NIST Technicalendar July 13 to July 17, 2009 The NIST Technicalendar is issued each Friday. All items MUST be submitted electronically from this web page by 12:00 NOON each Wednesday unless otherwise stated in the NIST Technicalendar. The address for online weekly editions of the NIST Technicalendar and NIST Administrative Calendar is: http://www.nist.gov/tcal.

In this Issue: Meetings at NIST Meetings Elsewhere Announcements Talks by NIST Personnel NIST Web Site Announcements NIST Administrative Calendar (current)   NIST Vacancy Announcements (current)

Also available: Previous Issues of the Technicalendar Quick Technicalendar (current) Last week's Quick Technicalendar Last week's Technicalendar Detailed Search NIST Journal of Research (Current TOC) Change User Options

No Scheduled Events

10:30 AM - Material and Structural Enhancements to Spin-Transfer Efficiency for MRAM Applications
10:45 AM - Novel Nanomaterials for Hydrogen Storage via Hydrogen Spillover and Hydrogen Trapping
1:30 PM - MSEL Introduction to NIST's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the NanoFab

10:30 AM - Enablers for Probe-Based Nanomanufacturing and Nanometrology

10:30 AM - RAC Colloquium: The Role of Cryocoolers in Helium Conservation
2:00 PM - CSTL Introduction to NIST's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the NanoFab
3:30 PM - Treating Cancer with Magnets: Fact or Fiction?

1:30 PM - How Sustainable are Polyethylene Potable Water Pipes? Service Life Prediction and Chemical Fate Knowledge-Gaps

7/13 -- MONDAY

No Scheduled Events

7/14 -- TUESDAY

10:30 AM - ATOMIC PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Material and Structural Enhancements to Spin-Transfer Efficiency for MRAM Applications
The discovery of the spin transfer effect has opened up possibilities for a new type of spin electronic device, in which small nanomagnetic elements are directly manipulated using spin polarized electric currents. Applications for these devices include uses as high-speed, non-volatile memory elements, as well as RF nano-oscillators for communication purposes. I will discuss the effect that different magnetic materials and device geometries can have on the micromagnetic structure generated within these nanomagnets. In particular, I will focus on a nanopillar geometry with tapered sidewalls, which acts to generate a spatially nonuniform spin current polarized partially out of the film plane. This strategy is shown, through both simulations and pulsed current experiments on devices fabricated by our group, to be effective in enhancing spin transfer efficiency, resulting in faster magnetization switching with lower reversal currents. In addition, I will discuss a novel nanopillar structure where a third electrode can be made to any point within a thin-film multilayer stack, substantially enhancing the versatility of the device by providing the means of applying independent electrical biases to two separate parts of the device. This three-terminal structure provides a strategy for developing high performance spin-torque magnetic random access memory cells which avoids the need to apply a large voltage across a MTJ during the writing step, thereby enhancing device reliability, while retaining the benefits of a high-impedance MTJ for read-out.
Patrick M. Braganca , ..
Physics Building, Room B145. (NIST Contact: Neil Zimmerman, 301-975-5887, neil.zimmerman@nist.gov)

10:45 AM - NIST CENTER FOR NEUTRON RESEARCH SEMINAR: Novel Nanomaterials for Hydrogen Storage via Hydrogen Spillover and Hydrogen Trapping
Development of a hydrogen economy will require significant advances in methods by which to produce, store, transport, and distribute H2 in an economically viable manner. Perhaps the greatest hurdle is in the development of a viable hydrogen storage system, as no clear vision has emerged to meet the Department of Energy's challenging hydrogen storage goals which were developed to enable a 300-mile vehicle range with performance competitive to today's internal combustion engine. Traditional metal hydrides require high dissociation temperatures to release hydrogen at an appreciable rate. Many novel nanomaterials (boron-doped carbons, metal organic frameworks, etc.) require cryogenic conditions to store appreciable amounts of hydrogen. In both cases, the auxiliary components necessary to maintain the extreme operating temperatures come at a high system weight penalty, and thereby reduce efficiency gains of using the fuel cell in energy conversion. In this talk, the speaker explores two strategies for moderate temperature (i.e. 300K) hydrogen adsorption. The first, hydrogen spillover, incorporates a supported catalyst to initiate hydrogen dissociation and diffusion to a high-surface area support. Currently, they are using metal-organic frameworks and carbide-derived-carbons for the latter, and exploring the roles of surface chemistry and porosity on overall hydrogen uptake. The second strategy is to synthesize hydrogen in parallel with carbon restructuring via a reactive ball milling process. The resulting carbon-hydrogen structure shows unique interactions and low-temperature hydrogen evolution from the "meta-stable" structure.
Angela Lueking , Penn State University,. ,.
235 Bldg, Rm. E100. (NIST Contact: Yun Liu, 301-975-6235, yun.liu@nist.gov)

