The progress in microfabrication technologies is currently characterized by an increasing number of microproducts and corresponding efforts for cost effective mass fabrication. In this context, the development and utilization of new application specific materials has become one of the key challenges for the commercial production of miniaturized functional units. This applies, in particular, to the LIGA technique, a sequence of process steps combining deep lithography, microelectroforming and micromoulding, which offers an extremely broad spectrum of materials for the generation of ultraprecise three-dimensional microstructures. A wide variety of polymers, metals, metal alloys and ceramic materials are by now accessible for fabricating microdevices. There are practically no major limitations in selecting the desired material properties, e.g. in respect of mechanical stiffness or biocompatibility, optical transparency or magnetic properties, resistance against corrosion or whatever is required by the specific function of a microdevice.

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The two-neutron transfer reaction 9 Be( 16 O, 14 O) 11 Be[ 10 Be + n] has been used to measure the branching ratios for the neutron decay of excited states of 11 Be. The 14 O ejectile was detected by a Q3D spectrometer at forward angles. The energies and angles of the 10 Be fragments of the decaying 11 Be * recoil were measured in coincidence with the 14 O ejectile using a double-sided silicon strip detector array at backward angles. This enabled a kinematic reconstruction of the reaction to be performed. Theoretical decay branch ratios were calculated using barrier penetrability factors and were compared to the measured ratios to provide information on the relative reduced widths of the states. The decay widths have been used to link states in 11 Be with a common structure and structurally to states in the daughter nucleus 10 Be. The 3/2 − 8.82-MeV state was identified as a candidate for a molecular band head.