Improving the precision of fluorescence lifetime measurement using a streak camera

Streak camera has high temporal resolution and high sensitivity, and is a powerful tool in biomedical study to measure fluorescence lifetime and perform fluorescence lifetime imaging. However, nonuniformity of the gain in the streak tube and nonlinearity of the sweeping speed limit the precision of fluorescence lifetime measurement, particularly when fluorescence lifetimes are short. We have constructed a two-photon excitation fluorescence lifetime measurement system that is based on a synchroscan streak camera and have developed accordingly a method to correct the effect of gain nonuniformity and nonlinearity of sweeping speed on the measurement precision. A continuous-wave laser of high stability is used to calibrate the gain of the streak camera, and a Fabry-Perot etalon is used to calibrate the nonlinearity of the sweeping speed. Fitting algorithms are used to correct the gain of the streak camera and nonlinearity of the sweeping speed respectively, which significantly improves the measurement precision of the system, as characterized through the fluorescence lifetime of the short-lived fluorescence dye, Rose Bengal. Experimental results show that the measurement fluctuation of the lifetime has been improved from more than 10% to 2% after correcting the effects of gain nonuniformity and sweeping speed nonlinearity.     

Detection of Fluorescence from Single Chlorophyll a Molecules Absorbed on Glass Surface

We investigate the single molecule spectroscopy of chlorophyll a molecules on glass surface in N2-saturated environment. The basic photodynamic parameters of chlorophyll a molecules, such as fluorescence lifetime,survival time before photobleaching, on-time, and off-time, are reported. A four-level model is employed to describe the possible dynamics and photobleaching of chlorophyll a upon excitation. Broad distributions in fluorescence lifetimes and survival times are mainly due to the heterogeneities of both molecular conformation and local environment.     

Optoelectronic properties analysis of silicon light-emitting diode monolithically integrated in standard CMOS IC

Si p~+n junction diodes operating in the mode of avalanche breakdown are capable of emitting light in the visible range of 400–900 nm. In this study, to realize the switching speed in the GHz range, we present a transient model to shorten the carrier lifetime in the high electric field region by accumulating carriers in both p and n type regions. We also verify the optoelectronic characteristics by disclosing the related physical mechanisms behind the light emission phenomena. The emission of visible light by a monolithically integrated Si diode under the reverse bias is also discussed. The light is emitted as spatial sources by the defects located at the p–n junction of the reverse-biased diode. The influence of the defects on the electrical behavior is manifested as a current-dependent electroluminescence.     

Light slowing and all-optical time division multiplexing of hybrid four-wave mixing signal in nitrogen-vacancy center

We report the experimental results of hybrid four-wave mixing and fluorescence signals from nitrogen-vacancy(NV)centers in diamond. The fluorescence signals are slowed owing to dark state. The observed delay time of light slowing due to interconversion between NV~- and NV~0 is about 6.4 μs. The relative intensities of read-out signals change with the wavelength and power of writing pulse. Based on light slowing, we present the model of all-optical time division multiplexing. The intensity ratio in different demultiplexed channels is modulated by the wavelength and power of control field. It has potential applications in quantum communication and all-optical network.     

Fluorescence properties of divalent and trivalent europium ions in CdWO4 single crystals grown by the Bridgman method

Optical absorption,excitation,and fluorescence were investigated in Eu ion-doped CdWO4 single crystal grown by a modified Bridgman method.The results indicate that Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions coexist in CdWO4 crystal and an energy transfer occurs between these Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions.When the crystal is excited by 266-nm light,the energy corresponding to the 4f65d to 8S7/2 transition of Eu2+ ions results in the excitation of the Eu3+ ions to the 5DJ level.The effect on fluorescence of annealing in oxygen at various temperatures was investigated.The excitation intensity of Eu2+ ions at 266 nm decreases as annealing temperature increases from 300 K to 1073 K,but it remains at a certain equilibrium level when the annealing temperature is further increased.     

