Polarization studies may lead to tinier devices

By Catherine Foster

Researchers from Argonne and Northern Illinois University (NIU) have shown that very thin materials can still retain an electric polarization, opening the potential for a wide range of tiny devices.

The researchers found that the ferroelectric phase — the ability to hold a switchable electric polarization — is stable for thicknesses as small as 1.2 nanometers: that's about one-billionth of a meter, or a size several hundred thousand times smaller than the period at the end of this sentence.

Previous studies had found that, as the material became too thin, it lost its ferroelectric properties. These new results, however, suggest that small thicknesses do not pose a fundamental problem to building very small devices based on these materials. The research is published in the June 11 issue of Science magazine.

"The natural ordering of the atoms in their crystal structure causes these materials to be electrically polarized," said researcher Carol Thompson of NIU. "This means that, in the jargon of the scientists, these ferroelectric materials exhibit rich and complex couplings between their optical, chemical, mechanical, structural and thermal properties. Alterations of the natural structure due to size and surface effects will perhaps destroy their ability to perform as ferroelectrics. However, we will be relying on these materials to behave themselves. Will they? The research suggests that they will behave better than we had any right to expect before."

An increasingly wide range of applications is based on ferroelectric thin films, including sensors, microelectromechanical systems and memory systems. Studies of ferroelectrics have become more intense in recent years, as devices — and the materials and thin films used to manufacture them — have become smaller, moving to the micro- and even the nano-scale, creating machines and building blocks of electronic devices smaller than the width of a human hair. The technological potential of these materials depends on maintaining a stable ferroelectric phase as devices continue to be miniaturized.

The researchers used the powerful X-ray beams from the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne — which produces the nation's most brilliant X-rays — to monitor the electric transition in thin films as they are grown, layer by layer.

Argonne is building a new Center for Nanoscale Materials that will provide enhanced capability to fabricate and study novel materials and devices at the nanoscale.

The study's authors are Dillon Fong, Gregory Stephenson, Stephen Streiffer, Jeffrey Eastman, Orlando Auciello and Paul Fuoss of Argonne's Materials Science Division and Carol Thompson of NIU. Funding is provided by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, part of the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and by the State of Illinois.

ANL-West's Paul Bacca is honored

Retired Argonne employee J. Paul Bacca received the American Nuclear Society's 2004 Ray Goertz Award at the 10th International Topical Conference on Robotics and Remote Systems for Hazardous Environments recently held in Gainesville, Fla. Bacca received the award for his contributions and leadership within the remote systems field and the American Nuclear Society.

Bacca, a metallurgical engineer with Argonne-West from 1962 to his retirement in 1995, was the manager of the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) from its startup in 1975 through the early 1990s. HFEF, one of the world's foremost hot-cell facilities, is used today for post-irradiation examination and waste characterization.

The Ray Goertz Award was established in 1985 to recognize and honor American Nuclear Society members who have made outstanding contributions to the field of remote technology. The award honors the late Raymond C. Goertz, another Argonne pioneer, for his contribution to the development of remote handling systems and the master-slave manipulator. The award is presented every two years and includes a $2,500 stipend.

Bacca, a fellow in the American Nuclear Society and the society's Robotics and Remote Systems Division for 40 years, has served in nearly all of the division's elected offices.

Visitor gate passes can be requested via Web site

Argonne-East employees can request gate passes for visitors from their desktops through a new Web-based system, minimizing the need for telephone calls or faxes to the Argonne Information Center, and allowing for accurate identification of all site visitors.

Argonne-East badged employees with Argonne domain accounts can access the Gate Pass System from their on-site computers. Employees can enter gate pass requests, track visitor pass requests within their division and search for previous site visitors by name or affiliation.

The system operates in conjunction with the Foreign Visit/Assignment Request System (FAVOR) to verify that a 593 form has been processed and approved for non-U.S. citizen visitors. Long-term or off-hours gate passes require electronic authorization and are automatically routed to a divisional approver. Access to the system and instructions are available through the Inside Argonne Web site (See "On the Web," page 3).

The visitor Gate Pass System has undergone extensive production review and use by 10 laboratory divisions.

For more information on gate passes, call the AIC at ext. 2-5758. For more information on the Web-based gate-pass system, call the CIS HelpDesk at ext. 2-9999.

Fire Dept. chefs help raise $65,000 for disabled

By Elizabeth Quill

The Argonne-East Fire Department joined other suburban and city of Chicago departments to spice up a fundraiser for the Sertoma Centre, which helps individuals with physical, emotional and mental disabilities.

Two dozen fire departments prepared chicken, chili, ribs and ethnic foods at the Tinley Park Convention Center May 15, helping raise more than $65,000 for the charitable organization. Spectators paid a $5 entry fee to try different recipes and participate in other activities, including a live auction.

Argonne Fire Chief Gordon Veerman, Battalion Chief Richard Jordan and firefighters Jerome Rivette and David Bamonti (all PFS-FD) volunteered their time for the cause. They set up two booths: one with barbecued chicken wings and one with the fire chief's green chili.

Veerman has used the same green chili recipe for a long time and he said everyone likes it. However, this was the first time the department participated in a fund-raising or charity event.

"It worked out well," Veerman said. "And it didn't cost us anything but time."

Melanie Jones, director of advancement and communications for Sertoma, said between 750 and 800 people attended the event. More than 115 tried Veerman's chili.

