2,062 research outputs found
Rotational Correlation Functions of Single Molecules
Single molecule rotational correlation functions are analyzed for several
reorientation geometries. Even for the simplest model of isotropic rotational
diffusion our findings predict non-exponential correlation functions to be
observed by polarization sensitive single molecule fluorescence microscopy.
This may have a deep impact on interpreting the results of molecular
reorientation measurements in heterogeneous environments.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
An insight into polarization states of solid-state organic lasers
The polarization states of lasers are crucial issues both for practical
applications and fundamental research. In general, they depend in a combined
manner on the properties of the gain material and on the structure of the
electromagnetic modes. In this paper, we address this issue in the case of
solid-state organic lasers, a technology which enables to vary independently
gain and mode properties. Different kinds of resonators are investigated:
in-plane micro-resonators with Fabry-Perot, square, pentagon, stadium, disk,
and kite shapes, and external vertical resonators. The degree of polarization P
is measured in each case. It is shown that although TE modes prevail generally
(P>0), kite-shaped micro-laser generates negative values for P, i.e. a flip of
the dominant polarization which becomes mostly TM polarized. We at last
investigated two degrees of freedom that are available to tailor the
polarization of organic lasers, in addition to the pump polarization and the
resonator geometry: upon using resonant energy transfer (RET) or upon pumping
the laser dye to an higher excited state. We then demonstrate that
significantly lower P factors can be obtained.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure
Nanoscale control of Ag nanostructures for plasmonic fluorescence enhancement of near-infrared dyes
Potential utilization of proteins for early detection and diagnosis of various diseases has drawn considerable interest in the development of protein-based detection techniques. Metal induced fluorescence enhancement offers the possibility of increasing the sensitivity of protein detection in clinical applications. We report the use of tunable plasmonic silver nanostructures for the fluorescence enhancement of a near-infrared (NIR) dye (Alexa Fluor 790). Extensive fluorescence enhancement of ∼2 orders of magnitude is obtained by the nanoscale control of the Ag nanostructure dimensions and interparticle distance. These Ag nanostructures also enhanced fluorescence from a dye with very high quantum yield (7.8 fold for Alexa Fluor 488, quantum efficiency (Qy) = 0.92). A combination of greatly enhanced excitation and an increased radiative decay rate, leading to an associated enhancement of the quantum efficiency leads to the large enhancement. These results show the potential of Ag nanostructures as metal induced fluorescence enhancement (MIFE) substrates for dyes in the NIR “biological window” as well as the visible region. Ag nanostructured arrays fabricated by colloidal lithography thus show great potential for NIR dye-based biosensing applications
The role of hole transport between dyes in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells
In dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)
photogenerated positive charges
are normally considered to be carried away from the dyes by a separate
phase of hole-transporting material (HTM). We show that there can
also be significant transport within the dye monolayer itself before
the hole reaches the HTM. We quantify the fraction of dye regeneration
in solid-state DSSCs that can be attributed to this process. By using
cyclic voltammetry and transient anisotropy spectroscopy, we demonstrate
that the rate of interdye hole transport is prevented both on micrometer
and nanometer length scales by reducing the dye loading on the TiO<sub>2</sub> surface. The dye regeneration yield is quantified for films
with high and low dye loadings (with and without hole percolation
in the dye monolayer) infiltrated with varying levels of HTM. Interdye
hole transport can account for >50% of the overall dye regeneration
with low HTM pore filling. This is reduced to about 5% when the infiltration
of the HTM in the pores is optimized in 2 μm thick films. Finally,
we use hole transport in the dye monolayer to characterize the spatial
distribution of the HTM phase in the pores of the dyed mesoporous
TiO<sub>2</sub>
Spin-boson models for quantum decoherence of electronic excitations of biomolecules and quantum dots in a solvent
We give a theoretical treatment of the interaction of electronic excitations
(excitons) in biomolecules and quantum dots with the surrounding polar solvent.
Significant quantum decoherence occurs due to the interaction of the electric
dipole moment of the solute with the fluctuating electric dipole moments of the
individual molecules in the solvent. We introduce spin boson models which could
be used to describe the effects of decoherence on the quantum dynamics of
biomolecules which undergo light-induced conformational change and on
biomolecules or quantum dots which are coupled by Forster resonant energy
transfer.Comment: More extended version, to appear in Journal of Physics: Condensed
Matter. 13 pages, 3 figure
Angular redistribution of near-infrared emission from quantum dots in 3D photonic crystals
We study the angle-resolved spontaneous emission of near-infrared light
sources in 3D photonic crystals over a wavelength range from 1200 to 1550 nm.
To this end PbSe quantum dots are used as light sources inside titania inverse
opal photonic crystals. Strong deviations from the Lambertian emission profile
are observed. An attenuation of 60 % is observed in the angle dependent radiant
flux emitted from the samples due to photonic stop bands. At angles that
correspond to the edges of the stop band the emitted flux is increased by up to
34 %. This increase is explained by the redistribution of Bragg-diffracted
light over the available escape angles. The results are quantitatively
explained by an expanded escape-function model. This model is based on
diffusion theory and adapted to photonic crystals using band structure
calculations. Our results are the first angular redistributions and escape
functions measured at near-infrared, including telecom, wavelengths. In
addition, this is the first time for this model to be applied to describe
emission from samples that are optically thick for the excitation light and
relatively thin for the photoluminesence light.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures (current format = single column, double spaced
Fast 3D Microscopy Imaging of Contacts Between Surfaces Using a Fluorescent Liquid
International audienceA novel method is presented for the rapid direct 3D visualization of the contact between two surfaces by means of fluorescence microscopy using a fluorescent liquid. Distances between the surfaces of up to several hundred nanometers can be determined with subnanometer accuracy in 3D and within seconds of measurement time. The method opens new possibilities for research in the areas of contact mechanics, friction, wear, and lubrication
A calibration method for broad-bandwidth cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy performed with supercontinuum radiation
An efficient calibration method has been developed for broad-bandwidth cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy. The calibration is performed using phase shift cavity ring-down spectroscopy, which is conveniently implemented through use of an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). The AOTF permits a narrowband portion of the SC spectrum to be scanned over the full high-reflectivity bandwidth of the cavity mirrors. After calibration the AOTF is switched off and broad-bandwidth CEAS can be performed with the same light source without any loss of alignment to the set-up. We demonstrate the merits of the method by probing transitions of oxygen molecules O-2 and collisional pairs of oxygen molecules (O-2)(2) in the visible spectral range
Plasmon oscillations in ellipsoid nanoparticles: beyond dipole approximation
The plasmon oscillations of a metallic triaxial ellipsoid nanoparticle have
been studied within the framework of the quasistatic approximation. A general
method has been proposed for finding the analytical expressions describing the
potential and frequencies of the plasmon oscillations of an arbitrary
multipolarity order. The analytical expressions have been derived for an
electric potential and plasmon oscillation frequencies of the first 24 modes.
Other higher orders plasmon modes are investigated numerically.Comment: 33 pages, 12 figure
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