Work - Ion implantation, Graphite Etching, and Ultrasonic Cleaning

Work was good today. Didn't do anything with the machines, rather some stuff with the graphite etch and a lot of talking with my boss about my various projects, where we are, what the ultimate goals are, and what the plan is. Very exciting, as it looks as if the work I've been doing, which has been working, could be really important and useful.

First off, we talked to a man named Jim Butler, whom Roy says is probably the most knowledgeable guy in the field. He told us a lot of info about ion implantation, in which basically ions are smashed into diamond at really high energies, and they end up going through a certain amount of diamond without doing any harm, but after they lose enough energy they start to bounce around and cause the diamond to amorphize. This creates and amorphous layer. I'm going to have to look into costs, and method, and companies, so more on that later.

Secondly, the graphite etch has been working really well. It's been going a lot faster than we though. We're going to start seeing if there's a detectable weight change, and figure out a rate, and see if that rate can be improved.

At work, we have a machine that uses ultrasonic waves to clean things. Basically, you put a liquid in a beaker and then the metal thing into the liquid and it shakes at such a high frequency that it shakes loose particles in the liquid. Problem is, ultrasonic as it is, it actually makes a terrible noise.

Interestingly enough, however, the noise changes drastically with different liquids. With ethanol, it's relatively quiet. With water, however, it makes a huge screeching noise, and you fear that the beaker may shatter (it doesn't, though. It just sounds like it). I wonder what causes this difference? 

So, as always, lots to do!