A Streak Camera System for Time Resolved Fluorimetry

Presently, there are several techniques for measurement of fluorescence lifetimes of organic molecules. These techniques, reviewed by Ware,¹ can be divided into two basic groups, those based upon pulsed sources and those based on modulated sources and phase shift measurement. In the pulsed methods, repetitive, short pulse width, intense excitation pulses excite the fluorophor and the fluorescence decay is measured; the source temporal response must be deconvoluced from the fluorescence decay in order to evaluate the fluorescence signal and lifetime. Typical sources of excitation include nanosecond flashlamps and more recently nanosecond N₂-laser (with or without a dye laser) and mode-locked lasers with picosecond pulse widths^2-6. The modulated source phase shift methods,¹ involve sinusoidal excitation of the fluorophor and measurement of the phase shift between the modulated excitation source and the modulated flourescence. Because modulation frequencies are limited to approximately 20 MHz, fluorescence lifetimes are limited to ～.1 ns and above. In addition, in the phase shift methods, only “one point” lifetimes are obtained, i.e., the entire fluorescence decay curve is not obtained.     

Fourier transform emission lifetime spectrometer

We report a rapid and low cost Fourier transform spectrometer that uses a path length modulated Michelson interferometer to simultaneously measure excitation spectra and excitation wavelength-dependent emission lifetimes. Excitation spectra and lifetimes of excited tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) measured using this technique corresponded to values known in the literature. Excitation-dependent lifetimes of porous silicon measured with this technique suggest the influence of quantum confinement effects. This method may be useful for measuring mixtures of emitting species with closely spaced lifetimes as well as studying excitation wavelength-dependent emission phenomena.     

Emission of radiation by a resonance medium excited with a variable superluminal velocity

Specific properties of the radiation emitted by a spatially modulated resonance medium excited by an ultrashort light pulse propagating through the medium at a variable superluminal velocity are analyzed. In so doing, frequencies different from that of the resonance transition of the medium may appear in the emission spectrum. It is demonstrated that, in contrast to an earlier studied case of medium excitation at constant velocity, variation of the excitation velocity leads to generation of a spectral continuum, the boundaries of which are determined by the range of variation of the medium-excitation velocity.     

Time-between-photons method for measuring fluorescence lifetimes

We have applied a time-between-photons (TBP) method to measure fluorescence lifetimes in a pulsed-light excitation scheme. The TBP method has been originally proposed by Rossi and his coworkers in the field of ion photon emission microscopy (IPEM) for measuring lifetimes of ion-luminescent materials [Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. B 267 (2009) 2193]. The TBP method has an advantage in that no reference signal is required in the instrumental setup. In the present paper, we demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, that the TBP method is also applicable to measure conventional fluorescence lifetimes. The TBP method suits for measuring fluorescent samples whose lifetimes are sufficiently long (≥10 ns) and intensities are moderately high (≤4 × 10^?8 W): fluorescent samples with intermediate quantum yields for which the conventional time-correlated single-photon-counting (TC-SPC) method is somewhat difficult to employ as it is and the conventional analogue light-measurement method is still hard to use.     

Manipulating light pulses via dynamically controlled photonic band gap

When a resonance associated with electromagnetically induced transparency in an atomic ensemble is modulated by an off-resonant standing light wave, a band of frequencies can appear for which light propagation is forbidden. We show that dynamic control of such a band gap can be used to coherently convert a propagating light pulse into a stationary excitation with nonvanishing photonic component. This can be accomplished with high efficiency and negligible noise even at the level of few-photon quantum fields thereby facilitating possible applications in quantum nonlinear optics and quantum information.     