"We didn't win a trophy, but we had a good time," Veerman said.

He said the unique event highlighted and boosted the camaraderie among departments.

Argonne's department assists local departments through mutual aid. Last year Argonne firefighters responded to 133 outside calls. Outside departments assisted Argonne 51 times. Through this aid and meetings held once a month, members of the different departments get to know each other.

Next year, Veerman wants to take home the traveling trophy. Jones said Sertoma Centre has already set a date for next year's event.

"May 21, 2005," she said. "Same place. Same time. Same fire departments and hopefully a lot more."

Green chili recipe

Ingredients

2-26-oz. cans of chopped green chilies

2 lbs. hamburger

1 large onion

6-8 cloves of garlic

12 beef bouillon cubes

Garlic salt to taste

Water

Directions

Brown hamburger and drain grease. Place in a large pot. Puree onions and garlic cloves in blender with water. Add to hamburger, along with bouillon cubes. Add enough water to cover and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes. Add green chilies and garlic salt. Add water for consistency. Simmer for a few hours, taste and add more garlic salt or bouillon cubes to taste. Simmer for a total of five hours.

The chili keeps well in the freezer.

Cafeteria to offer fire chief's chili

Argonne-East employees can purchase a green chili based on a recipe by Argonne Fire Chief Gordon Veerman at the Building 213 Cafeteria during lunch hours Monday, June 21.

An eight-ounce bowl is $1.69 and a 10-ounce bowl is $2.19.

Computer Helpdesk, stockroom have new hours

The Computing and Instrumentation Solutions Helpdesk and stockroom have new hours.

Helpdesk representatives are available to answer Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, UNIX and Linux questions weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Helpdesk also handles desktop and laptop computer rentals, repairs, maintenance and system installations. Representatives provide support for computing consulting, computer systems design, PC and Mac vendor certified information, printer maintenance and remote backups.

The CIS Stockroom carries computers, monitors, software, hard drives, CD and DVD drives and media, memory, KVM switches, mice, keyboards, cables and connectors. The stockroom is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Employees can also order computer equipment.

For additional information call the Helpdesk at ext. 2-9999, option 2.

Fossil energy is topic of talk

David Schmalzer (EST) will present "Fossil Energy: Should Anyone Care?" at the next meeting of the retirees and Center for Reactor Information, Friday, June 25.

The lunch meeting will begin at noon in the Building 213 Cafeteria Private Dining Rooms A and B.

Schmalzer will review current energy resources, production and utilization, and will discuss fossil energy and highlight related research at Argonne.

Retirement vendors
to answer questions

The laboratory's retirement vendors will meet with employees and answer questions at Argonne-East during July. To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.

* Fidelity — Tuesday, July 6, and Tuesday, July 13. Call (800) 642-7131.

* TIAA-CREF — Tuesday, July 13, and Wednesday, July 14. Call (800) 842-2005 or visit www.tiaa-cref/moc.

* Prudential — Wednesday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 21, until noon. Call (847) 619-3519.

Argonne grad student to attend
Nobel laureates meeting

Marcus Young, a Northwestern University graduate student and research assistant at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to attend the 54^th Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Students in Lindau, Germany, June 27-July 2.

Since 1951, Nobel laureates in chemistry, physics and physiology/medicine have annually convened in Lindau to have open and informal meetings with students and young researchers from around the world. The meetings rotate by discipline each year. This year's event will focus on physics.

Young is working on his Ph.D. in Material Science Engineering at Northwestern. His work at the APS is focused on high-energy X-ray diffraction measurements of composite materials. "I really feel honored to be attending this meeting," Young said. "I am looking forward to this experience with fellow students and with such accomplished researchers."

Young is one of 23 students the Department of Energy is sending to the conference to represent the United States. Other U.S. students will be sponsored by the National Science Foundation and Oak Ridge Associated Universities. They will join more than 500 international students at the meeting.

Each day, laureates will lecture on topics of their choice related to physics during morning sessions. In the afternoons, laureates will preside over informal roundtable sessions exclusively for students. During lunches and dinners, laureates will join participants at local restaurants for additional informal discussions.

"The fact that Marcus was selected for this honor is a testament to the high quality of students that look to Argonne for help in furthering their graduate education," said Harold Myron, director of Argonne's Division of Educational Programs. "It also illustrates the wonderful opportunities that are available to students within the DOE system."

ANL-East pool open for summer;
employees-only daily swim offered

The Argonne-East Pool is now open for the summer season. Open swim periods are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends.

The cost is $3 for adults $2 for children under 12.

A special employee-only swim period is offered weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $1 per person.

Swimmers must provide their own towels. Flotation devices are not allowed in the pool area, and children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Family season tickets are $95 per family. For children under age 18, individual season tickets are $50.

Swim lessons are open to children age three and up, and cost $26 per session, per child (see schedule below).

Swim Lessons

Youth swim lessons are under way. The schedule comprises four two-week sessions for a total of eight lessons. The cost is $26 per session, per child. Lesson tickets may not be used for open swim periods.

Lesson registration and ticket sales can be arranged at the Argonne Pool. For more information, call ext 2-7602.

Swim Lesson Schedule

Session 2: June 28 - July 9

Session 3: July 12 - July 23

Session 4: July 26 _ Aug. 9

Times

9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

10:30 am - 11 a.m.