Search Results (9)

Herein, the energy dispersion relationship and the density of states of triangular and rectangular moiré patterns are investigated using a tight binding model. Their characteristics of Hofstadter butterflies under different magnetic fields are also examined. The results indicate that, by analyzing different moiré superlattices, Hofstadter butterflies arising from different moiré pattern structures are obtained, exhibiting considerable fractal characteristics and self-similarities. Moreover, it is also observed that under an alternating magnetic field, the redistribution of electronic states leads to a significant change in the density of states curve, and the Van Hove peak changes with the increase in magnetic field intensity. This study enriches the understanding of the electronic behavior of moiré systems, but it also provides multiple potential application directions for future technological development. Full article

Photocatalytic hydrogen production could sustainably and efficiently convert solar energy. However, a low light utilization ratio limits the wide application. Herein, a Moiré-like structure was constructed in the TiO₂ body to improve the light absorption by multiple reflections and suitable light dispersion and diffraction based on similar wavelength and nick. Furthermore, the Moiré-like structure slightly reduces the band gap and accelerates the separation of the photogenerated electrons and holes, and the mass transfer was enhanced by the regular nano-channels and Bernoulli phenomenon. After calcination at 500 °C (M-T500), compared with pure TiO₂, M-T500 achieved a 20% increase in RhB degradation efficiency and a double increase in hydrogen production rate, thus providing a novel design for catalysts and a high catalytic strategy. Moreover, the nearly 100% recovery rate supported environmental protection and sustainable development. Full article

Alignment systems are core subsystems of lithography, which directly affect the overlay accuracy of the lithography process. The Moiré fringe-based alignment method has the advantages of high precision and low complexity. However, the precision of this method is highly sensitive to variations in the gap between the wafer and the mask. To enhance the performance of Moiré fringe-based alignment, this paper proposes a novel method in which the multi-wavelength approach is used to enhance the imaging depth of focus (DOF). We use a multi-wavelength light to illuminate the alignment marks on the wafer and mask, which is combined with different sources. Then, we use the improved phase analysis algorithm to analyze the contrast of the Moiré fringe and calculate the Moiré fringe displacement. Experiments show that, in an alignment range of 1000 μm, the effective DOF can exceed 400 μm. It is evidenced that the accuracy of the Moiré fringe alignment is unaffected and remains at the nanometer level. Otherwise, with parameter optimization, the alignment DOF is expected to be further extended. Full article

Alignment precision is a crucial factor that directly impacts overlay accuracy, which is one of three fundamental indicators of lithography. The alignment method based on the Moiré fringe has the advantages of a simple measurement optical path and high measurement accuracy. However, it requires strict control of the distance between the mask and wafer to ensure imaging quality. This limitation restricts its application scenarios. A depth–DOF (depth of focus) Moiré fringe alignment by broad–spectrum modulation is presented to enhance the range of the alignment signals. This method establishes a broad–spectrum Moiré fringe model based on the Talbot effect principle, and it effectively covers the width of dark field (WDF) between different wavelength imaging ranges, thereby extending the DOF range of the alignment process, and employs a hybrid of genetic algorithms and the particle-swarm optimization (GA–PSO) algorithm to combine various spectral components in a white spectrum. By calculating the optimal ratio of each wavelength and using white light incoherent illumination in combination with this ratio, it achieves the optimal DOF range of a broad–spectrum Moiré fringe imaging model. The simulation results demonstrate that the available DOF range of the alignment system has been expanded from 400 μm to 800 μm. Additionally, the alignment precision of the system was analyzed, under the same conditions, and the accuracy analysis of the noise resistance, translation amount, and tilt amount was conducted for the Moiré fringe and broad–spectrum Moiré fringe. Compared to a single wavelength, the alignment precision of the broad–spectrum Moiré fringe decreased by an average of 0.0495 nm, equivalent to a 1.5% reduction in the original alignment precision, when using a 4 μm mask and a 4.4 μm wafer. However, the alignment precision can still reach 3.795 nm, effectively enhancing the available depth of focus range and reducing the loss of alignment precision. Full article

