Research on Covid-19

At PSI, several projects are dedicated to important research questions concerning the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus and the resulting diseases. We provide information on activities and projects, for example on investigations of lung tissue, on the production of proteins and antibodies or on ideas for new research on Covid-19.

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Production route of 44Sc

Promises of cyclotron-produced 44Sc as a diagnostic match for trivalent beta - emitters: In vitro and in vivo study of a 44Sc-DOTA-folate conjugate

Research Division Biology and Chemistry (BIO), Folate Receptor Targeting Group, Head Cristina Müller. In recent years, implementation of 68Ga-radiometalated peptides for PET imaging of cancer has attracted the attention of clinicians. Herein, we propose the use of 44Sc (half-life = 3.97 h, average β+ energy [Eβ+av] = 632 keV) as a valuable alternative to 68Ga (half-life = 68 min, Eβ+av = 830 keV) for imaging and dosimetry before 177Lu-based radionuclide therapy.

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Unique insight into carbon fibers on the nanoscale

The investigation of the mechanical properties of carbon fibers benefits from highly resolved three-dimensional density maps within representative volumes, but such images are not easily obtained with standard methods. Scientists from the Paul Scherrer Institut in collaboration with Honda R&D in Germany have recently visualized density distributions on the sub-micrometer scale within entire carbon fiber sections, revealing surprising graphite distributions within the fibers. This capability will prove useful for the systematic characterization of fibers, contributing to the development of light and robust materials at lower costs.

Polarisierte Neutronen beider Spinausrichtungen up (blau) und down (rot) gelangen unter sehr kleinen Einfallswinkeln in eine Probe. Dort werden sie an den im Magnetfeld H ausgerichteten Momenten gestreut, hier dargestellt für eine Grenzfläche. Aus den gemessenen Unterschieden der Winkelabhängigkeit für beide Spinrichtungen lässt sich ein magnetisches Tiefenprofil ableiten.

Magnetismus im Stress: Gleichzeitiger Anti- und Ferromagnetismus

Die gleichzeitige Existenz von Magnetismus und Ferroelektrizät in einem Material ist selten. Setzt sich dieser Magnetismus aus mehreren unabhängigen, magnetischen Grundzuständen zusammen, ist das ungewöhnlich. Einer schweizerisch-französischen Zusammenarbeit unter Leitung des Paul Scherrer Instituts ist es gelungen, mehrere magnetische Grundzustände in einem Material zu realisieren und detailliert zu untersuchen.

Photograph (a) and schematic cross section (b) of a typical Au–LaAlO3–SrTiO3 tunnel device. The broad gold ring (inner diameter, 160 μm) lies on top of the LaAlO3 layer, which serves as a tunnel barrier between the 2DEL and the Au. The outer ring and the centre contact of the device are Au-covered Ti contacts to the 2DEL. c, Cross-sectional high-angle annular dark-field STEM image of a Au–LaAlO3–SrTiO3 tunnel junction. The image is taken along the zone axis of the perovskite unit cells. a.u., arbitrary uni…

Interface superconductor with gap behaviour like a high-temperature superconductor

The physics of the superconducting state in two-dimensional (2D) electron systems is relevant to understanding the high-transition-temperature copper oxide superconductors and for the development of future superconductors based on interface electron systems. But it is not yet understood how fundamental superconducting parameters, such as the spectral density of states, change when these superconducting electron systems are depleted of charge carriers.