Ultrafast Time-and-Space- Domain Holography by Spectral Hole Burning in Dye-Doped Polymers

Certain photochromic materials exhibit at liquid-helium temperature a special property of very high selectivity in frequency dimension. This phenomenon, commonly known as spectral hole burning (SHB), makes it possible to extend conventional spatial-domain optical data storage into the dimensions of frequency and time. We have applied SHB for ultrafast recording of holograms and coherent optical processing on the timescale of 10-12–10-13 s. To achieve ultrafast performance in the time domain, we use special organic dye-doped polymer materials, which provide SHB recording in a broad optical band width of 5–10 THz. In this paper, we discuss recording and playback of holograms of pico- and femtosecond time-and-space-domain signals using dye-doped SHB polymers at liquid-helium temperature. We discuss unusual properties of SHB holograms such as causality-related asymmetry of diffraction and inversion of the time coordinate, ultrafast frequency-domain processing, and associative recall of events

Simultaneous multiple-excitation multiphoton microscopy yields increased imaging sensitivity and specificity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) offers many advantages over conventional wide-field and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) for imaging biological samples such as 3D resolution of excitation, reduced phototoxicity, and deeper tissue imaging. However, adapting MPM for critical multi-color measurements presents a challenge because of the largely overlapping two-photon absorption (TPA) peaks of common biological fluorophores. Currently, most multi-color MPM relies on the absorbance at one intermediate wavelength of multiple dyes, which introduces problems such as decreased and unequal excitation efficiency across the set of dyes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we describe an MPM system incorporating two, independently controlled sources of two-photon excitation whose wavelengths are adjusted to maximally excite one dye while minimally exciting the other. We report increased signal-to-noise ratios and decreased false positive emission bleed-through using this novel multiple-excitation MPM (ME-MPM) compared to conventional single-excitation MPM (SE-MPM) in a variety of multi-color imaging applications.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Similar to the tremendous gain in popularity of CLSM after the introduction of multi-color imaging, we anticipate that the ME-MPM system will further increase the popularity of MPM. In addition, ME-MPM provides an excellent tool to more rapidly design and optimize pairs of fluorescence probes for multi-color two-photon imaging, such as CFP/YFP or GFP/DsRed for CLSM.</p

Symmetry Breaking in Pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles: Synthesis, Solvatofluorochromism and Two-photon Absorption

Five centrosymmetric and one dipolar pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrroles, possessing either two or one strongly electron-withdrawing nitro group have been synthesized in a straightforward manner from simple building blocks. For the symmetric compounds, the nitroaryl groups induced spontaneous breaking of inversion symmetry in the excited state, thereby leading to large solvatofluorochromism. To study the origin of this effect, the series employed peripheral structural motifs that control the degree of conjugation via altering of dihedral angle between the 4-nitrophenyl moiety and the electron-rich core. We observed that for compounds with a larger dihedral angle, the fluorescence quantum yield decreased quickly when exposed to even moderately polar solvents. Reducing the dihedral angle (i.e., placing the nitrobenzene moiety in the same plane as the rest of the molecule) moderated the dependence on solvent polarity so that the dye exhibited significant emission, even in THF. To investigate at what stage the symmetry breaking occurs, we measured two-photon absorption (2PA) spectra and 2PA cross-sections (sigma(2PA)) for all six compounds. The 2PA transition profile of the dipolar pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole, followed the corresponding one-photon absorption (1PA) spectrum, which provided an estimate of the change of the permanent electric dipole upon transition, approximate to 18D. The nominally symmetric compounds displayed an allowed 2PA transition in the wavelength range of 700-900nm. The expansion via a triple bond resulted in the largest peak value, sigma(2PA)=770GM, whereas altering the dihedral angle had no effect other than reducing the peak value two- or even three-fold. In the S0S1 transition region, the symmetric structures also showed a partial overlap between 2PA and 1PA transitions in the long-wavelength wing of the band, from which a tentative, relatively small dipole moment change, 2-7D, was deduced, thus suggesting that some small symmetry breaking may be possible in the ground state, even before major symmetry breaking occurs in the excited state.1111Ysciescopu