农药荧光寿命测试系统的原理与设计

介绍荧光的产生、荧光寿命的产生机理以及荧光寿命测量的基本原理。设计了一种利用直接记录法(光子计数法)测量农药荧光寿命的测试系统。该系统针对待测样品的特性，选用了相应的脉冲光源、光学元件和半导体探测器等器件，优化了各器件的工作参数，进行了简易而又科学的模块化设计，并对西维因农药的荧光寿命在无激励光干扰情况下进行了实际测试，测得了西维因溶液在500μg／L浓度时的荧光衰减曲线和荧光寿命(0.30～0.40ns)。结果表明，该系统具有结构简易、操作方便的优点，能测量100ps级的荧光寿命，适合于对能发荧光的农药进行荧光寿命的定量测量。     

A low noise,high fidelity cross phase modulation in multi-level atomic medium

We develop a hybrid scheme of cross phase modulation based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and active Raman gain (ARG) in a multi-level atomic medium. The cross phase modulation, with low loss and without noise, is demonstrated in a room-temperature ⁸⁵Rb vapor. We show that a π radian nonlinear Kerr phase shift of the signal light relative to a reference light is observed when the signal light is modulated by the phase control field with the low light intensity. We also show that the linear and the third-order absorption can be eliminated via the Raman gain, and the phase noise of the signal light can be ignored when the phase control light is applied in this hybrid scheme.     

基于菌紫质薄膜的相移器及其应用

设计了一种基于菌紫质光致各向异性的相移器,并把它用于相移干涉计量。取向随机分布的极性菌紫质分子对线偏振诱导光的选择性吸收导致分子取向分布不均匀,使其呈现宏观的各向异性,这种各向异性与诱导光的偏振特性密切相关,圆偏振光经过各向异性的菌紫质薄膜后,出射光的偏振特性完全由偏振诱导光决定。基于上述原理设计了一种新型的相移器,用琼斯矩阵法推导了基于相移器的相移干涉原理。该相移器在工作过程中不需要移动Mach-Zender干涉仪内部的任何器件,仅需要改变外部控制光路中诱导光的偏振取向就可以控制参考光的相位,有助于提高设备的抗振能力。用最小二乘法对相移干涉结果进行重建,得到了和实际相位一致的结果,验证了相移器的可行性。     

基于光纤光参量放大的光脉冲压窄技术的研究

在高重复频率的光窄脉冲源中,为了获得更窄的脉冲,需要增加泵浦功率|但泵浦功率的提高会使光放大器的增益趋于饱和,放大的自发辐射噪音增强,脉冲光信噪比下降.为此,提出了利用啁啾管理和光纤光参量放大相结合的脉冲压窄方案.将强度调制后的泵浦光通过相位调制引入线性负啁啾,由于经参量过程后在新的闲频光上啁啾会加倍,从而进一步增大了信号的谱宽,并通过色散补偿介质实现了光脉冲压缩.实验给出了10 GHz速率下的结果,通过泵浦光的相位调制在0.5 W平均泵浦光功率条件下得到了脉宽19 ps的光脉冲,结果与理论分析基本吻合.     

Measurement of ultrashort laser pulses

A proposal for measuring the pulse shape of ultrashort laser pulses is described. The proposed method consists of a Gamo triple intensity-interferometer to measure the triple-correlation function of the light pulses. A subsequent signal processing algorithm is used to reconstruct the true shape of the light pulses out of their triple-correlation function. The suggested method is quite insensitive to noise, as shown by means of computer simulations.     

Interaction of frequency modulated light pulses with rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap

The spatial displacement of the ⁸⁵Rb atoms in a Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) under the influence of series of frequency modulated light pulse pairs propagating opposite to each other is measured as a function of the time elapsed after the start of the pulse train, and compared with the results of simulations. Adiabatic excitation and consecutive de-excitation take place between the ground 5²S_1/2 (F=3) and the 5²P_3/2 (F'=2, 3, 4) excited levels as the result of the interaction. The displacement of the ⁸⁵Rb atoms is calculated as the solution of simple equation of motion where the expelling force is that arising from the action of the frequency modulated light pulses. The restoring and friction forces of the MOT are taken into account also. The system of Bloch equations for the density matrix elements is solved numerically for transitions between six working hyperfine levels of the atom interacting with the sequence of the frequency modulated laser pulses. According to these simulations, the momentum transferred by one pulse pair is always smaller than the expected 2ħk, (1) where ħ is the Plank constant and k=2π/λ where λ is the wavelength, (2) having a maximum value in a restricted region of variation of the laser pulse peak intensity and the chirp.     

