Stress-Induced Alteration of Chlorophyll Fluorescence Polarization and Spectrum in Leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alocasia macrorrhiza</Emphasis> L. Schott

The value of intrinsic chlorophyll fluorescence polarization, and the intensity in emission spectrum were investigated in leaf segments of Alocasia macrorrhiza under several stress conditions including different temperatures (25–50°C), various concentrations of NaCl (0–250 mM), methyl viologen (MV, 0–25 μM), SDS (0–1.0%) and NaHSO₃ (0–80 μM). Fluorescence emission spectrum of leaves at wavelength regions of 500–800 nm was monitored by excitation at 436 nm. The value of fluorescence polarization (P value), as result of energy transfer and mutual orientation between chlorophyll molecules, was determined by excitation at 436 nm and emission at 685 nm. The results showed that elevated temperature and concentrations of salt (NaCl), photooxidant (MV), surfactant (SDS) and simulated SO₂ (NaHSO₃) treatments all induced a reduction of fluorescence polarization to various degrees. However, alteration of the fluorescence spectrum and emission intensity of F₆₈₅ and F₇₃₁ depended on the individual treatment. Increase in temperature and concentration of NaHSO₃ enhanced fluorescence intensity mainly at F₆₈₅, while an increase in MV concentration led to a decrease at both F₆₈₅ and F₇₃₁. On the contrary, NaCl and SDS did not cause remarkable change in fluorescence spectrum. Among different treatments, the negative correlation between polarization and fluorescence intensity was found with NaHSO₃ treatments only. We concluded that P value being measured with intrinsic chlorophyll fluorescence as probe in leaves is a susceptible indicator responding to changes in environmental conditions. The alteration of P value and fluorescence intensity might not always be shown a functional relation pattern. The possible reasons of differed response to various treatments were discussed.     

Tunable Ytterbium-Doped Fiber Laser Based on a Mechanically Induced Long Period Holey Fiber Grating

We describe a tunable double-clad Yb-doped fiber laser based on a long period fiber grating mechanically induced in a section of single mode holey fiber inserted into the laser cavity. The mechanically induced long period holey fiber grating acts as a wavelength-selective fiber filter whose central wavelength, linewidth, and strength can be tuned by changing the period, the length of the grating, and the applied pressure. The fiber laser gives a ∼12.6 nm tuning range, from ∼1079:4–1092nm, with slope efficiencies of 18.7–26.3% at this wavelength range, with respect to the launched pump power.     

Picosecond near- to mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator using KTiOAsO4

The operation and characterization of a high-repetition-rate singly-resonant picosecond optical parametric oscillator based on the non-linear material KTiOAsO4 and synchronously pumped by a Kerr-lens-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 81 MHz is described. By utilizing non-critical type II phase-matching in a 10 mm crystal, average near-infrared output powers of 403 mW have been generated at 31% extraction efficiency. The oscillator exhibits a pump power threshold of 230 mW and with the available mirror set can provide signal tuning over 1.116–1.281 μm and idler tuning over 2.260–3.160 μm by tuning the pump wavelength over 770–896 nm. Without dispersion compensation, near-transform-limited signal pulses with durations of 1.01–1.03 ps and idler pulses with 1.61–2.91 ps duration have been obtained for 1.2 ps input pump pulses. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sensitive detection of optical discrete absorption and lasing of fused silica by the depopulation of the ground state

Ultraviolet light induced high resolution optical absorption spectra and resonance coherent fluorescence of spectroscopically pure fused silica have been studied, due to their potential applications in optoelectronics and laser flash spectroscopy for laboratory use, for optical fibers and for power optics for lasers. Ultraviolet discrete absorption spectra and resonance coherent fluorescence were recorded photographically between 200 and 260 nm. Resonance discrete and coherent fluorescence (i.e. lasing effect) were observed in the 250–255 nm band at room temperature by high photon flux excitation spectroscopy.     

