Take Your Best Shot! JEOL Launches SEM/TEM Image Contest

March 6, Peabody, Mass. — JEOL USA has launched an imaging contest to showcase some of the best work of users of its electron microscopes. A winning image will be selected for each month of 2014, judged by JEOL’s SEM and TEM applications teams for their technical and artistic qualities.

“Many customers have asked us about launching an image contest, so we decided to do just that starting this year. JEOL SEM and TEM users are the experts in their fields, and often at the forefront of discoveries. We have seen some outstanding images submitted so far, ranging from biological and botanical specimens, to new materials at the atomic level, 3D reconstructions for medical research, and geological and nanotechnology samples. They all represent technical expertise and artistic talent,” said Vern Robertson, Technical Sales Manager at JEOL USA.

All images submitted are part of an online gallery that JEOL has posted with a description of the sample and technique used.

January winner

The first image to win the contest was entitled “Nano Bling” and was submitted by Colin Davis of Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Golden, Colorado. The image, taken with an older model field emission Scanning Electron Microscope that was installed in the 1990s, was chosen for its contrasting textures and amorphous threads leading to an ordered sharply angular crystal.

February winner

The second image, “Stars Reflected in an Astronaut’s Helmet,” was pseudo-colored and resembles a painting of an astronaut looking out into starry space. In reality the image is of a cross section of a microbump that reveals a void in the solder. It was submitted by Doug Hamilton of Xilinx in San Jose, California, and was also taken with a field emission SEM.

“While these images have great appeal visually, they are also technical appealing to scientists. We enjoy seeing the work and customers are having fun with this contest,” said Robertson.

Contest details can be found at www.jeolusa.com.

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JEOL USA, Inc.

JEOL is a world leader in electron optical equipment and instrumentation for high-end scientific and industrial research and development. Core product groups include electron microscopes (SEMs and TEMs), instruments for the semiconductor industry (electron beam lithography and a series of defect review and inspection tools), and analytical instruments including mass spectrometers, NMRs and ESRs.

JEOL USA, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of JEOL, Ltd., Japan, was incorporated in the United States in 1962. The company has 13 regional service centers that offer unlimited emergency service and support in the U.S.

For more information about JEOL USA, Inc. or any JEOL products, visit www.jeolusa.com, or call 978-535-5900.

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