Dmitry Khoptyar

Determination of reference values for optical properties of liquid phantoms based on Intralipid and India ink

A multi-center study has been set up to accurately characterize the optical properties of diffusive liquid phantoms based on Intralipid and India ink at near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. Nine research laboratories from six countries adopting different measurement techniques, instrumental set-ups, and data analysis methods determined at their best the optical properties and relative uncertainties of diffusive dilutions prepared with common samples of the two compounds. By exploiting a suitable statistical model, comprehensive reference values at three NIR wavelengths for the intrinsic absorption coefficient of India ink and the intrinsic reduced scattering coefficient of Intralipid-20% were determined with an uncertainty of about 2% or better, depending on the wavelength considered, and 1%, respectively. Even if in this study we focused on particular batches of India ink and Intralipid, the reference values determined here represent a solid and useful starting point for preparing diffusive liquid phantoms with accurately defined optical properties. Furthermore, due to the ready availability, low cost, long-term stability and batch-to-batch reproducibility of these compounds, they provide a unique fundamental tool for the calibration and performance assessment of diffuse optical spectroscopy instrumentation intended to be used in laboratory or clinical environment. Finally, the collaborative work presented here demonstrates that the accuracy level attained in this work for optical properties of diffusive phantoms is reliable.

Near-infrared photon time-of-flight spectroscopy of turbid materials up to 1400 nm

Photon time-of-flight spectroscopy (PTOFS) is a powerful tool for analysis of turbid materials. We have constructed a time-of-flight spectrometer based on a supercontinuum fiber laser, acousto-optical tunable filtering, and an InP/InGaAsP microchannel plate photomultiplier tube. The system is capable of performing PTOFS up to 1400 nm, and thus covers an important region for vibrational spectroscopy of solid samples. The development significantly increases the applicability of PTOFS for analysis of chemical content and physical properties of turbid media. The great value of the proposed approach is illustrated by revealing the distinct absorption features of turbid epoxy resin. Promising future applications of the approach are discussed, including quantitative assessment of pharmaceuticals, powder analysis, and calibration-free near-infrared spectroscopy.

Excitation Isotropy of Single CdSe/ZnS Nanocrystals

We study the dimensionality of the excitation transition dipole moment for single CdSe/ZnS core-shell nanocrystals using azimuthally and radially polarized laser modes. The comparison of measured and simulated single nanocrystal excitation patterns shows that single CdSe/ZnS quantum dots possess a spherically degenerated excitation transition dipole. We show that the dimensionality of the excitation transition dipole moment distribution is the same for all individual CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals, disregarding the difference in core size and irrespective of variations in the local environment. In contrast to the emission transition dipole moment, which is oriented in one plane, the excitation transition dipole moment of a single CdSe/ZnS quantum dots possesses an isotropy in three dimensions.

Probing the Radiative Transition of Single Molecules with a Tunable Microresonator

Using a tunable optical microresonator with subwavelength spacing, we demonstrate controlled modulation of the radiative transition rate of a single molecule, which is measured by monitoring its fluorescence lifetime. Variation of the cavity length changes the local mode structure of the electromagnetic field, which modifies the radiative coupling of an emitting molecule to that field. By comparing the experimental data with a theoretical model, we extract both the pure radiative transition rate as well as the quantum yield of individual molecules. We observe a broad scattering of quantum yield values from molecule to molecule, which reflects the strong variation of the local interaction of the observed molecules with their host environment.

Broadband photon time-of-flight spectroscopy of pharmaceuticals and highly scattering plastics in the VIS and close NIR spectral ranges

We present extended spectroscopic analysis of pharmaceutical tablets in the close near infrared spectral range performed using broadband photon time-of-flight (PTOF) absorption and scattering spectra measurements. We show that the absorption spectra can be used to perform evaluation of the chemical composition of pharmaceutical tablets without need for chemo-metric calibration. The spectroscopic analysis was performed using an advanced PTOF spectrometer operating in the 650 to 1400 nm spectral range. By employing temporal stabilization of the system we achieve the high precision of 0.5% required to evaluate the concentration of tablet ingredients. In order to further illustrate the performance of the system, we present the first ever reported broadband evaluation of absorption and scattering spectra from pure and doped Spectralon®.

Tight focusing of laser beams in a λ/2-microcavity

We evaluate the field distribution in the focal spot of the fundamental Gaussian beam as well as radially and azimuthally polarized doughnut beams focused inside a planar metallic sub-wavelength microcavity using a high numerical aperture objective lens. We show that focusing in the cavity results in a much tighter focal spot in longitudinal direction compared to free space and in spatial discrimination between longitudinal and in-plane field components. In order to verify the modeling results we experimentally monitor excitation patterns of fluorescence beads inside the λ/2-cavity and find them in full agreement to the modeling predictions. We discuss the implications of the results for cavity assisted single molecular spectroscopy and intra-cavity single molecular imaging.

