FOS method provides the measurement precision of lattice constants and crystallographic directions increased by orders in comparison with the conventional scanning. The method provides accurately localized tunneling and atomic-force spectroscopy measurements with high signal-to-noise ratio. Moreover, according to the author of the method, the feature-oriented scanning makes it possible to perform “delicate” manipulations with separate nanoparticles, molecules or even atoms at room temperature.
The analysis carried out at the Solid Nanotechnology Laboratory, where the scientist works, showed that the method of feature-oriented scanning that had proved successful in Earth conditions may also help solve a number of problems of using a scanning probe microscope in space – at a near-Earth station or for planet research. The point is that beside much higher measurement precision and spatial resolution, FOS permits to notably decrease the SPM sensitivity to temperature variations. Furthermore, the SPM under feature-oriented scanning control becomes a free-running instrument able of self-testing, self-adjusting and self-calibration. This story in Russian
October 2009 – To meet a steady demand from Russian speaking audience for a simple model approximating hysteresis loops, the Russian translation of the paper “Analytical model for the approximation of hysteresis loop and its application to the scanning tunneling microscope” (R. V. Lapshin, Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 66, no. 9, pp. 4718-4730, 1995) was prepared and opened to the public at the Publications section
June 2009 – The article “Availability of feature-oriented scanning probe microscopy for remote-controlled measurements on board a space laboratory or planet exploration rover”, by
R. V. Lapshin has been published in journal of Astrobiology (publisher Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.). The article shows how the feature-oriented scanning (FOS) method may help to effectively organize scanning probe microscope (SPM) measurements in space, e. g., on board a near-Earth station or a planet exploration rover. Application of the FOS approach makes an SPM to be an intrinsically less sensitive to temperature variations that is a very important property in space research. Moreover, the SPM under FOS control becomes a self-testing, self-adjusting, and self-calibrating instrument able to operate according to the principle “run and forget”
March 2009 – The artwork “Stonework of ancient Inca” created by R. V. Lapshin has been presented to public at the scientific photo exhibition “Science, this is beautiful!”, section “World that is hidden from us”. Along with other selected artworks, it will be exhibited at the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation, Moscow, at the State Duma of Russian Federation (Russian parliament), Moscow, and at the A. S. Popov Central Museum of Communications, St. Petersburg. The exhibitions are organized by the electronic edition Russian Science and Technology film treated in oxygen RF-plasma.jpg)
March 2009 – A report entitled “Smoothing of nanoasperities of poly(methyl methacrylate) film by vacuum ultraviolet” has been presented by Dr. R. V. Lapshin et al. at the XIII International Symposium “Nanophysics and Nanoelectronics” held in Nizhni Novgorod, Russian Federation. The report clearly demonstrates nanometer scale smoothing of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface under ultraviolet radiation in low vacuum environment. The other important phenomenon – PMMA nanostructuring in oxygen RF-plasma was also discussed. The obtained results may be applied in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to reduce friction between moving PMMA-elements, in medicine to improve biocompatibility of PMMA-implants, in electron-beam, UV, and X-ray nanolithographies to treat PMMA-resists, in microfluidic devices to facilitate flow through PMMA-microchannels, etc.