Fabrication of Small Fluorescence Scale Patterns by Electron Beam Drawing Using Polymer Film Containing Fluorescence Dye

We report the fabrication of a resolution–evaluation chart and a scale for a fluorescence microscope. Small fluorescence patterns were fabricated by irradiating an electron beam (EB) in a thin film prepared by dispersing fluorescence dye (rhodamine 590) in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and by development to remove EB-irradiated parts. As a result, the fluorescence emission pattern of nanometer order (a line width of 110 nm and a line interval of 370 nm) with sufficient fluorescence intensity was obtained, and a 1 μm bright fluorescence scale for the laser scanning fluorescence microscope was fabricated. These fluorescence patterns are handled easily and are effective for measurement using a fluorescence microscope.     

Structure and optical properties of carbon films obtained by multipulse pulsed laser deposition

We have obtained carbon thin films on silicon and glass substrates with multipulse pulsed laser irradiation of graphite under vacuum (p ≈ 2.6 Pa) using a high-frequency series of nanosecond laser pulses (τ = 85 ns, λ = 1060 nm) with pulse repetition frequency f ≈ 10–20 kHz and laser power density q ≈ 15–40 MW/cm². We established the optimal laser power density and laser pulse repetition frequency for obtaining amorphous nanostructured diamond-like films.     

Anti-stokes fluorescence of polymethine dyes excited by a titanium-sapphire laser

Fluorescence of symmetric polymethine dye solutions (λ _abs ^max ≈ 700 nm) upon anti-Stokes excitation by cw radiation of a titanium-sapphire laser (781 nm) is first investigated. A series of six compounds with analogous composition and spectral and luminescent properties is investigated. It is demonstrated that in addition to the anti-Stokes component, the Stokes component with a maximum at 820 nm (referred to the H-aggregates of initial dyes) is observed in the fluorescence spectra of solutions of the examined molecules when dye concentration increases to 10⁻³ M. Dependences of the anti-Stokes and Stokes component intensities on the exciting radiation power are obtained that confirm a linear excitation character. On examples of xanthene and polymethine dyes, the use of organic fluorophors for anti-Stokes laser cooling and some other possible applications of the anti-Stokes fluorescence are discussed. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 63–70, March, 2007.     

Photodynamic damage study of HeLa cell line using ALA

The present study evaluates the photodynamic damage with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) using HeLa as experimental model. HeLa cell line was irradiated with red light (He-Ne laser, λ = 632.8 CW nm). The influence of different incubation times and concentrations of 5-ALA, different irradiation doses and various combinations of photosensitizer and light doses on the cellular viability of HeLa cells were studied. The optimal uptake of photosensitizer ALA in HeLa cells was investigated by means of PpIX fluorescence intensity by exciting the HeLa cell suspension at 450 nm and a detection wavelength set at 690 nm. Cells viability was determined by means of trypan blue solution. The spectrometric measurements showed that the maximal cellular uptake of 5-ALA occurred after 4 h in vitro incubation. We found that the combination with 5-ALA and laser irradiation leads to time/concentration-dependent increase of cells death and also energy doses-dependent enlarge the cells death. The fluorescence intensity after PDD of carcinoma cells reduce when compared with the control group. The fluorescence emission spectral profiles after PDD of carcinoma cells showed a dip around 425–525 nm when compared with the control group. This may be due to the damage of mitochondria component of cells. The percentage of HeLa cells after PDD shows that the percentage of cells survival rate as function of laser dose (power). Hence it is clear that at 200 μg/ml ALA and 20 mW laser irradiation, more than 70% of HeLa cells were dead after 15 min.     

A linear cavity multiwavelength fiber laser with adjustable lasing line number for fixed spectral regions

We report an experimental demonstration of muliwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser with adjustable wavelength number based on a power-symmetric nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) in a linear cavity. The intensity-dependent loss (IDL) induced by the NOLM is used to suppress the mode competition and realize the stable multiwavelength oscillation. The controlling of the wavelength number is achieved by adjusting the strength of IDL, which is dependent on the pump power. As the pump power increases from 40 to 408 mW, 1–7 lasing line(s) at fixed wavelength around 1601 nm are obtained. The output power stability is also investigated. The most power fluctuation of single wavelength is less than 0.9 dB, when the wavelength number is increased from 1–7.     

