867, vladimir.aksyuk@nist.gov)


10/9 -- THURSDAY

10:30 AM - SIGMA XI COLLOQUIUM: Lead in Potable Water as a Public Health Threat
The Centers for Disease Control assumed that lead in water problems were largely eliminated by the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. As a result, modern case management of childhood lead poisoning generally ignores potable water as a significant lead source. Recent cases of childhood lead poisoning attributed to water have demonstrated that detachment of particulate lead from solder and lead pipe to water, poses a serious concern, with potential lead doses from consuming a single glass of contaminated water above those obtained via consumption of lead paint chips. Because the EPA lead and copper rule sampling protocols were based on the assumption that lead in water was soluble Pb(II), EPA methods can fail to detect up to 99.8% of the lead which is actually present in water. Moreover, particulate lead detachment to water occurs some times and not others, making the problem impossible to detect with collection of single samples. These problems undoubtedly confounded prior attempts to establish cause and effect relationships between lead in water and blood lead-- and have also falsely reassured many consumers and utilities about the safety of tap water in homes built before the lead solder ban in 1986. Public health agencies and water utilities need to better educate themselves about the acute and chronic health hazards attributable to particulate lead in potable water.
Marc Edwards , Virginia Tech.
Administration Bldg, Red Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Dave Holbrook, 301-975-5202, dave.holbrook@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

10:30 AM - CNST NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: Nanoparticles with key-lock interactions: from self-assembly to drug delivery
By decorating colloidal particles and other nano-objects with various biomolecules, one can introduce highly selective key-lock interactions between them. This leads to a new class of systems and problems in soft condensed matter physics. In my talk, I will review a number of theoretical possibilities and recent experimental achievements in this new field. First, I will discuss DNA-mediated self-assembly of nanostructures and nanoclusters. The specificity and tunability of the interactions result in a remarkable morphological diversity of in such systems. In some of the proposed schemes, DNA can be used to essentially "program" the self-assembly of a desired structure. The colloids with type-dependent interactions can also be used for experimental realization of one of the simplest self-replicating system. Its study may shed some light onto such important problems as prebiotic evolution and origin of life. Finally, I will discuss how cooperative key-lock binding can be also utilized to dramatically enhance cell specificity of drug delivery, e.g. in cancer treatment
Alexei Tkachenko , University of Michigan.
217 Bldg, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: James Liddle, 301-975-6050, james.liddle@nist.gov)


10/10 -- FRIDAY

10:30 AM - MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION SEMINAR: The Nanoindentation in Polymeric Materials
Sanboh Lee , Professor, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.
226 (BR) Bldg, Rm. B221. (NIST Contact: Tinh Nguyen, 301-975-6718, tinh.nguyen@nist.gov)

2:00 PM - FRONTIER PHYSICS SEMINAR: CANCELLED*****Shedding Light on Dark Matter*****CANCELLED
Disparate astronomical observations provide compelling evidence for additional, non-luminous matter, or dark matter, in gravitational interactions, but we know little of its nature. To remedy this, the hunt is on to detect dark matter via either direct or indirect means, to determine its mass(es?) as well as couplings to Standard Model particles. I will briefly review the astronomical evidence and summarize current direct and indirect detection efforts before describing a new possibility. That is, an optical Faraday rotation experiment can set limits on the magnetic moment of a electrically-neutral, dark-matter particle, and the limits increase in stringency as the candidate-particle's mass decreases. I shall describe how such an experiment could be realized and determine the limits on the magnetic moment as a function of mass which follow given demonstrated experimental capacities.
Susan Gardner , Professor of Physics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
217 Bldg, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Charles Clark, 301-975-3709, charles.clark@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available


ADVANCE NOTICE

10/14/08 1:30 PM - CNST ELECTRON PHYSICS GROUP SEMINAR: Optical Nuclear Physics Step 1: Trapping Th3+
The nucleus of the 229-Th isotope is unique in that it possesses a very low energy (7.5 eV) nuclear isomer. It may be possible to someday drive this transition coherently, opening the way for a new kind of optical clocks and more precise measurements of fundamental constants. The Th3+ ion is an ideal candidate for such work because of its simplified level structure and potentially long trap lifetime. I will present the recent progress towards the realization of an optical nuclear frequency standard, namely the trapping and observation of 232-Th3+ ions, by the Chapman and Kuzmich research groups at Georgia Tech.
Adam Steele , Ph.D. Candidate, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Jabez McClelland, 301-975-3721, jabez.mcclelland@nist.gov)

10/16/08 10:30 AM - CNST ELECTRON PHYSICS GROUP SEMINAR: ELECTRON DIFFRACTION AND INTERFEROMETRY WITH NANO-GRATINGS
We used nano-manufactured gratings to diffract and interfere low energy (0.3-5keV) electron matter waves. This demonstrates that nanostructures can be used for coherent electron optics, despite the keen sensitivity of low energy electrons to weak electromagnetic interactions. We use this sensitivity to probe the self-induced 'image charge' potential between moving electrons and the surfaces of the grating, which are less than 25nm away. We have observed several interference phenomena using electron beams with very different spatial coherence properties, and we have developed a theoretical framework based on Gaussian Schell-model beams that can efficiently model all types of interferometers that use diffraction gratings and partially coherent beams. I will discuss these experiments, their simulations, and the custom microscope we built for the research. I will also present ideas for future research directions afforded by electron interferometry.
Benjamin McMorran , Ph.D. Candidate, University of Arizona.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: John Unguris, 301-975-3712, john.unguris@nist.gov)

