Progress in Physics

Techniques and Applications of Cell Stiffness Testing

XUE Zhuan-zhuan , HU Huan , Oleksiy Penkov

2025, 45 (2): 55-70. doi: 10.13725/j.cnki.pip.2025.02.001

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The measurement of cell stiffness is of great significance in many fields such as biology, medicine and materials science. In order to understand the biomechanical properties and functions of cells, this review first discusses the important application fields of measuring cell stiffness, including tissue engineering, cartilage disease diagnosis, cancer diagnosis and drug development. Secondly, five major measurement techniques are introduced in detail: micro-pillar array method, optical tweezers method, magnetic tweezers method, atomic force microscopy measurement method (AFM), biomembrane force probe measurement method, and the potential and challenges of these five technologies in practical applications are prospected. With its nanometer-level spatial resolution and piconewton-level force resolution, AFM has become a powerful and unique tool in the field of cell mechanics measurement. Therefore, this review focuses on the application and importance of AFM technology and its related computational model, the Hertz model of microsphere-cell contact, in this field, and further elaborates on the types and characteristics of various existing AFM instruments, as well as their application performance in cell mechanics measurement

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Research Processes on the Using of Proton Radiography in Laser Driven Magnetic Reconnection Experiments

HAN Bo

2025, 45 (2): 71-78. doi: 10.13725/j.cnki.pip.2025.02.002

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Magnetic reconnection is an important basic physics progress, and laser driven magnetic reconnection experiment is a major research method. Proton radiography can accurately measure the magnetic filed of plasma, and it has been widely used in laser driven magnetic reconnection experiment. Currently, there are two methods to reconstruct the magnetic field from the experimental proton radiograph, ie. flux analysis and particle tracing. At the beginning, the researches only obtain the magnetic field qualitatively. With the development of technology, at present the accurate strength and distribution of magnetic field in the reconnection region can be reconstructed. It supplies many possibilities in the research of magnetic reconnection. This paper reviews several important results measured by proton radiography in laser driven magnetic reconnection experiments, and aims to provide a reference for researchers in related fields.

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A Brief History of Electronic Development

SHI Feng , LIU Jin-hua , ZHANG Ling-cui , XU Yue , LOU You-xin , SHEN Yan , ZHAO Jin-bo

2025, 45 (2): 79-104. doi: 10.13725/j.cnki.pip.2025.02.003

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Electron is an inseparable part of atom. The ancients believed that atoms could not be divied, and it was not until the late 19th century that Thomson discovered the existence of electron, which proved that atom is redividable. After that, the complex and challenging journey to uncover the volatility of electrons, electron spin, and positrons led to groundbreaking discoveries, which resulted in numerous of Nobel Prizes were awarded in Physics. The discovery of electron played an important role in promoting the birth of quantum mechani. It was through the meticulous examination of atomic structure models that the scientists progressively ventured into the realms of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. Similarly, electrons have played a positive role in promoting our understanding of various materials, leading to the development of to many theories, such as Lorentz’s free electron theory, Sommerfeld model, and band theory. Especially band theory has led to a revolution in modern electronic technology, ushering humanity into the information age.

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