Recent years have seen the emergence of moiré materials as an attractive platform for observing a host of novel correlated and topological phenomena. Moiré heterostructures are generated when layers of van der Waals materials are stacked such that consecutive layers are slightly mismatched in their lattice orientation or unit cell size. This slight lattice mismatch gives rise to a long-wavelength moiré pattern that modulates the electronic structure and leads to novel physics. The moiré superlattice results in flat superlattice bands, electron–electron interactions and non-trivial topology that have led to the observation of superconductivity, the quantum anomalous Hall effect and orbital magnetization, among other interesting properties. This review focuses on the experimental observation and theoretical analysis of orbital magnetism in moiré materials. These systems are novel in their ability to host magnetism that is dominated by the orbital magnetic moment of Bloch electrons. This orbital magnetic moment is easily tunable using external electric fields and carrier concentration since it originates in the quantum anomalous Hall effect. As a result, the orbital magnetism found in moiré superlattices can be highly attractive for a wide array of applications including spintronics, ultra-low-power magnetic memories, spin-based neuromorphic computing and quantum information technology. Full article

Neutron imaging based on a compact Talbot–Lau interferometer was demonstrated using the RIKEN accelerator-driven compact neutron source (RANS). A compact Talbot–Lau interferometer consisting of gadolinium absorption gratings and a silicon phase grating was constructed and connected to the RANS. Because of pulsed thermal neutrons from the RANS and a position-sensitive detector equipped with time-of-flight (TOF) analysis, moiré interference patterns generated using the interferometer were extracted at a TOF range around the design wavelength (2.37 Å) optimal for the interferometer. Differential phase and scattering images of the metal rod samples were obtained through phase-stepping measurements with the interferometer. This demonstrates the feasibility of neutron phase imaging using a compact neutron facility and the potential for flexible and unique applications for nondestructive evaluation. Full article

Multi-wavelength digital-phase-shifting moiré was demonstrated using multiple moiré wavelengths determined by system calibration over the full working depth. The method uses the extended noisy phase map as a reference to unwrap the phase map with a shorter wavelength, and thus achieve a less noisy and more accurate continuous phase map. The moiré wavelength calibration determines a moiré-wavelength to height relationship that permits pixelwise refinement of the moiré wavelength and height during 3D reconstruction. Only a single pattern has to be projected and, thus, a single image captured to compute each phase map with a different wavelength to perform digital-phase-shifting moiré temporal phase unwrapping. Only two captured images are required for two-wavelength phase unwrapping and three captured images for three-wavelength phase unwrapping. The method has been demonstrated in the 3D surface-shape measurement of an object with surface discontinuities and spatially isolated objects. Full article

A calibrated phase-shifting digital holographic microscope system capable of improving the quality of reconstructed images is proposed. Phase-shifting errors are introduced in phase-shifted holograms for numerous reasons, such as the non-linearity of piezoelectric transducers (PZTs), wavelength fluctuations in lasers, and environmental disturbances, leading to poor-quality reconstructions. In our system, in addition to the camera used to record object information, an extra camera is used to record interferograms, which are used to analyze phase-shifting errors using a sampling Moiré technique. The quality of the reconstructed object images can be improved by the phase-shifting error compensation algorithm. Both the numerical simulation and experiment demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system. Full article

We propose a method to characterize the mechanical properties of cells using a robot-integrated microfluidic chip (robochip) and microscopy. The microfluidic chip is designed to apply the specified deformations to a single detached cell using an on-chip actuator probe. The reaction force is simultaneously measured using an on-chip force sensor composed of a hollow folded beam and probe structure. In order to measure the cellular characteristics in further detail, a sub-pixel level of resolution of probe position is required. Therefore, we utilize the phase detection of moiré fringe. Using this method, the experimental resolution of the probe position reaches 42 nm. This is approximately ten times smaller than the optical wavelength, which is the limit of sharp imaging with a microscope. Calibration of the force sensor is also important in accurately measuring cellular reaction forces. We calibrated the spring constant from the frequency response, by the proposed sensing method of the probe position. As a representative of mechanical characteristics, we measured the elastic modulus of Madin-Darby Cannie Kidney (MDCK) cells. In spite of the rigid spring constant, the resolution and sensitivity were twice that achieved in our previous study. Unique cellular characteristics can be elucidated by the improvements in sensing resolution and accuracy. Full article