10/17/08 10:30 AM - NIST COLLOQUIUM SERIES: Digital Forensics
Photography lost its innocence many years ago. Shortly after the first commercially available camera was introduced, photographs were being manipulated and altered. With the advent of digital cameras, powerful personal computers, and sophisticated photo-editing software, the manipulation of digital images is becoming much more common. We are seeing the impact of these technologies in nearly every corner of our lives. I will describe computational techniques that we have developed to detect tampering in digital media. Operating in the absence of digital watermarks or signatures, these techniques detect statistical correlations that result from specific forms of digital tampering.
Hany Farid , Department of Computer Science and Institute for Security Technology Studies, Dartmouth College.
Administration Building, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Kum Ham, 301-975-4203, kham@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

10/20/08 8:00 AM - CHEMICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY OFFICE SEMINAR: "Accelerating Innovation in 21st Century Biosciences: Identifying the Measurement Standards and Technological Challenges"
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) are planning to co-host an October 20-24, 2008 Conference (Symposium and Workshop) focused on identifying and prioritizing measurement, standards, and technology needs that represent barriers to innovation, and impediments to achieving maximal societal and economic benefits of new discoveries in the biosciences.
Invited Speakers , Various Organizations.
Administration Bldg, Red Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Willie May, 301-975-8300, wem@nist.gov) http://www.cstl.nist.gov/Biosciences.html
Special Assistance Available

10/20/08 10:30 AM - NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: In-situ Studies of Nanoscale Phenomena: Are the Challenges Worth Taking?
High-resolution microscopy is more of a necessity than luxury in investigating nanoscale materials. In this talk, we elucidate this by discussing in-situ SEM/TEM (scanning/transmission electron microscopy) testing of mechanical behavior of materials. This approach provides unprecedented experimental capabilities such as simultaneously quantitative (strain-strain) and qualitative (deformation, dislocation, crack visualization) materials characterization, with the added benefit of monitoring 'cleanliness' of the experiments. Unfortunately, these environments (for example, the TEM) have serious space restrictions and pose challenges with equal proportion because of the drastic miniaturization required for the lab-on-a-chip type capabilities. We address the challenges using nanofabrication techniques and discuss several examples of micro/nanotechnology enabled experimental setups. While the focus of this talk remains on mechanical testing of nanoscale thin films or one dimensional materials, we present some new directions for the research in nanoscale materials for pressing applications such as energy conversion, sensors and actuators and micro-electronic devices. Particularly, we visit the multi-domain (thermal, electrical, mechanical etc) coupling phenomena, which can be predicted to be stronger than what we observe at the macro or even micro scales. An ongoing research on experimental multi-physics lab-on-a-chip will be presented.
Aman Haque , Pennsylvania State University.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Vladimir Aksyuk, 301-975-2867, vladimir.aksyuk@nist.gov)

---

MEETINGS ELSEWHERE


10/6 -- MONDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/7 -- TUESDAY

4:15 PM - CREATING A SUPERSOLID IN ONE-DIMENSIONAL BOSE MIXTURES
Ludwig Mathey , PhD.
Bldg, Rm..
Georgetown University Reiss 502. (NIST Contact: Ludwig Mathey, 301-975-8351, lmathey@nist.gov)



10/8 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/9 -- THURSDAY

7:00 AM - INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR: GLOBAL CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Nancy Lin , Biomedical Engineer, Gaithersburg, MD, nancy.lin@nist.gov.
Bldg, Rm..
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. (NIST Contact: Nancy Lin, 301-975-4935, nancy.lin@nist.gov) http://www.sacnas.org/confNew/confClient/



10/10 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

No Scheduled Events

---

TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

WONG-NG, W. : RECENT INVESTIGATIONS OF COBALTITE THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS AT NIST.
MS&T 2008, Pittsburgh, PA, 10/8.

---

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INTERACTIVE LIBRARY AND PUBLISHING NEWS
We've revamped our library and publishing newsletter to include *your thoughts, *your ideas. We're taking our news and your comments to a new interactive level where we'll be conversing and exchanging information. ISD NewsCenter will release new articles or announcements twice a week. We hope you'll bookmark the site and return to it frequently or sign up to receive alerts.
NIST Contact: Nancy Allmang, 301-975-4189, nancy.allmang@nist.gov

HOW CAN YOUR LAB LIAISON HELP YOU?
Watch this new video podcast and learn what NIST Labs are saying about ISD's Lab Liaisons. (4+ minutes) http://nvl-i.nist.gov/index.cfm?videos/ISD_liaisons/
NIST Contact: Information Desk, 301-975-3052, library@nist.gov

VISITOR REGISTRATION FOR NIST EVENTS
Because of heightened security at the NIST Gaithersburg site, members of the public who wish to attend meetings, seminars, lectures, etc. must first register in advance. For more information please call or e-mail the "NIST Contact" for the particular event you would like to attend.
NIST Contact: . ., ., .

---

NIST WEB SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS

No Web Site announcements this week.

---

For more information, contact Ms. Sharon Hallman, Editor, Stop 2500, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD 20899-2500; Telephone: 301-975-TCAL (3570); Fax: 301-926-4431; or Email: tcal@nist.gov.

All lectures and meetings are open unless otherwise stated.

---

NVL Webmaster