A Code for Bunch Lengthening Simulation

Bunch lengthening phenomenon is resulted from one of the most severe single bunch instabilities in storage rings. We develop a new code to calculate the single bunch length and energy spread in storage rings using FORTRAN. In this code, wake field is calculated using an analytical formula, which is different from the previous ones. The bunch length and energy spread under different bunch currents are calculated for BEPCII by using this code, and the tracking results are in good agreement with those from other codes. The calculated energy spread clearly shows that the longitudinal microwave instability threshold is around 65 mA for BEPCII storage ring.     

Appropriate Gate Time for Single Molecular Photon Detection Based on Optimal Signal-to-Noise Ratio Analyses

Signal-to-noise ratio of fluorescence detection from a single molecule ＆ analysed by using time-gated techniques. It is found that the optimal signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained by choosing an appropriate gate time with a certain optical background. The dependences of molecular fluorescence lifetime and the optimal signal-to-noise ratio on the appropriate gate time are respectively discussed with two kinds of background sources~ chaotic state with uniform distribution and coherent state with exponential distribution in time domain. For chaotic state background we find that a certain range for appropriate gate time can be obtained with a definite fluorescence lifetime, larger fluorescence lifetime would lower the value of optimal signal-to-noise ratios. For coherent state background we find that there is also a narrow range of appropriate gate time when lifetime of single molecule is less than that of background photons.     

An improved algorithm for cloud multiple scattering

Clouds' radiation characteristics are very important in clouds scene simulation, weather forecasting, pattern recognition, and other fields. Radiation of a cloud mainly comes from its multiple scattering. A new algorithm to calculate multiple scattering, called build-up factor algorithm, is proposed in this paper. In this algorithm, a modified gamma distribution is assumed to describe droplets distribution inside a cloud, then the radiation transport equation is calculated to get the solution of single scattering, and finally, a build-up factor is defined to estimate the multiple scattering contributions. This algorithm considers both single scattered radiance and multiple scattered radiance and needs shorter computing time. It can be used in real time simulations.     

The application of artificial neural networks to the inversion of the positron lifetime spectrum

A new method of processing positron annihilation lifetime spectra is proposed.It is based on an artificial neural network(ANN)-back propagation network(BPN).By using data from simulated positron lifetime spectra which are generated by a simulation program and tested by other analysis programs,the BPN can be trained to extract lifetime and intensity from a positron annihilation lifetime spectrum as an input.In principle,the method has the potential to unfold an unknown number of lifetimes and their intensities from a measured spectrum.So far,only a proof-of-principle type preliminary investigation was made by unfolding three or four discrete lifetimes.The present study aims to design the network.Besides,the performance of this method requires both the accurate design of the BPN structure and a long training time.In addition,the performance of the method in practical applications is dependent on the quality of the simulation model.However,the chances of satisfying the above criteria appear to be high.When appropriately developed,a trained network could be a very efficient alternative to the existing methods,with a very short identification time.We have used the artificial neural network codes to analyze data such as the positron lifetime spectra for single crystal materials and monocrystalline silicon.Some meaningful results are obtained.     

An improved algorithm for cloud multiple scattering

Clouds' radiation characteristics are very important in clouds scene simulation, weather forecasting, pattern recognition, and other fields. Radiation of a cloud mainly comes from its multiple scattering. A new algorithm to calculate multiple scattering, called build-up factor algorithm, is proposed in this paper. In this algorithm, a modified gamma distribution is assumed to describe droplets distribution inside a cloud, then the radiation transport equation is calculated to get the solution of single scattering, and finally, a build-up factor is defined to estimate the multiple scattering contributions. This algorithm considers both single scattered radiance and multiple scattered radiance and needs shorter computing time. It can be used in real time simulations.     

