Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a mapping means for generating a map of locations of surface features of an article based on photon-detector signals corresponding to photons scattered from the surface features of the article, and a surface feature manager. The surface manager is configured to locate a predetermined surface feature of the surface features of the article based, at least in part, on the map of the surface features locations, irradiate photons of a first power onto the location of the predetermined surface feature to analyze the predetermined surface feature, and irradiate photons of a second power onto the location of the predetermined surface feature to remove the predetermined surface feature.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including at least two photon emitters, each with a preselected polarization orientation, and configured to emit polarized photons onto a surface of an article, and a processing means configured to process photon-detector-array signals corresponding to photons scattered from surface features of the article, and generate one or more surface features maps for the article from the photon-detector-array signals corresponding to the photons scattered from the surface features of the article.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus comprising a photon detecting array configured to take images of an article, and a mount configured to mount and translate the article in a direction by a sub-pixel distance. In some embodiments, the sub-pixel distance is based on a pixel size of the photon detecting array.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting surface features is disclosed. The apparatus may include a plurality of strands configured to contain light and further configured to transmit light from a light source to a surface of an article. The apparatus may also include a detector configured to receive light reflected from the surface of the article via the plurality of strands, wherein the detector is further configured to detect features associated with the article.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a photon detector array; and a processing means configured for processing photon-detector-array signals corresponding to a first set of photons scattered from surface features of an article focused in a first focal plane and a second set of photons scattered from surface features of an article focused in a second focal plane, wherein the processing means is further configured for distinguishing foreign surface features of the article from foreign native features of the article.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including an optical characterization device; a photon detector array configured to sequentially receive a first set of photons scattered from surface features of an article and a second set of photons scattered from surface features of the article and subsequently processed by the optical characterization device; and a chemical characterization means for chemically characterizing the surface features of the article, wherein the chemical characterization means is configured for processing the first set of photons received by the photon detector array and the second set of photons received by the photon detector array.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a photon emitter configured to emit photons onto a surface of an article, a photon detector array configured to receive photons from surface features of the article; and a processing means configured for processing photon-detector-array signals corresponding to photons scattered from the surface features and photons fluoresced from the surface features, wherein the processing means is further configured for classifying the surface features of the article.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, comprising a first photon emitter configured to emit photons into an article from a circumferential edge of the article, and a photon detector array configured to detect photons scattered from features of the article.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a reflective surface configured to reflect photons onto a surface of an article, a stage configured to support the article, and an assembly. In some embodiments, the assembly configured to radiate photons through the article to the reflective surface. The assembly is further configured to image the article with irradiance of the photons.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a photon detector array configured to receive photons scattered from features in a surface of an article; and a characterization means for characterizing the features in the surface of the article, wherein the characterization means contrasts signals from the photon detector array corresponding to two sets of photons scattered from features in the surface of the article, and the two sets of photons respectively originate from photon emitters at different locations.

Abstract: A reconfigurable electric circuit includes first and second crystalline material layers positioned adjacent to each other and forming a first interface, and a first ferroelectric layer positioned adjacent to the first crystalline material layer and having ferroelectric domains applying an electric field to regions of the first interface to induce a quasi two-dimensional electron gas in the regions, wherein at least one of the regions forms a gate and at least one of the regions forms a channel.

Abstract: A reconfigurable electric circuit includes first and second crystalline material layers positioned adjacent to each other and forming a first interface, and a first ferroelectric layer positioned adjacent to the first crystalline material layer and having ferroelectric domains applying an electric field to regions of the first interface to induce a quasi two-dimensional electron gas in the regions, wherein at least one of the regions forms a gate and at least one of the regions forms a channel.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium for high-density recording, having a doped interlayer to preserve the uniformity and ordering of the magnetic nanoparticles in its recording layer. The interlayer is doped with a high electronegativity material. The dopant atoms in the interlayer interact with the ferromagnetic nanoparticles to promote the formation of a homogeneous, ordered monolayer of nanoparticles in the recording layer. In addition, the high electronegative property of the dopant atoms holds the nanoparticles in place during the subsequent annealing process to prevent sintering and disordering damage. In one embodiment, the dopant is a halogen or non-halogen material having a high electronegativity, which is not polymerized to the matrix material in the interlayer. The matrix material may be polymerized. An example of a doped interlayer is a fluorinated carbon film.

Abstract: Epitaxial ferroelectric and magnetic recording structures having graded lattice matching layers are disclosed. A single crystal material such as Si may be used as a substrate material upon which the graded lattice matching layers are deposited. The lattice matching layers may comprise metals and metal alloys, or may comprise oxides doped with selected elements or deposited under different oxygen pressures. A recording layer, such as ferroelectric lead zirconium titanate or a magnetic Fe/Pt multilayer structure, is deposited on the graded lattice matching layers.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first crystalline material layer, a second crystalline material layer positioned adjacent to the first crystalline material layer to form an electron gas, a first interface, and a first ferroelectric layer having ferroelectric domains that apply an electric field to portions of the first interface. A method of making the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a ferroelectric storage medium, and a transducer for reading data from the ferroelectric storage medium and for writing data to the ferroelectric storage medium, wherein the transducer includes a substrate and a probe coupled to the substrate, wherein the probe includes a conductive element and a bilayer structure causing the probe to bend toward the ferroelectric storage medium.

Abstract: Epitaxial ferroelectric and magnetic recording structures having graded lattice matching layers are disclosed. A single crystal material such as Si may be used as a substrate material upon which the graded lattice matching layers are deposited. The lattice matching layers may comprise metals and metal alloys, or may comprise oxides doped with selected elements or deposited under different oxygen pressures. A recording layer, such as ferroelectric lead zirconium titanate or a magnetic Fe/Pt multilayer structure, is deposited on the graded lattice matching layers.

Abstract: A memory array includes a memory layer that has hysteretic domains with domain axes extending between first and second memory layer surfaces. A conductive layer on the first memory layer surface has anisotropically increased electrical conductivity in a thickness direction. A movable conductive probe has a contact area on the conductive layer and moves to access a selected hysteretic domain.