NIST Technicalendar October 20 to October 24, 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

8:00 AM - "Accelerating Innovation in 21st Century Biosciences: Identifying the Measurement Standards and Technological Challenges"
10:30 AM - In-situ Studies of Nanoscale Phenomena: Are the Challenges Worth Taking?
1:30 PM - Tools for Conformance and Interoperability Testing in Healthcare Applications

10:30 AM - Are nonlinear vibrational modes the key to atomically controlling heat flow?
10:30 AM - Using Highly Charged Ions (HCIs) to modify magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) & using MTJs to measure HCI modification of materials

No Scheduled Events

10:30 AM - NON-LOCAL DETECTION OF PURE SPIN CURRENTS

9:30 AM - The Effect of p-n Junctions on Quantum Transport in Graphene
10:30 AM - CSTL Colloquium: "Lifting the Fog on the Intercontinental Scene"

10/20 -- MONDAY

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

10:30 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)

1:30 PM - SIMA TECHNICAL SEMINAR: Tools for Conformance and Interoperability Testing in Healthcare Applications
We will present a collection of tools for testing healthcare messaging and document standards. The set of tools include standalone applications, web services, and web applications. Additionally we'll discuss how we incorporate the use of registries and a web portal to support and compliment the services. We present the overall design model and demonstrated the tools. We also provide insight on how the tools can be used to support a distributed testing framework.
Rob Snelick , Software and Systems Division, ITL. Gavin O'Brien , Software and Systems Division, ITL.
Metrology (220) Bldg, Rm. B105. (NIST Contact: Rob Snelick, 301-975-5924, robert.snelick@nist.gov)


10/21 -- TUESDAY

10:30 AM - CNST NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: Are nonlinear vibrational modes the key to atomically controlling heat flow?
Heat flow in materials usually follows ordinary perturbative wave theory, meaning it behaves in a linear fashion and dissipates uniformly. However, nonlinearity can cause directional heat flow, potentially leading to thermal rectification or the ability to control heat. Here we will discuss how nonlinear atomic vibrational modes occur in bulk and nanomaterials, their fundamental physics, and how they can be utilized to atomically control heat flow, leading to new energy-efficient technologies. Beyond heat flow, nonlinear modes also influence phase transformations, mechanical response, and crystal structure, which will be discussed.
Kevin Moore , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Nikolai Zhitenev, 301-975-6039, nikolai.zhitenev@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - ATOMIC PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Using Highly Charged Ions (HCIs) to modify magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) & using MTJs to measure HCI modification of materials
Highly charged ions (HCIs) are used to increase the electrical transparency of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), pushing the electrical performance of the MTJs in a technologically desirable direction while creating a sort of archaeological record of the HCI-material interaction. HCIs possess enormous amounts of neutralization energy (50+ keV per HCI for these experiments) that provides a unique mechanism for modifying materials and fabricating novel electronic devices. The electrical performance of the HCI modified devices as a function of voltage, magnetic field, temperature, and starting thickness of the tunnel barrier all provide insight into the physics of the system. These insights can then be collectively used to estimate HCI-surface fundamentals, e.g., the potential (neutralization) energy sputter yield.
Josh Pomeroy , NIST Atomic Physics Division.
221 Bldg, Rm. B-145. (NIST Contact: Gail Newrock, 301-975-3200, gail.newrock@nist.gov)


