Lasers in highly diffuse media for structural analysis of tissues

• Grant number: 12/18162-4
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: January 01, 2013 - June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Niklaus Ursus Wetter
• Grantee: Niklaus Ursus Wetter
• Home Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Martha Simões Ribeiro

Abstract

Recent investigations of the interaction between light and matter have shown that the amplification of light in highly diffuse gain media, also known as "random laser", may be used to investigate the structural soundness of biological tissue. These lasers can be as small as a nanoparticle and do not need optical finish on any surface.In this context, the random laser emerges as a new possible alternative and valuable tool for future diagnosis of several kinds of disturbances in living tissues. Recent experiments have already shown its feasibility for analysis of human cancer and bone demineralization.The main purpose of the present project is to develop an efficient methodology for the detection and analysis of the random laser light produced in different biological materials and tissues with the purpose of probing and characterizing their structural and geometrical content.This project is part of a major joint effort within the laboratory for Laser Development to achieve stimulated emission in diffuse materials with the objective of laser miniaturization, laser integration and cost reduction. A post-doc (FAPESP) works on the more theoretical aspects of light propagation and light control in dispersive materials. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

WETTER, NIKLAUS U.; GIEHL, JULIA M.; BUTZBACH, FELIX; ANACLETO, DANILO; JIMENEZ-VILLAR, ERNESTO. Polydispersed Powders (Nd3+:YVO4) for Ultra Efficient Random Lasers. PARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, v. 35, n. 4 APR 2018. Web of Science Citations: 3.

JORGE, K. C.; ALVARADO, M. A.; MELO, E. G.; CARRENO, M. N. P.; ALAYO, M. I.; WETTER, N. U. Directional random laser source consisting of a HC-ARROW reservoir connected to channels for spectroscopic analysis in microfluidic devices. APPLIED OPTICS, v. 55, n. 20, p. 5393-5398, JUL 10 2016. Web of Science Citations: 9.

REIJN, SAARA-MAARIT; PINHEIRO, FELIPE A.; GESKUS, DIMITRI; WETTER, NIKLAUS U. Enabling focusing around the corner in multiple scattering media. APPLIED OPTICS, v. 54, n. 25, p. 7740-7746, SEP 1 2015. Web of Science Citations: 0.