Jahresbericht 2005 - IPHT Jena

3.2 Scientific Results
3.2.1 Spectral optical techniques and
instrumentation
(J. Popp)
The main objectives of the department “Spectral
optical techniques and instrumentation” are the
development of innovative optical and spectroscopical
techniques as well as the design and
experimental realization of advanced spectral
optical devices and instruments for material and
life sciences applications. A fundamental understanding
of the processes taking place when light
interacts with matter is an indispensable prerequisite
for such developments. The ultimate
goal in life sciences is a deeper understanding of
the molecular processes occuring inside living
cells. Furthermore chemical reactions, metabolite
or bioactive compounds driven functionalities
of biological cells as well as cell-cell communication
need to be studied. Optical and spectroscopical
techniques are extremely capable methods
to study the aforementioned processes on a
molecular level. Based on such knowledge e.g. in
the field of health care the origin of diseases can
be resolved, therapies can be optimized, and the
occurence of diseases might be prevented or at
least minimized.
Apart from the derivation of structure-property
relationships, the derivation of structure-dynamic
relationships is one of the most challenging topics.
Utilizing advanced nanostructuring technologies
artificial bioinspired materials with new
promising properties can be realized.
To achieve all the aformentioned ambitious goals
in material and life sciences innovative optical
components and sophisticated frequency-, timeand
spatially resolved innovative laser spectroscopical
methods and systems ranging from the
UV to the THz with unparalleled functionalities
need to be developed. Therefore, future research
activities have to focus on the development of
innovative optical spectroscopy techniques and
instruments like e.g.:
– Frequency resolved spectroscopical techniques
exploiting novel spectral ranges to access
innovative matter structures,
– Time-resolved methods ranging from nanosecond
to subfemtosecond time resolution to
study the entire range of time dependent structural
changes,
– Functional and molecular imaging – e.g. CARS
microscopy, TIP-SERS,
– High-efficient spectral imaging for diagnostics,
– Applied plasmonics for the ultra-sensitive diagnostics,
– Lensless microscopes,
– THz-spectroscopy and -technique.
MIKROSYSTEME / MICROSYSTEMS
Another research topic together with the Department
“Photonic Chip Systems” shall combine the
achievements of photonics especially of biophotonics
with those from micro- and nano-technology.
The main goal is the realization of new industrial
products, like e.g. the development of a new
generation of optical and spectroscopical microchips
for a powerful point-of-care diagnostics.
A. Spectral optical sensing
(R. Riesenberg)
The annual report 2004 was entitled “Micro-aperture
arrays in optics” and that oft 2003 “Ultra-sensitive
optical sensing”. The annual report 2005,
presents innovative high performance optical
sensing set-ups for spectral sensors, for a multisignal-reader
and for micro-imaging.
Future research topics might be high performance
optical spectral and 5D-sensing architectures
and lensless micro-imaging with synthetic
apertures.
Compact Raman spectral sensors
(A. Wuttig, R. Riesenberg)
The project “OMIB online monitoring and identification
of microorganisms and bio aerosols”
deals with a rapid identification of single microorganisms
by means of micro Raman-spectroscopy
in combination with statistical data evaluation
procedures. Such a point-of-care detection
demands compact high performance sensors.
Therefore, two sensors based on new technologies
were designed and manufactured: one
for the UV-region and another for the NIR-region.
For that reason, a special 2D-entrance aperture
array implementing a set of 10 little different
spectrometers in one design can be applied. The
reconvolution of the different images avoids aberrations
and increases the spectral resolution as
well as the throughput (patent pended arrangements).
The UV spectral sensor established in
2004 has been successfully tested by recording
Raman spectra of bacteria and minerals. More
than 10.000 spectral points are detected by
the UV-sensor exhibiting a detector-array of
2048 × 512 pixels (spectral region 245 nm – 360 nm,
spectral resolution up to 0.035 nm) simultaneously
(see Fig. 3.1).
A second NIR Raman spectral sensor (see
Fig. 3A on color page) operates in the wavelength
range of 780 nm to 1100 nm at a wavelength
resolution of 0.3 nm (corresponding
wavenumber resolution: 5 cm –1 at λ = 780 nm …
2.5 cm –1 at λ = 1100 nm) using only a 1024 × 128
pixel detector.
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