Quinary excitation method for pulse compression ultrasound measurements

A novel switched excitation method for linear frequency modulated excitation of ultrasonic transducers in pulse compression systems is presented that is simple to realise, yet provides reduced signal sidelobes at the output of the matched filter compared to bipolar pseudo-chirp excitation. Pulse compression signal sidelobes are reduced through the use of simple amplitude tapering at the beginning and end of the excitation duration. Amplitude tapering using switched excitation is realised through the use of intermediate voltage switching levels, half that of the main excitation voltages. In total five excitation voltages are used creating a quinary excitation system. The absence of analogue signal generation and power amplifiers renders the excitation method attractive for applications with requirements such as a high channel count or low cost per channel. A systematic study of switched linear frequency modulated excitation methods with simulated and laboratory based experimental verification is presented for 2.25 MHz non-destructive testing immersion transducers. The signal to sidelobe noise level of compressed waveforms generated using quinary and bipolar pseudo-chirp excitation are investigated for transmission through a 0.5 m water and kaolin slurry channel. Quinary linear frequency modulated excitation consistently reduces signal sidelobe power compared to bipolar excitation methods. Experimental results for transmission between two 2.25 MHz transducers separated by a 0.5 m channel of water and 5% kaolin suspension shows improvements in signal to sidelobe noise power in the order of 7–8 dB. The reported quinary switched method for linear frequency modulated excitation provides improved performance compared to pseudo-chirp excitation without the need for high performance excitation amplifiers.     

基于P31荧光粉的像增强器余辉测量方法研究

荧光屏余辉在高帧频速光子计数等系统应用中起着决定性作用。GJB 7351-2011《超二代像增强器通用规范》荧光屏余辉试验方法中规定光脉冲作为激励源,该方法中光脉冲激励源停止后光源照度下降缓慢,造成在短余辉粉（μs级）和中余辉粉（ms级）的余辉时间测量中测试结果不准。针对该问题,提出了一种在光照持续工作状态下,用光电阴极电压脉冲信号作为激励源的荧光屏余辉测试方法,该方法中光电阴极超快响应时间（一般为1 ns左右）和脉冲电压信号的较短边沿时间（一般可控制在10 ns以内）特性改善了激励源自身时间响应对荧光屏余辉测试结果准确性带来的影响。基于该方法建立了一套微光像增强器荧光屏余晖测量装置,对P31荧光粉的国产三代微光像增强器余辉进行了重复性测量,对测量不确定度进行了误差分析,其扩展不确定度为3.2%,达到了传统光电测试仪器的准确度要求,可满足微光像增强管荧光屏余辉测量的要求。该研究成果为更高性能产品提供了一种检测手段。     

绿光LED激发荧光的研究

介绍了绿光LED作为荧光激发光源的可行性。使用波长为 5 30nm的超高亮度绿光LED对荧光物质四氯四溴荧光素 (C2 0 H2 Br4 Cl4 Na2 O5)的荧光发射进行了研究。设计了小巧的荧光液池 ,将四个LED分别安置于液池侧面 ,聚光后的光束交汇于液池中同一位置以提高激发光的强度 ;使用 1kHz方波调制LED ,运用分光光度计方法 ,接收到波长为 5 70nm的荧光信号     

Demonstration of partial erasing of picosecond temporal optical data by use of accumulated photon echoes

We demonstrated partial erasing of temporal optical data on a picosecond time scale by use of accumulated photon echoes. In a photon-echo memory the temporal data at time tau are stored as a frequency grating of period 1/tau in the absorption spectrum of a material. Partial erasing of the temporal data is achieved by irradiation of the material with a pulse pair at time separation tau , but the phase of one of the pulses is shifted 180 degrees . This process does not produce a frequency grating, and no echo is emitted. The experiment was performed with a dye-doped polymer film. The 180 degrees phase shift was obtained by use of a half-wave plate.     

