Peter Oelhafen

Non-Visual Effects of Light on Melatonin, Alertness and Cognitive Performance: Can Blue-Enriched Light Keep Us Alert?

Background Light exposure can cascade numerous effects on the human circadian process via the non-imaging forming system, whose spectral relevance is highest in the short-wavelength range. Here we investigated if commercially available compact fluorescent lamps with different colour temperatures can impact on alertness and cognitive performance. Methods Sixteen healthy young men were studied in a balanced cross-over design with light exposure of 3 different light settings (compact fluorescent lamps with light of 40 lux at 6500K and at 2500K and incandescent lamps of 40 lux at 3000K) during 2 h in the evening. Results Exposure to light at 6500K induced greater melatonin suppression, together with enhanced subjective alertness, well-being and visual comfort. With respect to cognitive performance, light at 6500K led to significantly faster reaction times in tasks associated with sustained attention (Psychomotor Vigilance and GO/NOGO Task), but not in tasks associated with executive function (Paced Visual Serial Addition Task). This cognitive improvement was strongly related with attenuated salivary melatonin levels, particularly for the light condition at 6500K. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the sensitivity of the human alerting and cognitive response to polychromatic light at levels as low as 40 lux, is blue-shifted relative to the three-cone visual photopic system. Thus, the selection of commercially available compact fluorescent lights with different colour temperatures significantly impacts on circadian physiology and cognitive performance at home and in the workplace.

Influence of iron–silicon interaction on the growth of carbon nanotubes produced by chemical vapor deposition

Carbon nanotubes are often grown by chemical vapor deposition on silicon substrates covered with an iron catalyst. Photoemission and scanning electron microscopy studies presented here reveal how the iron silicide interface phase formed at elevated temperatures influences the catalytic efficiency of the iron. Moreover, we will show how the deposition of a thin layer of dense titanium nitride between the silicon substrate and the iron catalyst effectively prevents the formation of the silicide phase and consequently improves the carbon nanotubes growth.

Acute exposure to evening blue-enriched light impacts on human sleep

Light in the short wavelength range (blue light: 446–483 nm) elicits direct effects on human melatonin secretion, alertness and cognitive performance via non‐image‐forming photoreceptors. However, the impact of blue‐enriched polychromatic light on human sleep architecture and sleep electroencephalographic activity remains fairly unknown. In this study we investigated sleep structure and sleep electroencephalographic characteristics of 30 healthy young participants (16 men, 14 women; age range 20–31 years) following 2 h of evening light exposure to polychromatic light at 6500 K, 2500 K and 3000 K. Sleep structure across the first three non‐rapid eye movement non‐rapid eye movement – rapid eye movement sleep cycles did not differ significantly with respect to the light conditions. All‐night non‐rapid eye movement sleep electroencephalographic power density indicated that exposure to light at 6500 K resulted in a tendency for less frontal non‐rapid eye movement electroencephalographic power density, compared to light at 2500 K and 3000 K. The dynamics of non‐rapid eye movement electroencephalographic slow wave activity (2.0–4.0 Hz), a functional index of homeostatic sleep pressure, were such that slow wave activity was reduced significantly during the first sleep cycle after light at 6500 K compared to light at 2500 K and 3000 K, particularly in the frontal derivation. Our data suggest that exposure to blue‐enriched polychromatic light at relatively low room light levels impacts upon homeostatic sleep regulation, as indexed by reduction in frontal slow wave activity during the first non‐rapid eye movement episode.

Deposition and characterization of thin boron-carbide coatings

SummaryThin boron-carbide films were deposited using a PACVD process on Si substrates at room temperature. Various mixtures of B2H6/He and CH4, as well as the less hazardous B(CH3)3, have been used as process gases. The composition of the deposited films has been correlated with the B2H6/He/CH4 mixture used. When using B(CH3)3, the coatings were found to be slightly boron enriched compared to the gas phase stoichiometry. In both cases oxygen contaminants were additionally found (up to 5 at %) in the films. Most of the oxygen was incorporated from the residual gas at the beginning of the deposition. The coatings were hard and showed good adherence to the substrate; no film peel-off was observed after exposure to air. The films have been characterized, in-situ, by electron spectroscopy (XPS, UPS, AES), and by other methods (AES depth profiling, SEM, α-step).

