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Stable table
TOOLS & TECHNIQUES UPDATE
SPM probes are easy to handle NanoWorld has introduced new pyrexnitride probes for a variety of scanning probe microscope (SPM) imaging techniques in air and liquid. The probes consist of Si3N4 cantilevers and tips supported by a holder chip of pyrex glass. The multilever design provides either four rectangular or four triangular cantilevers, each having a reflective Cr/Au coating on the back. The low-stress Si3N4 cantilevers and tips provide excellent hardness for wear resistance and longer lifetimes. The 4 µm-high tips have a typical radius of curvature of <15 nm. The holder chips provide easy handling and fit all wellknown commercial SPMs. Contact: www.nanoworld.com
New control in nanopositioning PI (Physik Instrumente) has launched its most advanced piezo nanopositioning and scanning system, the P-587.6CD. Designed for nanometrology, nanofabrication, scanning microscopy, optics, and mask alignment applications, the stage features six-axis positioning control. The system provides long travel ranges of up to 800 µm and 10 000 µrad. Frictionless actuators and flexure guiding systems allow subnanometer, submicroradian resolution with millisecond responsiveness. The system features digital dynamic linearization and active trajectory error compensation. Contact: www.pi.ws
Detection in low light Andor Technology has added an improved electron multiplying CCD (EMCCD) camera to its iXon range of detectors for dynamic, low-light measurements. EMCCD technology amplifies very low light signals above the read noise floor of normal CCD detectors. The new iXonEM+ camera has applications in single molecule detection, Raman imaging, and semiconductor failure analysis. The digital camera combines photon collection efficiencies of up to 95% quantum efficiency with single photon sensitivity. The iXonEM+ offers linear electron multiplying gain, cooling to -100°C, reduced noise, and minimal clock-induced charge for greater sensitivity. Contact: www.andor.com
of small scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM)/AFM units. This means AFM and SNOM fluorescence measurements can be combined with Raman analysis in the characterization of single cells, tissue samples, and biopolymers. Contact: www.jobinyvon.co.uk
Confocal DUO give flexibility in cell imaging The LSM 5 DUO from Carl Zeiss combines two confocal laser scanning microscopes into one workstation. Bringing the fast line scanning module of the LSM 5 LIVE microscope together with the precise point scanning module of the LSM 510 META gives great versatility in biomedical and life science imaging. The instrument is suited to a wide range of live cell imaging applications, enabling the cell’s molecular processes to be probed. Dynamic processes in the kilohertz range can be observed with the system’s ultrafast acquisition of images. For example, developmental studies can be carried out at high speed with three-dimensional resolution and physiological measurements can be matched to biological timescales or spectral properties. The META detector allows fluorochromes with overlapping emission spectra to be separated using its Emission Fingerprinting technology. Time-resolved photomanipulation experiments using pixel-precise laser irradiation can be conducted, for example in fluorescence resonance after photobleaching (FRAP) and photoactivation experiments. Contact: www.zeiss.com
Raman combined with AFM The new series of LabRAM Raman microscopes from HORIBA Jobin Yvon are now compatible with atomic force microscopes (AFMs). This allows nanometerscale topographical information to be coupled with chemical data. The confocal and spatial resolution of previous LabRAM instruments allowed Raman analysis of materials at the micron level. Material analysis at the 200-400 nm range has now been achieved by combining Raman spectroscopy with near-field optics and an AFM. The design of the LabRAM HR enables in situ Raman measurements to be made using various different AFM units, and allows the use of new and evolving techniques such as tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. For biological applications, the LabRAM INV has an inverted Raman microscope to enable the integration
Improving mass spectrometry for proteomics New AccuScreen™ methods from Bruker Daltonics provide accurate and high-resolution mass-extracted ion chromatograms on its micrOTOF™ and micrOTOF-Q™ electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometers. Chemical background interference is reduced and specificity is improved over normal mass extracted ion chromatograms. The methods give improved liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry performance for target compound analyses in complex matrices, such as body fluids, small molecule libraries, and quantitative proteomics.
