2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Terahertz biophotonics by use of ultrafast telecommunication devices
| Project/Area Number |
16360037
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
|
| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
|---|
| Section | 一般 |
|---|
| Research Field |
Applied physics, general
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Tohoku University |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
SHIKATA Jun-ichi Tohoku University, Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Associate Professor, 電気通信研究所, 助教授 (50302237)
|
|---|
| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MIYAZAKI Hitoshi University of Tsukuba, Gene Research Center, Professor, 応用生物化学系, 教授 (40183636)
MIYAMOTO Katsuhiko Tohoku University, Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Research Associate, 電気通信研究所, 助手 (20375158)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2006
|
| Keywords | biophotonics / coherent Raman effect / terahertz molecular vibration / semiconductor laser / ultrafast photonics |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
The objectives of this research are to realize a novel, compact, high-accuracy coherent Raman spectrometer using ultrafast photonics devices for the in vivo detection of terahertz (THz) molecular vibrations in biological tissues, and demonstrate the advantages in biophotonics applications. Firstly, we developed a confocal THz-frequency CARS spectrometer based on the conventional nanosecond-pulsed CARS system, and then measured and performed polarization analysis of CARS spectra of organic and biomolecules in the wide frequency range of 1.5-54 THz, to obtain a database for THz biophotonics. We then have developed a THz-CARS microscope, and performed near-infrared imaging of a cancer tissue, to study the biological information obtained by conventional THz imaging. From the clear, high-resolution images, the near-infrared imaging was found to be effective for the detection of not only the cancer portions, but also the necrotic portions surrounded by cancer cells. Using THz-phonon resonances in solid samples, THz-CARS imaging was also demonstrated for the first time. Furthermore, we have developed a high-peak power, tunable near-infrared source using picosecond pulsed laser diode, fiber amplifiers, and nonlinear frequency conversions using a photonic crystal fiber and periodically poled lithium niobate. The compact, flexible light source was successfully applied to nonlinear optical (two-photon-fluorescence) bioimaging of mouse neuron cells. Through the above fruitful results, we have contributed to the new basis for THz biophotonics and the advance of THz science and technology.
|