Determination of depths and frequency factors of traps by UV amplitude modulated excitation

A study is made of the photoluminescence of ZnS-type phosphors submitted to a UV excitation modulated at various frequencies. The resulting emission shows a modulation rate and a phase shift which are functions of the occupancy of the various groups of traps, and therefore depend on temperature. Starting from the phase shift, the activation energy as well as the frequency factor of various trapping levels in ZnS/Cu and CdS, ZnS/Mn, Au samples have been computed. These results are compared with those deduced from ordinary or fractional glow curves. The advantage of the present modulated excitation method is to yield simultaneously both the activation energy and the frequency factor.     

Lifetime determination of materials that exhibit a stretched exponential luminescent decay

We report frequency- and time-domain luminescent lifetime measurements for materials that exhibit a broad spectrum of lifetimes, specifically, those for which the observed decay dynamics can be described by a stretched exponential function. The spectrum of lifetimes of such materials can be characterized by an average lifetime, and in principle this average can be extracted from either time- or frequency-domain measurements. In practice, this requires some care, because the extent to which the various states are excited depends on how long their lifetime is relative to the excitation pulse width or period. For the complex luminescent materials ZnS:Cu,Al and CdS quantum dots we compare the average lifetime obtained from frequency-domain data and from time-domain data under both pulsed laser excitation and steady-state, dc excitation. The agreement between the average measured lifetimes is good, but not perfect, showing that quoted average lifetimes for complex materials can be dependent on the measurement technique. Finally, a spectrum of lifetimes is given that gives rise to stretched exponential relaxation and this spectrum is used to compute frequency-domain data for a stretched exponential material.     

激光脉冲和电子束对撞准确度的测量方法

超强激光脉冲与相对论电子束相互对撞是当前主要的强场量子电动力学（QED）实验手段。如何测量超强激光脉冲和电子束对撞的准确度,进而实现微米精度的准确对撞,是目前限制实验发展的重要因素。利用蒙特卡罗数值模拟方法,系统研究了超强激光脉冲和相对论电子束相互对撞过程,重点关注了电子和辐射光子动力学信息与激光脉冲和电子束对撞偏移量之间的对应关系。研究发现:辐射光子的空间分布信息,可以有效反映出激光脉冲和电子束的对撞偏移量。基于该研究结果,实验中可利用光子空间分布的信息,实现对激光脉冲和电子束对撞准确度的调节,从而有望促进强场QED实验技术的发展。     

Constraining the initial phase in water-fat separation

An algorithm is described for use in chemical shift-based water-fat separation to constrain the phase of both species to be equal at an echo time of zero. This constraint is physically reasonable since the initial phase should be a property of the excitation pulse and receiver coil only. The advantages of phase constrained water-fat separation, namely, improved noise performance and/or reduced data requirements (fewer echos), are demonstrated in simulations and experiments.     

Mitigation of phase noise in dispersion compensated quasi-linear optical transmission systems: Analysis

We theoretically investigate the phase noise in quasi-linear optical transmission systems and study the mitigation of phase noise by properly choosing periodic dispersion compensation and amplification. Variational method is used to deduce the analytical formula for calculating the phase fluctuations of a Gaussian pulse. The analytical predictions are then checked against direct simulations by numerically solving the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. We find that stronger dispersion compensation maps can be used to reduce phase noise and it can be further mitigated by modifying the dispersion map appropriately. It is also found that shorter amplifier spacing yields lower phase noise. We also explore the effect of pre-, post- and bi-end dispersion compensation configurations on phase noise with full compensation and check the reduction of phase noise along the fiber link.