1:30 PM - CNST OUTREACH SERIES: MSEL Introduction to NIST's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the NanoFab
This meeting with the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory is part of a series of presentations to introduce the staff to NIST's newest operating unit, the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST). An overview of the CNST will be presented which will provide a brief description of CNST's structure, which consists of both a research program and the NanoFab, a shared-use nanofabrication and nanoscale measurement facility. A strong bias toward collaborative work being among CNST's prime attributes, the overview will describe how NIST staff can go about collaborating with scientists in the research program or make use of the NanoFab. The NanoFab, which provides economical access to a wide variety of advanced lithography and microscopy tools, will be described. Examples of recent nanofabrication projects will be used to illustrate our capabilities. Finally, the process for becoming a NanoFab user or having a nanostructure made or measured for you will be outlined. The laboratory by laboratory series of presentations has been designed to allow significant time to answer questions and tours will be arranged.
Robert Celotta , CNST. Alex Liddle and Vincent Luciani
Bldg. 215, Rm. C103-106. (NIST Contact: Lloyd Whitman, 301-975-8002, lloyd.whitman@nist.gov)


7/15 -- WEDNESDAY

10:30 AM - CNST ELECTRON PHYSICS GROUP SEMINAR: Enablers for Probe-Based Nanomanufacturing and Nanometrology
Of all the nanomechanical systems used, probes are perhaps the simplest, yet most indispensable tools used in the nanoscale research and development world today. At the nanoscale, quick and easy characterization tools are urgently needed to be able to deliver many technologies from their languid presence in the basement to the real world. Probe-based techniques are gaining prominence because they can be used to effectively probe both the surface, as well as the electrical characteristics at the nanoscale. In addition the same probe can be used to manipulate structures, and then re-image the manipulated region. Thus, any nanomanufacturing scheme will have to use probe-technologies at some level. In this talk, I will give an overview of my work within IBM in tackling some of these interesting issues. A brief introduction to probe-based data storage will be given, since this application embodies many of the challenges facing probe-based technologies. Some of my work on platinum silicide tips and "encapsulated" tips for conduction-mode probe-based technologies will also be presented. The performance of the encapsulated conducting tips in sliding is shown to be several times better than commercial conducting probes. Both these technologies have enabled us to perform effective nanoscale phase transformations in chalcogenide-based phase change materials - a proof of concept that probe-based nanometrology can be robust.
Harish Bhaskaran , Postdoctoral Fellow/ IBM Zurich Research Laboratory.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Rachel Cannara, 301-975-4258, rachel.cannara@nist.gov)


7/16 -- THURSDAY

10:30 AM - 2009 RAC COLLOQUIUM: RAC Colloquium: The Role of Cryocoolers in Helium Conservation
As advances in cryocoolers are made, more applications are developing for temperatures from the millikelvin range to above 100 K. This talk focuses on those applications below about 10 K, especially those using low temperature superconductors (LTS). After a brief introduction to cryocooler types and their operating principles, the talk will discuss cryocooler advances made in the past ten years, including ones at NIST, that are leading to the use of cryocoolers to replace liquid helium in low temperature physics experiments and in applications such as MRI systems. This trend has become very pronounced in the last few years as the price of helium has increased as much as 40 % in one year. The electricity cost for operating a cryocooler is about one tenth the cost of liquid helium that provides the same refrigeration power. This talk covers some of the history of helium usage and some of the factors leading to its rapid increase in price. Cryogenic applications account for about 28 % of the world's helium usage, so the use of cryocoolers can have a significant impact on conserving this valuable resource, particularly as helium supplies dwindle. Some of the problems in adapting to the use of cryocoolers will be discussed, and successful examples will be shown.
Ray Radebaugh , Thermophysical Properties Div., NIST, Boulder, CO, ray.radebaugh@nist.gov.
Administration Bldg, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Ajit Jillavenkatesa, 301-975-5089, ajit.jilla@nist.gov)

