Parametric Optimization of Visible Wavelength Gold Lattice Geometries for Improved Plasmon-Enhanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The exploitation of spectro-plasmonics will allow for innovations in optical instrumentation development and the realization of more efficient optical biodetection components. Biosensors have been shown to improve the overall quality of life through real-time detection of various antibody-antigen reactions, biomarkers, infectious diseases, pathogens, toxins, viruses, etc. has led to increased interest in the research and development of these devices. Further advancements in modern biosensor development will be realized through novel electrochemical, electromechanical, bioelectrical, and/or optical transduction methods aimed at reducing the size, cost, and limit of detection (LOD) of these sensor systems. One such method of optical transduction involves the exploitation of the plasmonic resonance of noble metal nanostructures. This thesis presents the optimization of the electric (E) field enhancement granted from localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) via parametric variation of periodic gold lattice geometries using finite difference time domain (FDTD) software. Comprehensive analyses of cylindrical, square, star, and triangular lattice feature geometries were performed to determine the largest surface E-field enhancement resulting from LSPR for reducing the LOD of plasmon-enhanced fluorescence (PEF). The design of an optical transducer engineered to yield peak E-field enhancement and, therefore, peak excitation enhancement of fluorescent labels would enable for improved emission enhancement of these labels. The methodology presented in this thesis details the optimization of plasmonic lattice geometries for improving current visible wavelength fluorescence spectroscopy

Pragmatic financialisation: the role of the Japanese Post Office

The Japanese Post Office, one of the world’s largest financial institutions, was finally privatised in 2015, marking an appropriate time to examine financialisation in Japan. Literature on financialisation and changes in Japanese capitalism assumes convergence on Anglo-American capitalism with a diminishing of state power. The main argument of this paper is that financialisation is instead a more contingent process. This is put forth through an examination of how this process has been mediated by the Japanese state through the workings of the Japanese Post Office. The state has frequently shaped the direction of financialisation by intervening in the routing of household funds via the postal savings system in order to achieve its objectives in different circumstances, particularly evident in the protracted and contested nature of the post bank’s privatisation. Financialisation is thus not preordained; instead its path is hewn by crisis, catastrophe, demographics and the agency of domestic social actors