10/22 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/23 -- THURSDAY

10:30 AM - CNST ELECTRON PHYSICS GROUP SEMINAR: NON-LOCAL DETECTION OF PURE SPIN CURRENTS
Most spin-transport measurements have been performed in quasi-one-dimensional structures, where charge and spin transport is by default parallel. Recently there has been increased interest in investigating two-dimensional spin-transport structures, where charge and spin currents can be separated. This enables a direct determination of fundamental parameters for spin-transport, such as spin diffusion lengths, polarizations of injected currents, and spin Hall angles. First, I will discuss our work on lateral spin valves, where the pure spin currents are generated via electrical injection from a ferromagnetic contact (permalloy or cobalt) into a nominally non-magnetic metal (gold or copper). The measurement geometry is such that the charge current is drained at one end of the wire, while the spin diffusion is detected toward the opposite end. In this way a pure spin accumulation without a charge current is measured at the detection contact, which results in a large voltage contrast upon switching the magnetization of either the injector or detector. Using this technique we determined the spin diffusion length at 10 K to be 63?15 nm for gold [1,2] and 200?20 nm for copper [2,3]. Second, I will discuss measurements in mesoscopic gold Hall bars, where the pure spin current generation and detection is achieved via the direct and inverse spin Hall effect, respectively. These measurements confirmed the spin diffusion length for gold to be 64?2 nm and we also determined a giant value for the spin Hall angle ? = 0.11?0.03. -- This work was supported by U.S. DOE Office of Basic Energy Science – Materials Science under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. Ref: [1] Y. Ji, A. Hoffmann, J. S. Jiang, and S. D. Bader, Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 6218 (2004). [2] Y. Ji, A. Hoffmann, J. S. Jiang, J. E. Pearson, and S. D. Bader, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 40, 1280 (2007). [3] Y. Ji, A. Hoffmann, J. E. Pearson, and S. D. Bader, Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 052509 (2006).
Axel Hoffmann , Materials Science Division and Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Mark Stiles, 301-975-3745, mark.stiles@nist.gov)


10/24 -- FRIDAY

9:30 AM - QUANTUM ELECTRICAL METROLOGY DIVISION SEMINAR: The Effect of p-n Junctions on Quantum Transport in Graphene
Recently, the ability to locally control the carrier density and type using the electric field effect in graphene has been reported. In order to realize clean bipolar graphene devices, care must be taken in controlling the graphene-local gate oxide interface. I will describe a method to create a functionalization layer on graphene that neither chemically dopes nor electrically degrades graphene, providing an ideal surface for subsequent local-gate oxide growth. Using these locally-gated graphene structures we study both the low and high magnetic field transport properties, demonstrating the ability to create a p (hole-like) region adjacent to an n (electron-like) region. In the quantum Hall regime, the presence of a p-n junction leads to unexpected plateaus in the conductance due to edge state mixing at the p-n interface. Finally, transport in devices where the majority of carriers approach the p-n interface at non-normal incidence is presented and its relationship to the Klein paradox and minimum conductivity problem in graphene is discussed.
James Williams , Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, jimmy@seas.harvard.edu.
220 Bldg, Rm. B165. (NIST Contact: Lindel Schuyler, 301-975-2737, lindel.schuyler@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - CHEMICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY OFFICE SEMINAR: CSTL Colloquium: "Lifting the Fog on the Intercontinental Scene"
Paul De Bievre , Professor, Kasterlee.
Bldg. 227, Rm. A202. (NIST Contact: Willie May, 301-975-8300, wem@nist.gov)


ADVANCE NOTICE

10/30/08 10:30 AM - METALLURGY DIVISION SEMINAR: Magnetization Behavior in Exchange-Biased Patterned Nanostructures
Magnetization processes in patterned magnetic heterostructures are of fundamental scientific interest and have important applications in information storage such as in non-volatile magnetoresistive random access memories (MRAM). Continuous miniaturization causes materials defects to play an increasingly important role in the magnetization switching behavior of these devices. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is the technique of choice for high spatial resolution characterization of non-ideal magnetic behavior and its relationship with nanoscale structure. In combination with novel phase retrieval techniques, Lorentz TEM has the potential of becoming an in situ quantitative technique for mapping magnetization reversal processes. We have used a combination of Lorentz TEM, magneto-optical Kerr magnetometry and micromagnetic simulations to characterize the behavior of micron-size exchange-biased magnetic nanostructures exhibiting vortex magnetization and imprinted with circular exchange bias. Circular exchange bias promotes a reversible vortex behavior and it controls the chirality of the vortex during reversal. It also stabilizes the vortex structure as a low energy state, acting against magnetocrystalline anisotropy which favors the formation of domain walls. Exchange bias suppresses stochastic processes due to thermal activation and cause the magnetization reversal to be reproducible over time, an important feature in applications. Phase imaging based on the Transport–of-Intensity Equation (TIE) is emerging as a novel method for mapping magnetization phenomena in situ in the TEM. The phase shift of the electrons containing the magnetic information is obtained from the intensity of the wave and its derivative along the optical axis alone, and does not require a reference beam as conventional interferometry techniques do. Examples of application of TIE to patterned magnetic heterostructures will be shown and the requirements for becoming a quantitative technique as well as its limitations will be described. TIE-based phase retrieval has potential applications in novel systems such as multilayered magnetic and multiferroic heterostructures for data storage and logic applications. Furthermore, TIE is not limited to magnetic systems, as it offers opportunities in mapping electric fields and charge transport processes at the nanoscale.
Mihaela Tanase , Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL.
Materials Building, MSEL Conference Room B307. (NIST Contact: June Lau, 301-975-5711, june.lau@nist.gov)

