Photothermal excitation represents a significant instrumentation advance for imaging with dynamic modes of the atomic force microscope (AFM). Using a power-modulated laser to directly drive the cantilever oscillation provides substantial benefits over conventional piezoelectric excitation. Here we discuss photothermal excitation and its implementation as blueDrive by Oxford Instruments Asylum Research. We explain its operating principles and discuss its use for a range of practical applications. The results show that blueDrive sets new standards for imaging in liquid, visualizing dynamic events, and mapping nanomechanical properties.

Tomography produces complex volumetric datasets containing the entire internal structure and density of an object in three dimensions (3D). Interpreting volumetric data requires 3D visualization but needs specialized software distinguishable from more familiar tools used in animation for 3D surface data. This tutorial reviews 3D visualization techniques for volumetric data using the open-source tomviz software package. A suite of tools including two-dimensional (2D) slices, surface contours, and full volume rendering provide quantitative and qualitative analysis of volumetric information. The principles outlined here are applicable to a wide range of 3D tomography techniques and can be applied to volumetric datasets beyond materials characterization.

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) allows for high-resolution three-dimensional imaging with minimal photo-damage. By viewing the sample from different directions, different regions of large specimens can be imaged optimally. Moreover, owing to their good spatial resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio, LSFM data are well suited for image deconvolution. Here we present the Huygens Fusion and Deconvolution Wizard, a unique integrated solution for restoring LSFM images, and show that improvements in signal and resolution of 1.5 times and higher are feasible.

Artemia sp. (brine shrimp) can be used for pedagogic purposes as an instructive model organism to demonstrate the development and maturation of small marine crustaceans within a time window suited to classroom experiments. This article describes some characteristics of Artemia and gives several hints for culturing, light microscopy observations, and photomicrography. The morphological variations and successive differentiation associated with the maturation process are presented through various types of light microscopy images. Increasing differentiations of movement patterns are considered. Moreover, some suggestions of further experiments are reported, which can be used as introductions to fundamental principles of scientific work.

Auger spectroscopy has not found widespread application in the geological sciences, largely because specimens are often non-conductors that charge under electron beams. However, it has proven to be useful for the characterization of sub-micrometer mineral grains in certain meteorites, where sample charging issues can be mitigated. We describe the development of analytical protocols for the measurement of presolar silicate grains using Auger spectroscopy and review how this technique has helped our understanding of the stellar origin and subsequent evolution of these grains.