BBU effect in an ERL-FEL two-purpose test facility

Both the energy recovery linac (ERL) and the free electron laser (FEL) are considered to be candidate fourth generation light sources. It is proposed to combine an FEL into an ERL facility to integrate the advantages of both, and to realize a compact two-purpose light source. A test facility to verify this principle is being designed at the Institute of High Energy Physics, Beijing. One main concern is the beam breakup (BBU) instability which limits the available beam current. To this end, we developed a numerical simulation code to calculate the BBU threshold, which is found to have only a small reduction even in a high-FEL-bunch-charge operation mode, compared with that in the case with ERL bunches only. However, even with the ERL beam current far below the BBU threshold, we observed a fluctuation of the central orbit of the ERL bunches in the presence of an FEL beam. We then present a physical model of BBU and understand the mechanism of the orbit-fluctuation in an ERL-FEL two-purpose machine. We found that by choosing an appropriate FEL bunch repetition rate, the central orbit fluctuation amplitude can be well controlled.     

Sensitization of Sn~(2+) on Tb~(3+) luminescence for deep UV excitation in phosphate glasses

Tb~(3+)and Sn~(2+)co-doped strontium phosphate glasses are prepared and their unique photoluminescence(PL)properties for deep UV excitation are investigated. With the co-doped Sn~(2+)ions, Tb~(3+)keeps the original PL behaviors under near UV excitation while its PL action for deep UV excitation is enhanced tremendously.PL emission and excitation spectra demonstrate the sensitization role of Sn~(2+)on the Tb~(3+)emissions for deep UV excitation that is associated with the strong deep UV absorption of Sn~(2+)for greatly enhancing the resonance of the Tb~(3+)excitation with the deep UV light source. The decay curves of Sn~(2+)and Tb~(3+)emissions for both singly doped and co-doped samples are single exponentially well fitted with almost the same emission lifetime(τ) values in the microsecond and millisecond time regimes, respectively, confirming that Sn~(2+)and Tb~(3+)act as an independent activator in the present phosphate glass matrix while an involved energy transfer from Sn~(2+)to Tb~(3+)is radiative. Moreover, Sn~(2+)and Tb~(3+)can be co-excited with deep UV light to emit tunable light from blue to green with the definite CIE chromaticity coordinate for different applications.     

Commissioning of electron cooling in CSRe

The 400 MeV/u 12C6＋ ion beam was successfully cooled by the intensive electron beam near 1 A in CSRe.The momentum cooling time was estimated near 15 s.The cooling force was measured in the cases of difierent electron beam profiles,and the difierent angles between the ion beam and electron beam.The lifetime of the ion beam in CSRe was over 80 h.The dispersion in the cooling section was confirmed as positive close to zero.The beam sizes before cooling and after cooling were measured by the moving screen.The beam diameter after cooling was about 1 mm.The bunch length was measured with the help of the signals from the beam position monitor.The difiusion was studied in the absence of the electron beam.     

Enhancement of Smith—Purcell radiation with surface-plasmon excitation

With the aid of a three-dimensional particle-in-cell code simulation,the enhancement of Smith-Purcell radiation with a surface-plasmon mode excited by a single electron bunch and by a premodulated electron beam is considered in the paper.In the simulation,the model is a grating covered by Ag film.The results demonstrate that when the surface-plasmon mode is excited by a single electron bunch,the maximum radiation occurs at an observation angle depending on the surface-plasmon frequency,and the radiation power can be enhanced more than ten times.And for pre-bunched electron beam excitation,when one of the harmonics of the bunching frequency is resonant with that of the surface-plasmon mode,the radiation power is twenty times more than that from a perfectly conducting grating excited by the same premodulated electron beam.     

Photostability of colloidal single photon emitter in near-infrared regime at room temperature

The photostability of a colloidal single photon emitter in near-infrared regime at room temperature is investigated.The fluorescence lifetime, blinking phenomenon, and anti-bunching effect of a single CdTeSe/ZnS quantum dot with an emission wavelength of 800 nm at room temperature are studied. The second-order correlation function at zero delay time is much smaller than 0.1, which proves that the emission from single quantum dots at 800 nm is a highly pure single-photon source. The effects of th...     