Size dependence of complex refractive index function of growing nanoparticles

The evidence of the change of the complex refractive index function E(m) of carbon and iron nanoparticles as a function of their size was found from two-color time-resolved laser-induced incandescence (TiRe-LII) measurements. Growing carbon particles were observed from acetylene pyrolysis behind a shock wave and iron particles were synthesized by pulse Kr–F excimer laser photo-dissociation of Fe(CO)₅. The magnitudes of refractive index function were found through the fitting of two independently measured values of particle heat up temperature, determined by two-color pyrometry and from the known energy of the laser pulse and the E(m) variation. Small carbon particles of about 1–14 nm in diameter had a low value of E(m)∼0.05–0.07, which tends to increase up to a value of 0.2–0.25 during particle growth up to 20 nm. Similar behavior for iron particles resulted in E(m) rise from ∼0.1 for particles 1–3 nm in diameter up to ∼0.2 for particles >12 nm in diameter.     

Pattern structures fabricated on ZnS–SiO2/AgO x /ZnS–SiO2 thin film structure by laser direct writing technology

In this work, we used the multilayered ZnS–SiO₂/AgO _x /ZnS–SiO₂ films as the laser direct writing materials, and pattern structures with different shapes and sizes were directly written with green laser (λ=488 nm). Compared with traditional photoresist materials, the pattern structures can be directly formed in this film structures without developing and etching procedures and also can be directly written by very low laser power. By tuning the laser parameters precisely, pattern structures with different sizes and shapes could be obtained as well. The analysis indicates that the formation mechanism of the pattern structure is mainly due to the volume expansion caused by AgO _x decomposition into silver particles and oxygen. The oxygen applies pressure to the ZnS–SiO₂ layer and makes a hollow shell under the film. The aspect ratios of the patterns rapidly increase from the minimum of 0.012 in laser power of 3.0 mW to the maximum of 0.201 in laser power of 5.0 mW. The thermal stability of the patterns was also qualitatively studied.     

High-resolution spectroscopy on ground-state transitions of samarium-I

A high resolution laser-induced fluorescence study has been performed on thirteen ground-state transitions in samarium, using a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser in the wavelength range 350–440 nm. From each spectrum isotope shifts and hyperfine structure constants A and B are derived. The results are used to determine the nuclear parameter λ^AA'.     

Effect of absorbed pump power on the quality of output beam from monolithic microchip lasers

The dependence of the beam propagation factor (M ² parameter) with the absorbed pump power in the case of monolithic microchip laser under face-cooled configuration is extensively studied. Our investigations show that the M ₂ parameter is related to the absorbed pump power through two parameters (α and β) whose values depend on the laser material properties and laser configuration. We have shown that one parameter arises due to the oscillation of higher order modes in the microchip cavity and the other parameter accounts for the spherical aberration associated with the thermal lens induced by the pump beam. Such dependency of M ² parameter with the absorbed pump power is experimentally verified for a face-cooled monolithic microchip laser based on Nd³⁺ -doped GdVO₄ crystal and the values of α and β parameters were estimated from the experimentally measured data points.     

Tunable, low-repetition-rate, cost-efficient femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser for nonlinear microscopy

We report on a broadly tunable, long-cavity Ti:sapphire laser oscillator being mode-locked in the net negative intracavity dispersion regime by Kerr-lens mode-locking, delivering τ _FWHM<300 fs pulses at 22 MHz repetition rate. The wavelength of the laser can be tuned over a 170 nm wide range between 712 nm and 882 nm. Having a typical pump power of 2.6 W, the maximum pulse peak power is 60 kW. Comparison of the reported laser with a standard, 76 MHz Ti:sapphire oscillator regarding two-photon excitation efficiency in a laser scanning microscope shows that the 22 MHz laser generates the same fluorescence signal at considerably, 1.82 times lower average power, which is expected to result in a reduced photothermal damage probability of biological samples. This fact along with the broad tunability and a low pump power requirement makes this cost-effective laser an ideal light source for nonlinear microscopy.     