Three-Dimensional Orientation of Single Molecules in a Tunable Optical lambda/2 Microresonator

A tightly focused radially polarized laser beam forms an unusual bimodal field distribution in an optical lambda/2-microresonator. We use a single-molecule dipole to probe the vector properties of this field distribution by tuning the resonator length with nanometer precision. Comparing calculated and experimental excitation patterns provides the three-dimensional orientation of the single-molecule dipole in the microresonator.

Spectral characterisation of dairy products using photon time-of-flight spectroscopy

In this paper, we present, for the first time, the absorption and reduced scattering spectra of commercially available milk and yoghurt products, obtained using photon-time-of-flight spectroscopy. The ability of this technique to separate the contributions from absorption and scattering in the sample provides important information on the chemical composition and micro-structural properties, which are not available with the traditional techniques used in dairy production. The instrument operates in the spectral range from 500 nm to 1030 nm. The reduced scattering coefficient varies from 5 cm−1 for milk with 0.1% fat in the near infrared range, to 60 cm−1 for yoghurt with 3.0% fat in the green wavelength regime. The absorption is within the range of 0.05–0.5cm−1, with only small variation in the absolute value between products. Our results show that the reduced scattering clearly distinguishes milk and yoghurt with the same fat content and can offer a reliable way of monitoring structural formation during milk fermentation.

Transscleral visible/near-infrared spectroscopy for quantitative assessment of melanin in a uveal melanoma phantom of ex vivo porcine eyes.

Optical spectroscopy has been used as a supplement to conventional techniques for analyzing and diagnosing cancer in many human organs. Because ocular tumors may be characterized by their different melanin content, we investigated the feasibility of using transscleral visible/near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis/NIRS) to estimate the quantity of melanin in a novel uveal melanoma phantom of ex vivo porcine eyes. The phantoms were made by injecting a freshly prepared suspension of 15% (wt/vol) gelatin, 10 mg/ml titanium dioxide (TiO(2)), and natural melanin, isolated from the ink sac of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), into the suprachoroidal space of 30 enucleated porcine eyes. The melanin concentrations used were 1 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml, and 3 mg/ml, with 10 eyes in each group. After gelation, the size and location of the phantoms were documented by B-scan ultrasonography and transillumination. Vis/NIRS recordings, covering the wavelength region from 550 to 1000 nm, were performed with two optical fibers separated by 6 mm to deliver and collect the light through the sclera. During all measurements, the exact pressure exerted by the fiber probe on the scleral surface was monitored by placing the eye on an electronic scale. Transscleral Vis/NIRS was performed across the phantom inclusion, as well as on the opposite (normal) side of each eye. A total of three consecutive measurements were carried out alternately on each side of the globe. The spectral data were analyzed using partial least squares regression. In the melanin concentration groups of 1 mg/ml (n = 10), 2 mg/ml (n = 10), and 3 mg/ml (n = 10), the largest basal phantom diameters (mean +/- SD) were 14.9 +/- 1.6 mm, 14.6 +/- 1.5 mm, and 14.3 +/- 1.0 mm, respectively (p > 0.05). The largest phantom thicknesses (mean +/- SD) were 4.0 +/- 0.5 mm, 4.4 +/- 0.7 mm, and 4.5 +/- 0.5 mm, respectively (p > 0.05). Statistical regression modeling of the Vis/NIRS data revealed that it was possible to correctly classify the phantoms according to their melanin concentrations in 84.4% of cases. The correct classification rate for phantoms with the lowest (1 mg/ml) and highest (3 mg/ml) melanin concentrations was 99.2%. The study demonstrates that transscleral Vis/NIRS is a feasible and accurate method for predicting the content of melanin in choroidal lesions.

Longitudinal localization of a fluorescent bead in a tunable microcavity with an accuracy of λ/60

The exact localization of a quantum emitter in a transparent dielectric medium is an important task in applications of precision confocal microscopy. Therefore we use a planar metallic subwavelength microcavity that can be reversibly tuned across the entire visible range, with the transparent medium between the cavity mirrors. By analyzing the excitation patterns resulting from the illumination of a single fluorescent bead with a radially polarized doughnut mode laser beam we can determine the longitudinal position of this bead in the microcavity with an accuracy of a few nanometers.