Liquid–liquid phase separation of the Golgi matrix protein GM130

Golgins are an abundant class of peripheral membrane proteins of the Golgi. These very long (50–400 nm) rod-like proteins initially capture cognate transport vesicles, thus enabling subsequent SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. Here, we explore the hypothesis that in addition to serving as vesicle tethers, Golgins may also possess the capacity to phase separate and, thereby, contribute to the internal organization of the Golgi. GM130 is the most abundant Golgin at the cis Golgi. Remarkably, overexpressed GM130 forms liquid droplets in cells analogous to those described for numerous intrinsically disordered proteins with low complexity sequences, even though GM130 is neither low in complexity nor intrinsically disordered. Virtually pure recombinant GM130 also phase-separates into dynamic, liquid-like droplets in close to physiological buffers and at concentrations similar to its estimated local concentration at the cis Golgi

Investigation of Electron Transfer-Based Photonic and Electro-Optic Materials and Devices

Montanaâs state program began its sixth year in 2006. The projectâs research cluster focused on physical, chemical, and biological materials that exhibit unique electron-transfer properties. Our investigators have filed several patents and have also have established five spin-off businesses (3 MSU, 2 UM) and a research center (MT Tech). In addition, this project involved faculty and students at three campuses (MSU, UM, MT Tech) and has a number of under-represented students, including 10 women and 5 Native Americans. In 2006, there was an added emphasis on exporting seminars and speakers via the Internet from UM to Chief Dull Knife Community College, as well as work with the MT Department of Commerce to better educate our faculty regarding establishing small businesses, licensing and patent issues, and SBIR program opportunities

Multiphoton spectroscopy: An optical window into molecular electrostatics

Quantitative knowledge about static molecular electric dipole moments is essential for understanding of intramolecular charge transfer as well as nanometer-scale static electric interactions. However, measuring or determining the molecular electrostatic properties with sufficient accuracy remains a challenging task. In our experiments, we measure the femtosecond two-photon absorption spectra- and cross sections of a range of organic- and organometallic chromophores in solution and use these data to determine the electric dipole moment change in corresponding lowest-energy dipole-allowed transition. Good correspondence of our experimental dipole moments with the quantum-chemical calculations as well as reports by other groups using conventional dipole moment measurement methods suggests that quantitative multiphoton spectroscopy may offer all-optical alternative to the traditional techniques such as Stark effect and electrochromism

Exploring Free Energy Landscapes of SNARE Assembly Using Optical Tweezers

Scientists have long sought to understand the working principles of protein machinery. A decisive step towards this goal has been the development of the Gibbs free energy landscape of protein folding. However, measurement of energy landscapes has remained challenging, particularly when folding occurs over one or more intermediates. An important example is soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly, in which the energetics and kinetics of multiple assembly steps are coupled to distinct stages of vesicle maturation and membrane fusion in synaptic exocytosis. As a result, a quantitative test of this fundamental biophysical mechanism remains outstanding. In recent years it has become possible to measure energy landscapes of proteins in the presence of force using a single-molecule manipulation technique called optical tweezers (OT). However, derivation of energy landscapes in the absence of force from OT data has remained difficult. Here, we present a comprehensive OT data analysis method that uses information from high-resolution protein structures to derive a simplified energy landscape of protein folding at zero force by model fitting of the experimental measurements. We apply our method to derive the energetics, kinetics, and intermediate conformations of SNARE assembly for the wild-type complex and a number of mutants with known phenotypes. We characterize how the steps in SNARE assembly function in the respective stages of synaptic exocytosis and provide quantitative verification of the coupling mechanism. Finally, we investigate the mechanism by which two SNARE mutations cause severe neurological disease. In sum, our work provides a complete methodology to measure energy landscapes to reveal the underlying mechanisms of protein function

Slow light with persistent spectral hole burning

We consider short pulse propagating in a thin slab waveguide of optically dense persistent hole burning medium. Considerable slowing of group velocity occurs if narrow hole is created in advance in the inhomogeneous absorption spectrum. © 2006 OSA/SL 2006.SCOPUS: cp.pinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Slowing light down by low magnetic fields: pulse delay by transient spectral hole-burning in ruby

We report on the observation of slow light induced by transient spectral hole-burning in a solidthat is based on excited-state population storage. Experiments were conducted in the R1-line (2E-4A2 transition) of a 2.3 mm thick pink ruby (Al2O3:Cr(III) 130 ppm). Importantlythe pulse delay can be controlled by the application of a low external magnetic field B||c 6a9 mT and delays of up to 11 ns with minimal pulse distortion are observed for 3c55 ns Gaussian pulses. The delay corresponds to a group velocity value of 3cc/1400. The experiment is very well modelled by linear spectral filter theory and the results indicate the possibility of using transient hole-burning based slow light experiments as a spectroscopic technique.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye