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In magnetic particle imaging, a field-free region is maneuvered throughout the field of view using a time-varying magnetic field known as the drive-field. Human-sized systems operate the drive-field in the kHz range and generate it by utilizing strong currents that can rise to the kA range within a coil called the drive field generator. Matching and tuning between a power amplifier, a band-pass filter, and the drive-field generator is required. Here, for reasons of safety in future human scanners, a symmetrical topology and a transformer called an inductive coupling network are used. Our primary objectives are to achieve floating potentials to ensure patient safety while attaining high linearity and high gain for the resonant transformer. We present a novel systematic approach to the design of a loss-optimized resonant toroid with a D-shaped cross section, employing segmentation to adjust the inductance-to-resistance ratio while maintaining a constant quality factor. Simultaneously, we derive a specific matching condition for a symmetric transmit–receive circuit for magnetic particle imaging. The chosen setup filters the fundamental frequency and allows simultaneous signal transmission and reception. In addition, the decoupling of multiple drive field channels is discussed, and the primary side of the transformer is evaluated for maximum coupling and minimum stray field. Two prototypes were constructed, measured, decoupled, and compared to the derived theory and method-of-moment based simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a method that enables atomic-resolution measurements of the short-range force field above a single organic admolecule using noncontact atomic force microscopy. We have extended the standard force-mapping technique to be able to measure at close tip-molecule distances, in regions that cannot be accessed by normal constant-height or constant-frequency-shift imaging. Our technique can be used to study the interaction between a well-defined scanning probe tip and an admolecule on the atomic scale and yields atomic resolution of both molecule and substrate. Furthermore, it enables the measurement of constant-frequency-shift topographies of molecules with nonplanar adsorption geometries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore different tip functionalizations for atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) of organic molecules on thin insulating films. We describe in detail how tips terminated with single Br and Xe atoms can be created. The performance of these tips in AFM, STM, and KPFM imaging of single molecules is compared to other tip terminations, and the advantages and disadvantages of the different tips are discussed. The Br tip was found to be particularly useful for AFM and lateral manipulation, whereas the Xe tip excelled in STM and KPFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]