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William Angerer - Department of Physics and Astronomy - University ...

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192<br />

depend on two components: a highly accurate translation stage <strong>and</strong> an optical detection<br />

scheme to correlate sample features with the focused Ti:Ah03 beam. Our<br />

translation staged consists <strong>of</strong> a Newport three axis translation stage model 462-XYZ­<br />

:\II. vVe positioned the stage with a long travel, high resolution, i.e. 0.25 J1.m, ~ewport<br />

micrometer model HR-l. The micrometers were attached to computer controlled<br />

stepper motors. vVe briefly summarize the unique features <strong>of</strong> our stepper motors. A<br />

more complete description <strong>of</strong> stepper motors is found in reference [1121. vVe operated<br />

our -i-phase stepper motors in the half step mode. This extended the number <strong>of</strong> steps<br />

per rotation from 200 to 400, which corresponds to a minimum step size <strong>of</strong> 1.25 J1.m.<br />

Since our beam size was 3 J1.m, the beam was overlapped with its previous position.<br />

Thus, complete scanning <strong>of</strong> the sample was ensured. During the experiment. we positioned<br />

the sample at the focal point <strong>of</strong> the objective by adjusting the height <strong>of</strong> the<br />

sample to produce a collimated fundamental beam. VVe subsequently made a finer<br />

adjustment <strong>of</strong> the sample height to ma.ximize the SHG signal.<br />

Second-harmonic generation microscopy is most useful as a probe <strong>of</strong> heterogeneous<br />

systems. In particular, SHG microscopy enhances the visualization <strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong> provides<br />

contrast to heterogeneous systems with similar linear optical properties. In addition,<br />

SHG microscopy can distinguish between linear <strong>and</strong> nonlinear regions. One such system<br />

consists <strong>of</strong> carbon nanotubes <strong>and</strong> carbon nanoropes deposited on glass. Although<br />

carbon nanotubes have symmetries that allow second-harmonic generation. the sam-<br />

Reproduced with permission <strong>of</strong> the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

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