End+of+fall+semester-2011

End of 2011 fall semester:

Thus far this school year, the results of our research have been erratic. There have been days ripe with good images and days with bad images or no images at all.

-We started this year with the alpha particle source. -The beta source was introduced, opening up a plethora of new options for scanning and exposure -We have shifted the focus back to Au(III) as earlier in the year we were focusing on graphite, due to scope issues -The scope overall has become less buggy, as I have become adept at using it

-There were some issues later on in the semester, involving the scope not approaching. At the end of the semester, Annette, Natalie, and I came to the conclusion that the clips securing the gold to the magnet were too tight. As a result, the clip was digging into and through the gold, and not making electrical contact. Instead, it was touching the non-conductive mica underneath

-Our plan for the coming semester is to have even longer exposure times, as we did with the alpha particles -The idea behind longer exposure is simple- the more time exposed means the more particles are emitted from the radiation source and the higher the probability that they will strike the surface. -And, as the beta particles are significantly larger than alpha particles, this should lead to very noticeable changes in the surface

-November 3, 2011 -Au(III) w/8thiol exposed to beta-radiation for one hour This is an example of one of the better images from the semester. It appears to be a fairly regular gold surface with little disturbance. This illustrates what is possible with the scope on a good day. With smarter scanning techniques, images like this should be more commonplace this semester

December 15, 2011 -Au(III) exposed to beta radiation for 27 hours -This is using new software- the same program but new version, hence the tip current -This is an example of what happens when the clip contacts the mica instead -The current is there, as illustrated on the right, but it is not flowing correctly, due to the mica