2:00 PM - CNST OUTREACH SERIES: CSTL Introduction to NIST's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the NanoFab
This meeting with the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory is part of a series of presentations to introduce the staff to NIST's newest operating unit, the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST). An overview of the CNST will be presented which will provide a brief description of CNST's structure, which consists of both a research program and the NanoFab, a shared-use nanofabrication and nanoscale measurement facility. A strong bias toward collaborative work being among CNST's prime attributes, the overview will describe how NIST staff can go about collaborating with scientists in the research program or make use of the NanoFab. The NanoFab, which provides economical access to a wide variety of advanced lithography and microscopy tools, will be described. Examples of recent nanofabrication projects will be used to illustrate our capabilities. Finally, the process for becoming a NanoFab user or having a nanostructure made or measured for you will be outlined. The laboratory by laboratory series of presentations has been designed to allow significant time to answer questions and tours will be arranged.
Robert Celotta , CNST. Alex Liddle and Vincent Luciani
Bldg. 215, Rm. C103-106. (NIST Contact: Lloyd Whitman, 301-975-8002, lloyd.whitman@nist.gov)

3:30 PM - SURF SUMMER SEMINAR SERIES: Treating Cancer with Magnets: Fact or Fiction?
Magnetic nanoparticles are being developed for a wide range of biomedical applications. These range from diagnostic tests like assays and clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging contrast agents to a variety of disease treatments through drug delivery and hyperthermia (artificial fever). Here, we will focus on the latter. Biologically, it is well established that heat has a profound effect on cells and tissues, both normal and cancerous. However, the question has long been how to deliver heat locally to cancer without overheating the normal tissue. Magnetic nanoparticles may provide an answer. Hyperthermia involves heating magnetic nanoparticles through exposure to an alternating magnetic field. This promises to be a successful method if there are enough particles in the tumor possessing a sufficiently high specific absorption rate (SAR) to deposit heat quickly while minimizing thermal damage to surrounding tissue. However, there is a complex relationship between heat production, physiological methods for dispersing that heat, targeting of the nanoparticles, and RF radiation interactions with tissue, resulting in a not well understood system, either physicaly, chemically, and biologically. We will discuss the various factors that play a role, both on the biology/physiology side as well as in the physics/chemistry. In addition, methods for characterization and quantification both in vivo (in live animals) and in vitro (in glass dishes) of these parameters will be described. Finally, to illlustrate the interplay between physiology and physics, we will discuss recent studies with new magnetic nanoaprticles, including their effectiveness.
Robert Ivkov , Dept of Radiation Oncology & Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins Univ School of Medicine. Cindi Dennis , Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, Metallurgy Division.
Administration Bldg, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Anita Sweigert, 301-975-4201, anita.sweigert@nist.gov)
Special Assistance; Contact A. Sweigert a week in advance.


