RM's+Week+of+November+5

RM's Logbook


 * November 5, 2007**

Today, I will be assessing my classmates' logbook entries, noting the various strengths and weaknesses. This assignment is due on Thursday.


 * Tuesday, November 6, 2007**

In class, I assessed people's logbooks. I jotted down notes, and at home, I typed them up.

At ND, AL and I were in the AFM room, looking at samples. I read parts of the AFM manual, to learn what the various screens on the software indicate. Such things included how to determine whether the tip is usable, and what controls to set at default.


 * Wednesday, November 7, 2007**

Again, I went through people's logbooks. I noted a few good points about their logbooks, and offered some advice for improvements. On the whole, the specific pro's and con's were basically the same for the class. I added to my typed list and made the final copy at home to turn in on Thursday.


 * Thursday, November 8, 2007**

Today, we didn't have regular classes because it was Career Day. However, I turned in my logbook criticisms, and went to ND.

I had an extremely productive session at ND today because it was a half-day of school. I cut the silicon wafer into 1 cm squared pieces. AL then concocted the "piranha" acid- that is, ammonium hydoroxide and hydrogen peroxide mixed together. After that, I took the silicon squares into the cleaning room to be sterilized with AL and Dr. Sarvaswaran. I recorded the 20 different steps it takes to clean the wafers, too. Cleaning the wafers took about 30 minutes, and I was granted a visitor's pass for the day in the engineering building. I learned when I had to refill the RCA 1 and RCA 2 baths, where to record it, how to turn the baths on, when to rinse the samples, etc. This whole process of cleaning wafers was an important step for me because it will be an essential and regular part of my research.


 * Friday, November 9, 2007**

No classes today.

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Week of November 12