Joel N. Bixler

Bright emission from a random Raman laser

Random lasers are a developing class of light sources that utilize a highly disordered gain medium as opposed to a conventional optical cavity. Although traditional random lasers often have a relatively broad emission spectrum, a random laser that utilizes vibration transitions via Raman scattering allows for an extremely narrow bandwidth, on the order of 10 cm−1. Here we demonstrate the first experimental evidence of lasing via a Raman interaction in a bulk three-dimensional random medium, with conversion efficiencies on the order of a few percent. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulations are used to study the complex spatial and temporal dynamics of nonlinear processes in turbid media. In addition to providing a large signal, characteristic of the Raman medium, the random Raman laser offers us an entirely new tool for studying the dynamics of gain in a turbid medium.

Single-shot stand-off chemical identification of powders using random Raman lasing.

Significance The long-range stand-off chemical identification of materials has been a high profile goal of science in recent years. In this article, we demonstrate the stand-off identification of chemical compounds from kilometer-scale distances in a single laser pulse by detecting the emission from random Raman lasing processes in the target. This technique opens up the door to rapid identification of potentially hazardous chemicals from a safe distance. The task of identifying explosives, hazardous chemicals, and biological materials from a safe distance is the subject we consider. Much of the prior work on stand-off spectroscopy using light has been devoted to generating a backward-propagating beam of light that can be used drive further spectroscopic processes. The discovery of random lasing and, more recently, random Raman lasing provide a mechanism for remotely generating copious amounts of chemically specific Raman scattered light. The bright nature of random Raman lasing renders directionality unnecessary, allowing for the detection and identification of chemicals from large distances in real time. In this article, the single-shot remote identification of chemicals at kilometer-scale distances is experimentally demonstrated using random Raman lasing.

Assessment of tissue heating under tunable near-infrared radiation

Abstract. The time-temperature effects of laser radiation exposure are investigated as a function of wavelength. Here, we report the thermal response of bulk tissue as a function of wavelength from 700 to 1064 nm. Additionally, Monte Carlo simulations were used to verify the thermal response measured and predict damage thresholds based on the response.

Ultrasensitive detection of waste products in water using fluorescence emission cavity-enhanced spectroscopy

Significance Clean water is paramount to human health. Contaminants, such as human waste products in drinking water, can result in significant health issues. In this article, we present a technique for detection of trace amounts of human or animal waste products in water. This technique could allow for real-time assessment of water quality without the need for expensive laboratory equipment. Clean water is paramount to human health. In this article, we present a technique for detection of trace amounts of human or animal waste products in water using fluorescence emission cavity-enhanced spectroscopy. The detection of femtomolar concentrations of urobilin, a metabolic byproduct of heme metabolism that is excreted in both human and animal waste in water, was achieved through the use of an integrating cavity. This technique could allow for real-time assessment of water quality without the need for expensive laboratory equipment.

A narrow-band speckle-free light source via random Raman lasing

Currently, no light source exists which is both narrowband and speckle free with sufficient brightness for full-field imaging applications. Light-emitting diodes are excellent spatially incoherent sources, but are tens of nanometers broad. Lasers, on the other hand, can produce very narrow-band light, but suffer from high spatial coherence which leads to speckle patterns, which distort the image. Here, we propose the use of random Raman laser emission as a new kind of light source capable of providing short-pulsed narrow-band speckle-free illumination for imaging applications.

Modeling focusing Gaussian beams in a turbid medium with Monte Carlo simulations.

Monte Carlo techniques are the gold standard for studying light propagation in turbid media. Traditional Monte Carlo techniques are unable to include wave effects, such as diffraction; thus, these methods are unsuitable for exploring focusing geometries where a significant ballistic component remains at the focal plane. Here, a method is presented for accurately simulating photon propagation at the focal plane, in the context of a traditional Monte Carlo simulation. This is accomplished by propagating ballistic photons along trajectories predicted by Gaussian optics until they undergo an initial scattering event, after which, they are propagated through the medium by a traditional Monte Carlo technique. Solving a known problem by building upon an existing Monte Carlo implementation allows this method to be easily implemented in a wide variety of existing Monte Carlo simulations, greatly improving the accuracy of those models for studying dynamics in a focusing geometry.

Intravital Fluorescence Excitation in Whole-Animal Optical Imaging.

Whole-animal fluorescence imaging with recombinant or fluorescently-tagged pathogens or cells enables real-time analysis of disease progression and treatment response in live animals. Tissue absorption limits penetration of fluorescence excitation light, particularly in the visible wavelength range, resulting in reduced sensitivity to deep targets. Here, we demonstrate the use of an optical fiber bundle to deliver light into the mouse lung to excite fluorescent bacteria, circumventing tissue absorption of excitation light in whole-animal imaging. We present the use of this technology to improve detection of recombinant reporter strains of tdTomato-expressing Mycobacterium bovis BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) bacteria in the mouse lung. A microendoscope was integrated into a whole-animal fluorescence imager to enable intravital excitation in the mouse lung with whole-animal detection. Using this technique, the threshold of detection was measured as 103 colony forming units (CFU) during pulmonary infection. In comparison, the threshold of detection for whole-animal fluorescence imaging using standard epi-illumination was greater than 106 CFU.

Probe beam deflection optical imaging of thermal and mechanical phenomena resulting from nanosecond electric pulse (nsEP) exposure in-vitro

Electric-field induced physical phenomena, such as thermal, mechanical and electrochemical dynamics, may be the driving mechanism behind bioeffects observed in mammalian cells during exposure to nanosecond-duration electric pulses (nsEP) in-vitro. Correlating a driving mechanism to a biological response requires the experimental measurement and quantification of all physical dynamics resulting from the nsEP stimulus. A passive and electromagnetic interference (EMI) immune sensor is required to resolve these dynamics in high strength electric fields. The probe beam deflection technique (PBDT) is a passive and EMI immune optical method for quantifying and imaging refractive index gradients in liquids and gases, both dynamic and static, with nanosecond temporal resolution. In this work, a probe beam deflection imaging system was designed to acquire 2-D time-lapse images of thermal/mechanical dynamics resulting from monopolar and bipolar nsEP stimulus.

Enabling time resolved microscopy with random Raman lasing

Optical imaging of fast events and processes is essential for understanding dynamics of complex systems. A bright flash of illuminating light is required to acquire sufficient number of photons for superior image quality. Laser pulses can provide extreme brightness and are typically employed to achieve high temporal resolution; however, the high degree of coherence associated with the lasing process degrades the image quality with speckle formation. Random lasers are low-coherence sources of stimulated emission and do not suffer from speckle, but are rather broadband and have a relatively low output power limiting the scope of their potential applications. In this report, we demonstrate the use of random Raman lasing as a novel imaging light source with unprecedented brightness for a speckle-free and narrowband light source. We showcase the advantages of a random Raman laser to image the nanosecond scale dynamics of cavitation formation in water and quantitatively compare these images to those taken with incoherent fluorescent emission and coherent laser light as illumination source.

Methods for variance reduction in Monte Carlo simulations

Monte Carlo simulations are widely considered to be the gold standard for studying the propagation of light in turbid media. However, due to the probabilistic nature of these simulations, large numbers of photons are often required in order to generate relevant results. Here, we present methods for reduction in the variance of dose distribution in a computational volume. Dose distribution is computed via tracing of a large number of rays, and tracking the absorption and scattering of the rays within discrete voxels that comprise the volume. Variance reduction is shown here using quasi-random sampling, interaction forcing for weakly scattering media, and dose smoothing via bi-lateral filtering. These methods, along with the corresponding performance enhancements are detailed here.