Stimulated emission from biological materials and novel optical resonators for diagnostic and imaging applications

Rivera, Jose A

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/97588 Copy

Description

Title

Stimulated emission from biological materials and novel optical resonators for diagnostic and imaging applications

Author(s)

Rivera, Jose A

Issue Date

2017-04-19

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Eden, J. Gary

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Eden, J. Gary

Committee Member(s)

• Cunningham, Brian T.
• Insana, Michael
• Carney, P. Scott

Department of Study

Bioengineering

Discipline

Bioengineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Biolasers
• Optical resonators
• Biophotonics
• Biosensors
• Microlasers

Abstract

The first detailed optical characterization of any biological laser, providing spectral, temporal, threshold, and polarization characteristics for the flavin mononucleotide biomolecular laser, is presented here. In addition, our investigation of natural, bio-engineered, and complex biological laser systems culminates in the discovery of a phycobiliprotein laser, a 30% reduction in threshold energy for fluorescent protein lasers excited by circularly polarized light, and the development of a FRET-based laser using biotin-streptavidin bioconjugates comprising organic dye and gold nanoparticle donor/acceptor configurations. Furthermore, we introduce an optical resonator which can be fabricated from the directed assembly of a particle monolayer and is capable of producing hundreds or thousands of microlasers from a single pump beam. These optical resonators are based on an intra-cavity stabilization scheme which is well-suited for sensitive single-cell refractive index monitoring and intra-cavity in-line holography. Finally, we construct a microlens-stabilized microlaser array, based on a titanium doped sapphire crystal, which enables speckle-free pulsed laser imaging of biological specimens with nanosecond temporal resolution.

Graduation Semester

2017-05

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/97588

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2017 Jose A. Rivera

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