10/31/08 10:30 AM - NIST COLLOQUIUM SERIES: What are the Laws of Physics?
For 300 years the orthodox view of the laws of physics is that they are immutable, universal, infinitely-precise mathematical relationships that were somehow imprinted on the universe at its birth. The hidden assumptions that underpin this view can be traced to cultural factors at the time that physics was first formulated as a discipline. In recent years, some have begun to question these assumptions. In my talk I shall focus on the infinitely-precise quality, arguing that it is an unjustified extrapolation, especially in cosmological models that place a fundamental information bound on the observable universe. The existence of such a bound forces us to confront the nature of the laws of physics in certain experimentally-realizable situations, e.g., entangled states of more than 400 particles. Paul Davies is a prolific author of popularized science books. Some of his more recent books will be available for review and purchase before and after the lecture.
Paul Davies , Director, BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University.
Administration Building, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Kum Ham, 301-975-4203, kham@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

10/31/08 1:30 PM - PHYSICS LABORATORY COLLOQUIUM: Quantum Weak Measurements: A Generalization of the Exponential Decay Law
Quantum mechanical measurements are normally discussed in terms of projective von Neumann-type irreversible processes, but recently a new class of measurements has been proposed and experimentally tested. These are weak measurements carried out on identically-prepared ensembles. Weak measurements offer a new opportunity to test quantum mechanics when they are augmented with post-selection, i.e., retaining the measurement results for only sub-ensembles that satisfy a specified final condition. This generalization, which has been developed by Yakir Aharonov and his co-workers, remains within the framework of conventional quantum mechanics, yet permits interesting generalizations. I will consider how the familiar exponential decay law of unstable quantum systems is merely the strong measurement limit of a broader class of "decay laws" that permit the observer to select a sub-ensemble of systems that have decayed by a specified final time. I derive the generalized decay law, which is open to experimental test.
Paul Davies , Director, BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University.
221 Bldg, Rm. B145. (NIST Contact: Kum Ham, 301-975-4203, kham@nist.gov)

11/6/08 10:00 AM - CHEMICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY OFFICE SEMINAR: NIST to Receive "Citation for Chemical Breakthroughs" from the American Chemical Society Division of the History of Chemistry
NIST has been selected, along with Columbia University, to receive an American Chemical Society "Citation for Chemical Breakthrough" award in recognition of the isolation of the first isotope, deuterium as described in H. C. Urey, F. G. Brickwedde, G. M. Murphy, "A Hydrogen Isotope of Mass 2". Phys. Rev. 1932, 39, 164-165. This award program, administered by the ACS Division of the History of Chemistry, honors publications, patents and books that have made breakthroughs in chemistry and the molecular sciences that have been revolutionary in concept, broad in scope, and long-term in impact.
Jeffrey Seeman , ACS Division of the History of Chemistry. David Lide , NIST SAA.
Administration Bldg, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Willie May, 301-975-8300, wem@Nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