Structural and optical properties of titanium aluminum nitride films (Ti1−xAlxN)

Titanium aluminum nitride films (Ti1−xAlxN) have been deposited by reactive magnetron cosputtering. Elemental compositions of these films have been determined by core level photoelectron spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy reveals a columnar film growth. This is also reflected by the topography of film surfaces as studied by atomic force microscopy. By x-ray diffraction a crystalline atomic structure is revealed. Single phase samples can be obtained, consisting of the substitutional solid solution (Ti, Al)N. Crystallites show preferential orientation. The optical properties of these films have been investigated by spectrophotometry in the UV-VIS-NIR wavelength range. Depending on the elemental composition, the optical constants vary from metallic to dielectric behavior. For film compositions with x<0.5 typical features are a tunable transmission maximum and reflection minimum in the visible spectral range, a high infrared reflection, and a low infrared absorption. Due to these optical properties, T...

Investigation of the nucleation mechanism in bias‐enhanced diamond deposition

Polycrystalline diamond films were deposited in a MW‐PECVD reactor employing bias‐enhanced nucleation as pretreatment to promote the subsequent diamond nucleation. The substrate temperature during the bias‐enhanced nucleation was varied between 600° and 760 °C by external heating, while the other deposition parameters namely the microwave input power were kept constant. Likewise, the deposition parameters were not changed in the subsequent diamond growth period throughout the experiment. The films formed during the bias‐enhanced nucleation were analyzed employing electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nuclei density (ND) obtained for good quality diamond crystals after the nucleation step and an additional growth period increases considerably from 1×106 cm−2 or less to 1×1010 cm−2 in a narrow temperature range between 670 and 700 °C. For temperatures exceeding 700 °C continuous films are formed. The structure of the pretreatment deposit also undergoes consider...

Electronic and atomic structure of evaporated carbon films

Abstract Carbon films have been prepared at different substrate temperatures (25–800°C) by evaporating carbon from a graphite source with an electron beam evaporation device. The films have been analyzed by in situ electron spectroscopy (UPS, XPS and EELS), ex situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and Raman spectroscopy. The UPS valence band and EELS spectra reveal a gradual transition from a disordered carbon film at room temperature deposition to a polycrystalline graphite-like film at 800°C substrate temperature deposition, in good agreement with the results obtained from Raman spectroscopy. STM images of films deposited at 25°C also exhibit a rather disordered carbon network, whereas with increasing substrate temperature, graphite nanocrystallites with sizes of about 20 nm are formed. A correlation between these different characterization techniques is performed.

Preparation and characterization of TiN–Ag nanocomposite films

Abstract Thin nanostructured films of TiN–Ag are deposited by a plasma vapour process consisting of co-sputtering of Ti and Ag from three magnetrons in an Ar–N 2 gas mixture. The coatings are characterized by in situ photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The dependence of the film structure and silver cluster distribution on total silver content, substrate biasing and substrate temperature was investigated.

Rhodium coated mirrors deposited by magnetron sputtering for fusion applications

Metallic mirrors will be essential components of all optical spectroscopy and imaging systems for ITER plasma diagnostics. Any change in the mirror performance, in particular, its reflectivity, due to erosion of the surface by charge exchange neutrals or deposition of impurities will influence the quality and reliability of the detected signals. Due to its high reflectivity in the visible wavelength range and its low sputtering yield, rhodium appears as an attractive material for first mirrors in ITER. However, the very high price of the raw material calls for using it in the form of a film deposited onto metallic substrates. The development of a reliable technique for the preparation of high reflectivity rhodium films is therefore of the highest importance. Rhodium layers with thicknesses of up to 2 microm were produced on different substrates of interest (Mo, stainless steel, Cu) by magnetron sputtering. Produced films exhibit a low roughness and crystallite size of about 10 nm with a dense columnar structure. No impurities were detected on the surface after deposition. Scratch tests demonstrate that adhesion properties increase with substrate hardness. Detailed optical characterizations of Rh-coated mirrors as well as results of erosion tests performed both under laboratory conditions and in the TEXTOR tokamak are presented in this paper.

Application of titanium containing amorphous hydrogenated carbon films (a-C:H/Ti) as optical selective solar absorber coatings

A combined PVD/PECVD process for the vacuum deposition of titaniumcontainingamorphoushydrogenatedcarbonfilms is described. Elemental compositions of the deposited films have been determined by in situ core level photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The long-term stability of the plasma process has been demonstrated. Target poisening has not been observed. We have fabricated optical selective surfaces by the deposition of a-C:H/Ti multilayers onto aluminum substrates. Eventhough we have not optimized layer thicknesses and stoichiometries so far, the experimental results are promising: solar absorptance αS of 0.876 and thermal emittance e100°C of 0.061 have been achieved yielding an optical selectivity s≔αS/e100°C of 14.4. Accelerated aging tests of these coatings have demonstrated their aging stability: the service lifetime is predicted to amount to more than 25 years. Raman spectroscopy has been used to monitor changes in the structure of the aged coatings. Degradation mechanisms are being discussed.