Laurent Guyon

Femtosecond time-resolved laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for detection and identification of bacteria: A comparison to the nanosecond regime

Bacterial samples (Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis) have been analyzed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) using femtosecond pulses. We compare the obtained spectra with those resulting from the classical nanosecond LIBS. Specific features of femtosecond LIBS have been demonstrated, very attractive for analyzing biological sample: (i) a lower plasma temperature leading to negligible nitrogen and oxygen emissions from excited ambient air and a better contrast in detection of trace mineral species; and (ii) a specific ablation regime that favors intramolecular bonds emission with respect to atomic emission. A precise kinetic study of molecular band head intensities allows distinguishing the contribution of native CN bonds released by the sample from that due to carbon recombination with atmospheric nitrogen. Furthermore a sensitive detection of trace mineral elements provide specific spectral signature of different bacteria. An example is given for the Gram test provided by different magne...

Spectral signature of native CN bonds for bacterium detection and identification using femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

A sample of Escherichia coli has been analyzed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) using femtosecond pulses. The spectrum shows strong CN molecular bands due to the direct ablation of native CN molecular bonds from the bacteria in contrast with weak atomic lines from carbon. The native nature of the observed CN bonds is supported by the kinetic behavior of the CN band head which rapidly decays with a time constant of 94 ns, while for a pure graphite sample the CN band head increases with a delay of 450 ns due to recombination with the ambient air. Moreover, about hundred resolved lines belonging to 12 atomic or molecular species are recorded, providing a valuable spectral signature to identify the bacterium.

Femtosecond pump-probe experiments on trapped flavin: Optical control of dissociation

Femtosecond pump-probe experiments are performed on flavin biomolecules isolated in an ion trap. Mass spectra of the photoinduced fragments show that the fragmentation pathways can be modified using two-color two-photon excitation. In particular, when an infrared probe pulse (810 nm) is added subsequent to the first excitation step (excitation of the S(1) state of flavin mononucleotide at 405 nm), branching ratios between lumichrome and lumiflavin production are inverted relative to the single excitation case.

Resolution of strongly competitive product channels with optimal dynamic discrimination: application to flavins.

Fundamental molecular selectivity limits are probed by exploiting laser-controlled quantum interferences for the creation of distinct spectral signatures in two flavin molecules, erstwhile nearly indistinguishable via steady-state methods. Optimal dynamic discrimination (ODD) uses optimally shaped laser fields to transiently amplify minute molecular variations that would otherwise go unnoticed with linear absorption and fluorescence techniques. ODD is experimentally demonstrated by combining an optimally shaped UV pump pulse with a time-delayed, fluorescence-depleting IR pulse for discrimination amongst riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide in aqueous solution, which are structurally and spectroscopically very similar. Closed-loop, adaptive pulse shaping discovers a set of UV pulses that induce disparate responses from the two flavins and allows for concomitant flavin discrimination of ∼16σ. Additionally, attainment of ODD permits quantitative, analytical detection of the individual constituents in a flavin mixture. The successful implementation of ODD on quantum systems of such high complexity bodes well for the future development of the field and the use of ODD techniques in a variety of demanding practical applications.

Identification of biological microparticles using ultrafast depletion spectroscopy

We show how an ultrafast pump-pump excitation induces strong fluorescence depletion in biological samples, such as bacteria-containing droplets, in contrast with fluorescent interferents, such as polycyclic aromatic compounds, despite similar spectroscopic properties. Application to the optical remote discrimination of biotic versus non-biotic particles is proposed. Further improvement is required to allow the discrimination of one pathogenic among other non-pathogenic micro-organisms. This improved selectivity may be reached with optimal coherent control experiments, as discussed in the paper.

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy analysis of Bacteria: What Femtosecond Lasers Make Possible

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy spectra of bacteria, with nanosecond and femtosecond ablation, are compared. High sensitivity for mineral trace detections, larger intensity from molecular bands and precise kinetic study are among benefits using short pulses.

Condensation of helium in aerogel and athermal dynamics of the random-field Ising model.

High resolution measurements reveal that condensation isotherms of (4)He in high porosity silica aerogel become discontinuous below a critical temperature. We show that this behavior does not correspond to an equilibrium phase transition modified by the disorder induced by the aerogel structure, but to the disorder-driven critical point predicted for the athermal out-of-equilibrium dynamics of the random-field Ising model. Our results evidence the key role of nonequilibrium effects in the phase transitions of disordered systems.

Interfering Lasing Filaments in Dense Absorbing Media

The filamentation of powerful, ultrashort laser pulses in liquids is investigated, both experimentally and numerically, varying two-photon absorption dye concentration. Pump-dump pulse experiments furthermore locks in phase each filament fluorescence leading to bright interference patterns.