11/25/08 10:30 AM - CNST NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: Broadband Optoelectronic Characterization of Individual Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
While single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have shown tremendous potential for electronic and energy applications, a comprehensive understanding of their electronic structure is still lacking. One crucial limitation has been the availability of broadband optical data on structurally characterized SWNTs, due in large part to the specificity of experimental techniques to a limited spectral range and subset of diameters as well as the inaccessibility of the lowest energy optical transitions (spanning the near and mid infrared) in large diameter semiconducting SWNTs. In order to address this challenge, we have developed rapid, broadband, and high-resolution spectroscopic techniques for studying both the visible and infrared electronic states on an individual SWNT. We have accomplished this using a process which combines observation of resonant enhancement in the spectra of elastic scattered supercontinuum laser light with an infrared Fourier transform photoconductivity methodology. We present our determination of the optical response over the range of 0.3 to 2.7 eV from a set of SWNTs and examine the scaling of the optical features as a function of diameter and subband index. In contrast to traditional bulk inorganic materials, we find that optical excitation in these 1D nanostructures results in moderately bound excitons under ambient conditions. As a result, the ultimate utility of these materials in energy applications, either directly or as composite materials, depends on the rapid and efficient dissociation of the excitonic state. Using results from our infrared photoconductivity measurement, we will discuss the challenges in determining the mechanisms and potential efficiencies for exciton dissociation and collection in these and other 1D materials.
Matthew Sfeir , Brookhaven National Lab.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Nikolai Zhitenev, 301-975-6039, nikolai.zhitenev@nist.gov)

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MEETINGS ELSEWHERE


10/20 -- MONDAY

11:00 AM - CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON/GEOPHYSICAL LAB. SEMINAR: MOLECULAR SURFACE GEOCHEMISTRY: A NEW APPROACH TO THE ORIGIN OF LIFE
D. Sverjensky , The Johns Hopkins Univ. / GL.
Bldg, Rm..
Greenewalt Bldg., GL-DTM Grounds, Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. (NIST Contact: Bjorn Mysen, 202-478-8900, seminar@lists.ciw.edu)



10/21 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/22 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/23 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/24 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

No Scheduled Events

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TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

CURRY, J. (Co-Author: C.Fischer ) : GENERATION OF TRANSITION PROBABILITY DATA: CAN QUANTITY AND QUALITY BE BALANCED?.
Gaseous Electronics Conference, Dallas, TX, 10/16.

POWELL, C. : EVALUATION OF UNCERTAINTIES IN X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON INTENSITIES ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR BACKGROUND SUBTRACTION.
American Vacuum Society Conference, Boston, MA, 10/20.

SZAKAL, C. : THE EFFECT OF CLUSTER ION ANALYSIS FLUENCE ON INTERFACE QUALITY IN SIMS MOLECULAR DEPTH PROFILING.
American Vacuum Society Conference, Boston, MA, 10/21.

GILLEN, G. : C 60 BOMBARDMENT BY SIMS - NEW INSIGHTS FROM TEM.
American Vacuum Society Conference, Boston, MA, 10/21.

MAHONEY, C. : IMPORTANT VARIABLES IN POLYMER DEPTH PROFILING WITH CLUSTER SIMS..
American Vacuum Society Conference, Boston, MA, 10/21.

HENDRICKS, J. : NIST EXPERIENCE WITH NEW NON-ROTATING FORCE BALANCED PISTON GAUGES FOR LOW PRESSURE METROLOGY.
AVS 55th International Symposium and Exhibition, Boston, MA, 10/21.

DUTTON, G. : ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND CHARGE SEPARATION AT A PLANAR MOLECULAR HETEROJUNCTION PROBED BY TWO-PHOTON PHOTOEMISSION.
American Vacuum Society 55th International Symposium & Exhibition, Boston, MA, 10/22.

YOON, H. : UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE NIST DETECTOR-BASED TEMPERATURE SCALE.
Tempbeijing 2008 Conference, Beijing, China, 10/22.

BECKER, M. : NON-TRADITIONAL METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING BIOMATERIAL INTERFACES.
Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, 10/23.

RICHTER, L. : IN-SITU CHARACTERIZATION OF THE THERMAL TRANSFORMATION OF HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMER SEMICONDUCTORS.
American Vacuum Society 55th International Symposium & Exhibition, Boston, MA, 10/23.

KARIM, A. : INTERACTIONS OF NANOPARTICLES WITH BIOSYSTEMS.
2008 BioNanoTox and Applications Research Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas, 10/24.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

HOW CAN YOUR LAB LIAISON HELP YOU?
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INTERACTIVE LIBRARY AND PUBLISHING NEWS
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NIST Contact: Nancy Allmang, 301-975-4189, nancy.allmang@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: . ., ., .

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NIST WEB SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS

No Web Site announcements this week.

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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.

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