Fluorescence and absorption of polystyrene exposed to UV laser radiation

We show that when polystyrene is exposed (for 15–60 sec) to a UV laser light beam (λ = 248 nm), its absorption and luminescent properties change significantly. In the irradiated polymer, optical centers are formed with absorption bands in the 280–460 nm region and fluorescence bands in the 330–520 nm region. We have established the chemical structure of the optical centers for fluorescence of polystyrene. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 1, pp. 54–58, January–February, 2006.     

Intracavity two-photon polarization spectroscopy on the basis of light-induced peaks of radiation power

A calculation of the selective losses of a spectrometer based on a broad-band laser with an anisotropic three-mirror ring resonator containing a two-photon-absorbing atomic gas medium with a light-induced resonance anisotropy has been performed. The conditions under which laser radiation power resonances appear in the output radiation spectrum and the contribution of different factors to their formation have been revealed. Possible ways of obtaining information on the polarization effects induced by a powerful light wave in a medium at the frequencies of two-quantum transitions were investigated. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 48–53, January–February, 1999.     

Ultrafast heat transfer on nanoscale in thin gold films

Heat transfer processes, induced by ultrashort laser pulses in thin gold films, were studied with a time resolution of 50 fs. It is demonstrated that in thin gold films heat is transmitted by means of electron–phonon and phonon–phonon interactions, and dissipated on nanoscale within 800 fs. Measurements show that the electron–phonon relaxation time varies versus the probe wavelength from 1.6 to 0.8 ps for λ=560–630 nm. The applied mathematical model is a result of transforming the two-temperature model to the hyperbolic heat equation, based on assumptions that the electron gas is heated up instantaneously and applying Cattaneo’s law to the phonon subsystem, agrees well with the experimental results. This model allows us to define time of electron–phonon scattering as the ratio of the heat penetration depth to the speed of sound in the bulk material that, in turn, provides an explanation of experimental results that show the dependence of the electron–phonon relaxation time on the wavelength.     

Optical, Structural and Thermodynamic Studies of the Association of an Anti-leucamic Drug Imatinib Mesylate with Transport Protein

The interaction of an anti-leukemic drug, imatinib mesylate (IMT) with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional fluorescence, circular dichroism and UV–vis absorption techniques under physiological condition. The process of binding of IMT on HSA was observed to be through a spontaneous molecular interaction procedure. IMT effectively quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA via static quenching. The values of binding constant, number of molecules that interact simultaneously with the binding site and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated by carrying out the interactions at three different temperatures. Based on thermodynamic parameters and displacement studies with site probes, it was proposed that the drug bound at Sudlow’s site I of subdomain IIA. The change in the conformation of HSA was evident from synchronous, three-dimensional fluorescence and circular dichroism studies. The distance between the donor (protein) and acceptor (drug) was calculated based on the Foster’s theory of resonance energy stransfer and it was found to be 1.30 nm. The effect of different metal ions on the binding of the drug to protein was also investigated.     

Structure and transport properties of ultrathin YBa2Cu3O7−x films

The crystal structure and transport properties of epitaxial c-oriented YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x films are investigated for high-T _c layer thicknesses from 5 to 300 nm. The films were prepared by laser deposition. Films less than 30 nm thick become predominantly single-domain in the direction of the c axis. As the thickness decreases, the orthorhombicity parameter of the YBaCuO lattice decreases, which correlates with the critical temperature degradation observed in films less than 9 nm thick. The obtained thickness dependence of the effective microwave surface resistance of a YBaCuO film agrees well with the computational result obtained in the framework of local electrodynamics for samples with a constant microwave conductance. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 8, 608–613 (25 April 1996)