214 research outputs found
Integrated liquid-core optical fibers --- ultra-efficient nonlinear liquid photonics
We have developed a novel integrated platform for liquid photonics based on
liquid core optical fiber (LCOF). The platform is created by fusion splicing
liquid core optical fiber to standard single-mode optical fiber making it fully
integrated and practical - a major challenge that has greatly hindered progress
in liquid-photonic applications. As an example, we report here the realization
of ultralow threshold Raman generation using an integrated CS2 filled LCOF
pumped with sub-nanosecond pulses at 1064nm and 532nm. The measured energy
threshold for the Stokes generation is ~ 1nJ, about three orders of magnitude
lower than previously reported values in the literature for hydrogen gas. The
integrated LCOF platform opens up new possibilities for ultralow power
nonlinear optics such as efficient white light generation for displays, mid-IR
generation, slow light generation, parametric amplification, all-optical
switching and wavelength conversion using liquids that have orders of magnitude
larger optical nonlinearities compared with silica glass.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Label-free, multi-scale imaging of ex-vivo mouse brain using spatial light interference microscopy
Brain connectivity spans over broad spatial scales, from nanometers to centimeters. In order to understand the brain at multi-scale, the neural network in wide-field has been visualized in detail by taking advantage of light microscopy. However, the process of staining or addition of fluorescent tags is commonly required, and the image contrast is insufficient for delineation of cytoarchitecture. To overcome this barrier, we use spatial light interference microscopy to investigate brain structure with high-resolution, sub-nanometer pathlength sensitivity without the use of exogenous contrast agents. Combining wide-field imaging and a mosaic algorithm developed in-house, we show the detailed architecture of cells and myelin, within coronal olfactory bulb and cortical sections, and from sagittal sections of the hippocampus and cerebellum. Our technique is well suited to identify laminar characteristics of fiber tract orientation within white matter, e.g. the corpus callosum. To further improve the macro-scale contrast of anatomical structures, and to better differentiate axons and dendrites from cell bodies, we mapped the tissue in terms of its scattering property. Based on our results, we anticipate that spatial light interference microscopy can potentially provide multiscale and multicontrast perspectives of gross and microscopic brain anatomy.ope
Live-cell imaging of alkyne-tagged small biomolecules by stimulated Raman scattering
Sensitive and specific visualization of small biomolecules in living systems is highly challenging. We report stimulated Raman-scattering imaging of alkyne tags as a general strategy for studying a broad spectrum of small biomolecules in live cells and animals. We demonstrate this technique by tracking alkyne-bearing drugs in mouse tissues and visualizing de novo synthesis of DNA, RNA, proteins, phospholipids and triglycerides through metabolic incorporation of alkyne-tagged small precursors
The Borexino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso
Borexino, a large volume detector for low energy neutrino spectroscopy, is
currently running underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso,
Italy. The main goal of the experiment is the real-time measurement of sub MeV
solar neutrinos, and particularly of the mono energetic (862 keV) Be7 electron
capture neutrinos, via neutrino-electron scattering in an ultra-pure liquid
scintillator. This paper is mostly devoted to the description of the detector
structure, the photomultipliers, the electronics, and the trigger and
calibration systems. The real performance of the detector, which always meets,
and sometimes exceeds, design expectations, is also shown. Some important
aspects of the Borexino project, i.e. the fluid handling plants, the
purification techniques and the filling procedures, are not covered in this
paper and are, or will be, published elsewhere (see Introduction and
Bibliography).Comment: 37 pages, 43 figures, to be submitted to NI
New results on solar neutrino fluxes from 192 days of Borexino data
We report the direct measurement of the ^7Be solar neutrino signal rate
performed with the Borexino detector at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran
Sasso. The interaction rate of the 0.862 MeV ^7Be neutrinos is
49+-3(stat)+-4(syst) counts/(day * 100ton). The hypothesis of no oscillation
for ^7Be solar neutrinos is inconsistent with our measurement at the 4sigma
level. Our result is the first direct measurement of the survival probability
for solar nu_e in the transition region between matter-enhanced and
vacuum-driven oscillations. The measurement improves the experimental
determination of the flux of ^7Be, pp, and CNO solar nu_e, and the limit on the
magnetic moment of neutrinos
New limits on nucleon decays into invisible channels with the BOREXINO Counting Test Facility
The results of background measurements with the second version of the
BOREXINO Counting Test Facility (CTF-II), installed in the Gran Sasso
Underground Laboratory, were used to obtain limits on the instability of
nucleons, bounded in nuclei, for decays into invisible channels ():
disappearance, decays to neutrinos, etc. The approach consisted of a search for
decays of unstable nuclides resulting from and decays of parents
C, C and O nuclei in the liquid scintillator and the water
shield of the CTF. Due to the extremely low background and the large mass (4.2
ton) of the CTF detector, the most stringent (or competitive) up-to-date
experimental bounds have been established: y, y, y and y, all at 90% C.L.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures,submitted to Phys.Lett.