PTMscan™ has been released for Bruker’s PTM Discovery System™ that can detect post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins using the HCTultra™ high-capacity ion trap mass spectrometer. This is able to break peptide bonds while preserving phosphorylation and glycosylation of residues using electron transfer dissociation (ETD). PTMscan detects PTMs by screening for specific neutral losses during collision-induced dissociation, which then triggers ETD experiments on the fly. Contact: www.bruker-biosciences.com
Stable table Newport have introduced an optical table that can be upgraded should greater damping performance become necessary. SmartTable-UT™ is offered with two levels of passive damping performance but can also be upgraded in minutes with the company’s IQ™ vibration dampers. These actively monitor, report, and adjust table damping performance, so providing superior platform stability for sensitive applications like atomic force microscopes, laser annealing, or micromachining. Contact: www.newport.com
MAY 2006 | VOLUME 1 | NUMBER 2
55
SPM probes are easy to handle NanoWorld has introduced new pyrexnitride probes for a variety of scanning probe microscope (SPM) imaging techniques in air and liquid. The probes consist of Si3N4 cantilevers and tips supported by a holder chip of pyrex glass. The multilever design provides either four rectangular or four triangular cantilevers, each having a reflective Cr/Au coating on the back. The low-stress Si3N4 cantilevers and tips provide excellent hardness for wear resistance and longer lifetimes. The 4 µm-high tips have a typical radius of curvature of <15 nm. The holder chips provide easy handling and fit all wellknown commercial SPMs. Contact: www.nanoworld.com
New control in nanopositioning PI (Physik Instrumente) has launched its most advanced piezo nanopositioning and scanning system, the P-587.6CD. Designed for nanometrology, nanofabrication, scanning microscopy, optics, and mask alignment applications, the stage features six-axis positioning control. The system provides long travel ranges of up to 800 µm and 10 000 µrad. Frictionless actuators and flexure guiding systems allow subnanometer, submicroradian resolution with millisecond responsiveness. The system features digital dynamic linearization and active trajectory error compensation. Contact: www.pi.ws
Detection in low light Andor Technology has added an improved electron multiplying CCD (EMCCD) camera to its iXon range of detectors for dynamic, low-light measurements. EMCCD technology amplifies very low light signals above the read noise floor of normal CCD detectors. The new iXonEM+ camera has applications in single molecule detection, Raman imaging, and semiconductor failure analysis. The digital camera combines photon collection efficiencies of up to 95% quantum efficiency with single photon sensitivity. The iXonEM+ offers linear electron multiplying gain, cooling to -100°C, reduced noise, and minimal clock-induced charge for greater sensitivity. Contact: www.andor.com
of small scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM)/AFM units. This means AFM and SNOM fluorescence measurements can be combined with Raman analysis in the characterization of single cells, tissue samples, and biopolymers. Contact: www.jobinyvon.co.uk
Confocal DUO give flexibility in cell imaging The LSM 5 DUO from Carl Zeiss combines two confocal laser scanning microscopes into one workstation. Bringing the fast line scanning module of the LSM 5 LIVE microscope together with the precise point scanning module of the LSM 510 META gives great versatility in biomedical and life science imaging. The instrument is suited to a wide range of live cell imaging applications, enabling the cell’s molecular processes to be probed. Dynamic processes in the kilohertz range can be observed with the system’s ultrafast acquisition of images. For example, developmental studies can be carried out at high speed with three-dimensional resolution and physiological measurements can be matched to biological timescales or spectral properties. The META detector allows fluorochromes with overlapping emission spectra to be separated using its Emission Fingerprinting technology. Time-resolved photomanipulation experiments using pixel-precise laser irradiation can be conducted, for example in fluorescence resonance after photobleaching (FRAP) and photoactivation experiments. Contact: www.zeiss.com
Raman combined with AFM The new series of LabRAM Raman microscopes from HORIBA Jobin Yvon are now compatible with atomic force microscopes (AFMs). This allows nanometerscale topographical information to be coupled with chemical data. The confocal and spatial resolution of previous LabRAM instruments allowed Raman analysis of materials at the micron level. Material analysis at the 200-400 nm range has now been achieved by combining Raman spectroscopy with near-field optics and an AFM. The design of the LabRAM HR enables in situ Raman measurements to be made using various different AFM units, and allows the use of new and evolving techniques such as tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. For biological applications, the LabRAM INV has an inverted Raman microscope to enable the integration
Improving mass spectrometry for proteomics New AccuScreen™ methods from Bruker Daltonics provide accurate and high-resolution mass-extracted ion chromatograms on its micrOTOF™ and micrOTOF-Q™ electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometers. Chemical background interference is reduced and specificity is improved over normal mass extracted ion chromatograms. The methods give improved liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry performance for target compound analyses in complex matrices, such as body fluids, small molecule libraries, and quantitative proteomics.
PTMscan™ has been released for Bruker’s PTM Discovery System™ that can detect post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins using the HCTultra™ high-capacity ion trap mass spectrometer. This is able to break peptide bonds while preserving phosphorylation and glycosylation of residues using electron transfer dissociation (ETD). PTMscan detects PTMs by screening for specific neutral losses during collision-induced dissociation, which then triggers ETD experiments on the fly. Contact: www.bruker-biosciences.com
Stable table Newport have introduced an optical table that can be upgraded should greater damping performance become necessary. SmartTable-UT™ is offered with two levels of passive damping performance but can also be upgraded in minutes with the company’s IQ™ vibration dampers. These actively monitor, report, and adjust table damping performance, so providing superior platform stability for sensitive applications like atomic force microscopes, laser annealing, or micromachining. Contact: www.newport.com
MAY 2006 | VOLUME 1 | NUMBER 2
55