Photo-reception properties of common LEDs

The article proves that common LEDs may act as photodetectors with limited sensitivity, if they are polarized with an appropriate reverse voltage. The measured responsivities are ranged between 0.002 and 0.156 A/W and they depend on the LED type. The only one exception are white (phosphorescent) LEDs which do not exhibit any photosensitivity. There have also shown that a bandwidth of LEDs, which were examined in a role of photodetectors, is of a few tens of MHz, which is an order of magnitude greater than their modulation bandwidth as transmitters. The reasons of the observed LEDs behaviour are explained theoretically. The obtained results are indicated that some of them may be used as both transmitters and receivers in the VLC links working in a bi-directional half-duplex mode.     

A numerical model of multimode fiber PON frequency response

Frequency response of passive optical network (PON) based on multimode fibers is investigated. The network comprises fibers, connectors and splitters/couplers. It is shown that due to mode filtering at splitters, the frequency response is different for different network nodes in otherwise symmetrical network.     

Incoherent light propagation over a folded path in the turbulent atmosphere

Incoherent light propagation over a folded path in the turbulent atmosphere has been examined using the phase-screen method. Expressions for the variance of the received power have been obtained in the weak turbulence conditions.     

High surface area of porous silicon drives desorption of intact molecules

The surface structure of porous silicon used in desorption/ionization on porous silicon (DIOS) mass analysis is known to play a primary role in the desorption/ionization (D/I) process. In this study, mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to examine the correlation between intact ion generation with surface ablation and surface morphology. The DIOS process is found to be highly laser energy dependent and correlates directly with the appearance of surface ions (Si(n)(+) and OSiH(+)). A threshold laser energy for DIOS is observed (10 mJ/cm(2)), which supports that DIOS is driven by surface restructuring and is not a strictly thermal process. In addition, three DIOS regimes are observed that correspond to surface restructuring and melting. These results suggest that higher surface area silicon substrates may enhance DIOS performance. A recent example that fits into this mechanism is the surface of silicon nanowires, which has a high surface energy and concomitantly requires lower laser energy for analyte desorption.     

Phosphonium labeling for increasing metabolomic coverage of neutral lipids using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry has become an indispensable tool for the global study of metabolites (metabolomics), primarily using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). However, many important classes of molecules such as neutral lipids do not ionize well by ESI and go undetected. Chemical derivatization of metabolites can enhance ionization for increased sensitivity and metabolomic coverage. Here we describe the use of tris(2,4,6,‐trimethoxyphenyl)phosphonium acetic acid (TMPP‐AA) to improve liquid chromatography (LC)/ESI‐MS detection of hydroxylated metabolites (i.e. lipids) from serum extracts. Cholesterol which is not normally detected from serum using ESI is observed with attomole sensitivity. This approach was applied to identify four endogenous lipids (hexadecanoyl‐sn‐glycerol, dihydrotachysterol, octadecanol, and alpha‐tocopherol) from human serum. Overall, this approach extends the types of metabolites which can be detected using standard ESI‐MS instrumentation and demonstrates the potential for targeted metabolomics analysis. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Affinity mass spectrometry from a tailored porous silicon surface

The development of chemically stable porous silicon (pSi) materials for DIOS (Desorption/Ionization on Silicon) mass spectrometry, covalent linkers cleaved in the DIOS laser pulse, and efficient methods for bond formation to immobilized species, allows for on-chip affinity purification and mass detection.