Label-free chemically specific imaging in planta with stimulated Raman scattering microscopy.
The growing world population puts ever-increasing demands on the agricultural and agrochemical industries to increase agricultural yields. This can only be achieved by investing in fundamental plant and agrochemical research and in the development of improved analytical tools to support research in these areas. There is currently a lack of analytical tools that provide noninvasive structural and chemical analysis of plant tissues at the cellular scale. Imaging techniques such as coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy provide label-free chemically specific image contrast based on vibrational spectroscopy. Over the past decade, these techniques have been shown to offer clear advantages for a vast range of biomedical research applications. The intrinsic vibrational contrast provides label-free quantitative functional analysis, it does not suffer from photobleaching, and it allows near real-time imaging in 3D with submicrometer spatial resolution. However, due to the susceptibility of current detection schemes to optical absorption and fluorescence from pigments (such as chlorophyll), the plant science and agrochemical research communities have not been able to benefit from these techniques and their application in plant research has remained virtually unexplored. In this paper, we explore the effect of chlorophyll fluorescence and absorption in CARS and SRS microscopy. We show that with the latter it is possible to use phase-sensitive detection to separate the vibrational signal from the (electronic) absorption processes. Finally, we demonstrate the potential of SRS for a range of in planta applications by presenting in situ chemical analysis of plant cell wall components, epicuticular waxes, and the deposition of agrochemical formulations onto the leaf surface
Multiplexed five-color molecular imaging of cancer cells and tumor tissues with carbon nanotube Raman tags in the near-infrared
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with five different C13/C12 isotope
compositions and well-separated Raman peaks have been synthesized and
conjugated to five targeting ligands in order to impart molecular specificity.
Multiplexed Raman imaging of live cells has been carried out by highly specific
staining of cells with a five-color mixture of SWNTs. Ex vivo multiplexed Raman
imaging of tumor samples uncovers a surprising up-regulation of epidermal
growth factor receptor (EGFR) on LS174T colon cancer cells from cell culture to
in vivo tumor growth. This is the first time five-color multiplexed molecular
imaging has been performed in the near-infrared (NIR) region under a single
laser excitation. Near zero interfering background of imaging is achieved due
to the sharp Raman peaks unique to nanotubes over the low, smooth
autofluorescence background of biological species.Comment: Published in Nano Researc
Science and technology of BOREXINO: A Real time detector for low-energy solar neutrinos: A Real Time Detector for Low Energy Solar Neutrinos
BOREXINO, a real-time device for low energy neutrino spectroscopy is nearing completion of construction in the underground laboratories at Gran Sasso, Italy (LNGS). The experiment's goal is the direct measurement of the flux of 7Be solar neutrinos of all flavors via neutrino-electron scattering in an ultra-pure scintillation liquid. Seeded by a series of innovations which were brought to fruition by large scale operation of a 4-ton test detector at LNGS, a new technology has been developed for BOREXINO. It enables sub-MeV solar neutrino spectroscopy for the first time. This paper describes the design of BOREXINO, the various facilities essential to its operation, its spectroscopic and background suppression capabilities and a prognosis of the impact of its results towards resolving the solar neutrino problem. BOREXINO will also address several other frontier questions in particle physics, astrophysics and geophysics
Measurements of extremely low radioactivity levels in BOREXINO
The techniques researched, developed and applied towards the measurement of
radioisotope concentrations at ultra-low levels in the real-time solar neutrino
experiment BOREXINO at Gran Sasso are presented and illustrated with specific
results of widespread interest. We report the use of low-level germanium gamma
spectrometry, low-level miniaturized gas proportional counters and low
background scintillation detectors developed in solar neutrino research. Each
now sets records in its field. We additionally describe our techniques of
radiochemical ultra-pure, few atom manipulations and extractions. Forefront
measurements also result from the powerful combination of neutron activation
and low-level counting. Finally, with our techniques and commercially available
mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy, new low-level detection
limits for isotopes of interest are obtained.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figures. Submitted to Astroparticle Physics (17 Sep
2001). Spokesperson of the Borexino Collaboration: G. Bellini. Corresponding
author: W. Hampe
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