Photon Statistics of Single-Photon Quantum States in Real Single Photon Detection

Single photon detection (SPD) with high quantum efficiency has been widely used for measurement of different quantum states with different photon distributions.Based on the direct single SPD and double-SPD of HBT configuration, we discuss the effect of a real SPD on the photon statistics measurement and it shows that the measured photon distributions for different quantum states are corrected in different forms.The results are confirmed by experiment with the strongly attenuated coherent light and thermal light.This system can be used to characterize the photon statistics of the fluorescence light from single atom or single molecular.     

Response of self-assembly for magnetite nanocrystal in magnetic fluid under an applied magnetic field

The response time and transmittivity of the magnetic fluid (MF) for different concentrations at room temperature were investigated in this letter. The volume fraction of the investigated sample ranged from 0.44% to 6.47%. It was found that the transmittivity decreased with increasing concentration under a given magnetic field, and the evolution time was changed with different concentrations. Moreover, the light intensity decreased rapidly at the beginning and then became stable when the magnetic field was applied.     

Generation of atomic Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states and cluster states through cavity-assisted interaction

This paper proposes a scalable scheme to generate n-atom GHZ states and cluster states by using the basic building block, i.e., a weak coherent optical pulse [α） being reflected successively from a single-atom cavity. In the schemes, coherent state of light is used instead of single photon source, homodyne measurement on coherent light is done kastead of single photon detection, and no need for individually addressing keeps the schemes easy to implement from the experimental point of view. The successful probabilities of our protocols approach unity in the ideal case.     

Development of afterglow time test system for nanosecond fluorescent screen of low-level-light image intensifier北大核心CSCD

The time characteristics of fluorescent screen is one of the important parameters to evaluate the performance of image intensifier. At present, there is no measurement method for the afterglow time of nanosecond fluorescent screen of low-level-light image intensifier. Based on the traditional test scheme of image intensifier afterglow time, a afterglow time test system for nanosecond fluorescent screen was developed. This system used a high-speed signal generator with the sampling rate of 250 MHz to complete the excitation of the laser diode light pulse, and a photomultiplier tube was used with the descending time of 0.57 ns to complete the photoelectric conversion of the fluorescent screen light signal. The weak photocurrent signal of μA magnitude was amplified and converted to a single-terminal differential circuit to complete the AD conversion in AD9684. Then the digital luminance information of the fluorescent screen was stored in the double data rate SDRAM (DDR) unit after field programmable gate array (FPGA), and the host computer sent instructions to read the DDR memory. The USB3.0 high-speed transmission protocol was used to transmit data to the host computer. In the data processing, the Kalman filtering and fast finding falling edge algorithm were used to realize the accurate measurement of noise filtering from collected data and afterglow time. The test results show that the proposed afterglow time test system for nanosecond fluorescent screen can effectively test the image intensifier with ultrafast optical characteristics. The afterglow test results of P47 phosphor reaches 118.094 4 ns, and the repeatability reaches 2.08%. © 2022 Editorial office of Journal of Applied Optics. All rights reserved.     

Super-sensitivity measurement of tiny Doppler frequency shifts based on parametric amplification and squeezed vacuum state

The precision measurement of Doppler frequency shifts is of great significance for improving the precision of speed measurement. This paper proposes a precision measurement scheme of tiny Doppler shifts by a parametric amplification process and squeezed vacuum state. This scheme takes a parametric amplification process and squeezed vacuum state into a detection system, so that the measurement precision of tiny Doppler shifts can exceed the Cram′er–Rao bound of coherent light. Simultaneously, a simulation study is carried out on the theoretical basis, and the following results are obtained: for the signal light of Gaussian mode, when the amplification factor g = 1 and the squeezed factor r = 0.5, the measurement error of Doppler frequency shifts is 14.4% of the Cramer–Rao bound of the coherent light in our system. At the same time,when the local light mode and squeezed vacuum state mode are optimized, the measurement precision of this scheme can be further improved by ■ times, where n is the mode-order of the signal light.