140 GHz Ultra-Long Bessel–Like Beam with Near-Wavelength Beamwidth

The Bessel–Gauss beam has outstanding features, such as long depth of focus (DOF) and super resolution for nondestructive imaging inspection. However, most approaches for generating a nondiffractive beam have mainly focused on extending the DOF. In this study, the ultra-long high-resolution Bessel–like beam was first demonstrated in a sub-THz wave range (140 GHz). An axicon lens having an apex angle of 110° was used to generate the highly focused Bessel–like beam. To extend the depth of focus, we varied the incident beam angle on the axicon by moving the first lens distance. With the newly developed beam profiler, 3D beam profiles were acquired for characterizing in detail the beam propagation. As a result, even if the depth of focus was 72 times (154 mm) the source wavelength (2.143 mm), the focusing beamwidth was simultaneously maintained at 1.4 times (3.0 mm) the wavelength (i.e., the near-wavelength beamwidth). An ultra-long needle beam of near-wavelength size can promote the applicability of the sub-THz imaging technique in noninvasive sensing applications, such as computer tomography, materials inspection, and through-the-wall-imaging.

Quantitative three-dimensional nondestructive imaging of whole anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria

Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria play a key role in the global nitrogen cycle and in nitrogenous wastewater treatment. The anammox bacteria ultrastructure is unique and distinctly different from that of other prokaryotic cells. The morphological structure of an organism is related to its function; however, research on the ultrastructure of intact anammox bacteria is lacking. In this study, in situ three-dimensional nondestructive ultrastructure imaging of a whole anammox cell was performed using synchrotron soft X-ray tomography (SXT) and the total variation-based simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (TV-SART). Statistical and quantitative analyses of the intact anammox bacteria were performed. High soft X-ray absorption composition inside anammoxosome was detected and verified to be relevant to iron-binding protein. On this basis, the shape adaptation of the anammox bacteria response to iron was explored.

Robotic precision assembly system for microstructures

This article proposes a robotic precision assembly system for the typical parts of microstructures such as non-silicon microelectromechanical system parts. The assembly system contains three parallel assembly units and support system. In each unit, the images of the base part and target part can be obtained simultaneously from the coaxial alignment vision detection module. This article proposes a system calibration method to ensure accuracy of assembly system. Assembly experiments and accuracy validation tests are conducted. The experimental results show that the synthesizing assembly accuracy of the robotic precision assembly system can reach higher than 3 µm and the mean assembly cycle time of each part is less than 20 s, including the time for feeding and unloading parts. The robotic precision assembly system with nondestructive imaging and gripping can save on cost, achieve better quality results in less time, and greatly facilitate the precision assembly reliability and automation of microstructures.

Noninvasive Subcellular Imaging Using Atomic Force Acoustic Microscopy (AFAM)

We report an imaging approach applying the atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM), which has unique potential for nondestructive imaging of cell internal structures. To obtain high spatial resolution images, we optimized the significant imaging parameters, including scanning speeds, feedback configurations and acoustic frequencies of an AFAM system, to increase the amplitude of the acoustic signal and to stabilize the morphological signals. We also combined the acoustic amplitude and phase signals, and generated pseudo-color figures for better illustration of subcellular features such as pseudopodia, membranes and nucleus-like. The subcellular structural image atlas can describe nanoscale details of multiple samples and provide clearer images of the subcellular features compared to other conventional techniques. This study builds a strong basis of transmission AFAM for cell imaging, which can help researchers to clarify the cell structures in diverse biological fields and push the understanding of biology evolution to a new stage.