7/17 -- FRIDAY

1:30 PM - MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION SEMINAR: How Sustainable are Polyethylene Potable Water Pipes? Service Life Prediction and Chemical Fate Knowledge-Gaps
A.J Whelton , PhD; Virginia Tech.
226, BR Bldg, Rm. B221. (NIST Contact: tinh nguyen, 301-975-6718, tinh.nguyen@nist.gov)


ADVANCE NOTICE

7/20/09 2:00 PM - CNST OUTREACH SERIES: MEL Introduction to NIST's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the NanoFab
This meeting with the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory is part of a series of presentations to introduce the staff to NIST's newest operating unit, the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST). An overview of the CNST will be presented which will provide a brief description of CNST's structure, which consists of both a research program and the NanoFab, a shared-use nanofabrication and nanoscale measurement facility. A strong bias toward collaborative work being among CNST's prime attributes, the overview will describe how NIST staff can go about collaborating with scientists in the research program or make use of the NanoFab. The NanoFab, which provides economical access to a wide variety of advanced lithography and microscopy tools, will be described. Examples of recent nanofabrication projects will be used to illustrate our capabilities. Finally, the process for becoming a NanoFab user or having a nanostructure made or measured for you will be outlined. The laboratory by laboratory series of presentations has been designed to allow significant time to answer questions and tours will be arranged.
Robert Celotta , CNST. Alex Liddle and Vincent Luciani
Bldg. 215, Rm. C103-106. (NIST Contact: Lloyd Whitman, 301-975-8002, lloyd.whitman@nist.gov)

7/28/09 10:30 AM - ATOMIC PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Precision X-Ray Spectroscopy of Highly-Charged Ions From Low-Energy Ion Sources
Spectroscopy of highly-charged ions has been used for 3 decades to test QED in strong electromagnetic fields. It also has applications to plasma physics. Experiments evolved in two parallel lines: - beam-foil spectroscopy, with large Doppler shift and broadening-dominated uncertainties (~25 ppm at best) to storage ring experiments for very heavy elements with better control of the Doppler effect (using laboratory frame X-ray standards) - spectroscopy based on highly charged ion sources using X-ray reference lines (typically from X-ray tubes) to absolute energy measurements in Heidelberg (using an EBIT) and Paris (using an Electron-Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source) In this talk I will describes recent advances in absolute highly-charged ions X-ray transitions energy measurements, show preliminary results and describe difficulties to be overcome to get X-ray measurements of transitions like the 1s2s 3S1- 1s2 1S0 relativistic M1 transition in heliumlike Ar or the 1s 2s 2p 2PJ-1s2 2s 2S1/2 transition in lithiumlike Ar using a double-flat crystal spectrometer.
Paul Indelicato , Director, Laboratoire Kastler Brossel.
Physics Building, Room B145. (NIST Contact: Peter Mohr, 301-975-3217, mohr@nist.gov)

7/30/09 10:00 AM - OTP TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SEMINAR SERIES: An Upbeat Legal View of Invention, Patenting, Extramural Collaboration, and Technology Transfer From the Desk of NIST Chief Counsel Henry Wixon
Office of Technology Partnerships(OTP) Technology Transfer Seminar Series
Henry Wixon , NIST Chief Counsel, Gaithersburg, MD, henry.wixon@nist.gov.
Administration Building, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Dr. Jack E. Pevenstein, 301-975-5519, jack.pevenstein@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

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MEETINGS ELSEWHERE


7/13 -- MONDAY

11:00 AM - CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON/GEOPHYSICAL LAB. SEMINAR: IS SATURN'S SATELLITE, ENCELADUS, AN OASIS OR AN ICEBALL
S. Kieffer , Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Bldg, Rm..
Greenewalt Bldg., GL-DTM Grounds, Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. (NIST Contact: R. Hemley, 202-478-8900, seminar@lists.ciw.edu)



7/14 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

7/15 -- WEDNESDAY

11:00 AM - CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON/GEOPHYSICAL LAB. SEMINAR: TBA
P. Loubeyre , Départment de Physique Théorique et Appliquée, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA), France.
Bldg, Rm..
Greenewalt Bldg., GL-DTM Grounds, Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. (NIST Contact: R. Hemley, 202-478-8900, seminar@lists.ciw.edu)



7/16 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

7/17 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

No Scheduled Events

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TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

GILLIS, K. : DESIGN OF ACOUSTIC RESONATORS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES.
Seventeenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, Boulder, CO, 6/22.

BERG, R. : NEAR-CRITICAL VISCOSITY DIVERGENCE, VISCOELASTICITY, AND SHEAR THINNING: SPACE SHUTTLE MEASUREMENTS OF XENON CONFIRM THEORY.
Seventeenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, Boulder, CO, 6/22.

GILLIS, K. : OPTICAL CAVITY-ENHANCED PHOTOACOUSTIC TECHNIQUE USING COMPACT, LOW-POWER LASERS.
Seventeenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, Boulder, CO, 6/22.

SCHMIDT, J. : ARGON/HELIUM REFRACTIVE INDEX RATIO FOR GAS METROLOGY.
Seventeenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, Boulder, CO, 6/25.

MOLDOVER, M. : FROM QUANTUM MECHANICS TO STANDARDS FOR THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GASES.
Seventeenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, Boulder, CO, 6/26.

CLOTEAUX, B. : LOWER BOUNDS FOR ACCESSING INFORMATION ON PURE POINTER MACHINES.
International Conference on Foundations of Computer Science, Las Vegas, NV, 7/14.

BOISVERT, R. : A HANDBOOK OF SPECIAL FUNCTIONS FOR THE DIGITAL AGE.
University of Palermo, Dept. of Computer Engineering, Palermo, Italy, 7/17.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

S.T.E.M. TALENT 2009: CONFERENCE AND CAREER FAIR FOR POSTDOCS IN THE CAPITAL REGION
NIST is once again a sponsoring organization of this year's Postdoctoral event, "S.T.E.M. Talent 2009: Conference and Career Fair for Postdocs in the Capital Region". The event will take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, from 8:30 am – 3:30pm at the Montgomery County Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Drive, Bethesda. The goals of the event are to: - connect qualified postdoctoral fellows with companies and organizations that have appropriate openings - provide postdocs with the advice and resources needed to secure a non-academic position - support Washington area businesses by building awareness of the postdoctoral resource - provide a benefit to participating organizations that they can cite in recruiting postdocs - provide a model of inter-organization collaboration - develop long-term relationships between federal laboratories and Washington area businesses and organizations We expect 400 – 500 job-seeking postdocs to participate in this year's career fair along with 30-40 hiring organizations. For additional information, please visit the web site at http://postdoc-conference.ncet2backoffice.org/ The Office of Technology Partnerships and the Office of International and Academic Affairs will be hosting a NIST booth in the Career Fair portion of the event. This is an excellent opportunity to provide information on your laboratory and position openings over the next six months to the best scientific talent in the area. Please contact Susan Heller-Zeisler (szeisler@nist.gov) or Terry Lynch (terry.lynch@nist.gov) with any information or position descriptions you would like to have disseminated. Of course, this is also a great opportunity for NIST post docs to meet with top employers in the area and we would appreciate you making them aware of the event and providing an opportunity to attend.
NIST Contact: Susan Heller-Zeisler, 301-975-3111, szeisler@nist.gov

VISITOR REGISTRATION FOR NIST EVENTS
Because of heightened security at the NIST Gaithersburg site, members of the public who wish to attend meetings, seminars, lectures, etc. must first register in advance. For more information please call or e-mail the "NIST Contact" for the particular event you would like to attend.
NIST Contact: . ., ., .

PUBLICATIONS PRINTING DEADLINE, AUGUST 14, 2009
August 14 is the last day in FY 2009 to submit materials using FY 2009 funds to the Electronic Information and Publications Group (EIPG) for printing at the Department of Commerce or Government Printing Office. To assure timely processing, bring your Editorial Review Board-approved document or administrative printing job and appropriate paperwork to the EIPG office by close of business on Friday, August 14, 2009. The office is located on the mezzanine floor of the NIST Research Library in the Administration Building, Room E220. Questions? Ilse Putman, x2780 or Barbara Silcox, x2146.
NIST Contact: Ilse Putman, 301-975-2780, ilse.putman@nist.gov

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NIST WEB SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS

No Web Site announcements this week.

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For more information, contact Ms. Sharon Hallman, Editor, Stop 2500, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD 20899-2500; Telephone: 301-975-TCAL (3570); Fax: 301-926-4431; or Email: tcal@nist.gov.

All lectures and meetings are open unless otherwise stated.

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