Detection of constitutive homomeric associations of the integrins Mac-1 subunits by fluorescence resonance energy transfer in living cells

Integrins alpha(M)beta(2) plays important role on leukocytes, such as adhesion, migration, phagocytosis, and apoptosis. It was hypothesized that homomeric associations of integrin subunits provide a driving force for integrins activation, and simultaneously inducing the formation of integrins clusters. However, experimental reports on homomeric associations between integrin subunits are still controversial. Here, we proved the homomeric associations of the isolated Mac-1 subunits in living cells using three-channel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy and FRET spectra methods. We found that the extent of homomeric associations between beta(2) subunits is higher than alpha(M) subunits. Furthermore, FRET imaging indicated that the extent of homomeric associations of the Mac-1 subunits is higher along the plasma membrane than in the cytoplasm. Finally, we suggested that homomeric associations of the transmernbrane domains or/and cytoplasmic domains may provide the driving force for the formation of constitutive homomeric associations between alpha(M) or beta(2) subunits. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optimal feedback control of two-photon fluorescence based on genetic algorithm

An optimal feedback control of two-photon fluorescence in the ethanol solution of 4-dicyanomethylene-2-methyl-6-p-dimethyl-amiiiostryryl-4H-pyran (DCM) using pulse-shaping technique based on genetic algorithm is demonstrated experimentally. The two-photon fluorescence of the DCM ethanol solution is enhanced in intensity of about 23%. The second harmonic generation frequency-resolved optical gating (SHG-FROG) trace indicates that the effective population transfer arises from the positively chirped pulse. The experimental results appear the potential applications of coherent control to the complicated molecular system.

Optimal feedback control of two-photon fluorescence in Coumarin 515 based on genetic algorithm

An optimal feedback control of two-photon fluorescence in the Coumarin 515 ethanol solution excited by shaping femtosecond laser pulses based on genetic algorithm is demonstrated experimentally. The two-photon fluorescence intensity can be enhanced by similar to 20%. Second harmonic generation frequency-resolved optical gating traces indicate that the optimal laser pulses are positive chirp, which are in favor of the effective population transfer of two-photon transitions. The dependence of the two-photon fluorescence signal on the laser pulse chirp is investigated to validate the theoretical model for the effective population transfer of two-photon transitions. The experimental results appear the potential applications in nonlinear spectroscopy and molecular physics. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

超分辨远场生物荧光成像——突破光学衍射极限

长期以来,远场光学荧光显微镜凭借其非接触、无损伤、可探测样品内部等优点,一直是生命科学中最常用的观测工具。但由于衍射极限的存在,使传统的宽场光学显微镜横向和纵向的分辨率分别仅约为230 nm和1000 nm。为了揭示细胞内分子尺度的动态和结构特征,提高光学显微镜分辨率成为生命科学发展的迫切要求,在远场荧光显微镜的基础上,科学家们已经发展出许多实用的提高分辨率甚至超越分辨率极限的成像技术。例如,采用横向结构光照明提高横向分辨率到约100 nm,利用纵向驻波干涉效应将纵向分辨率提高5~10倍。然而,直到在光学荧光显微镜中引入非线性效应后,衍射极限才被真正突破,如受激荧光损耗显微镜利用非线性效应实现了30~50 nm的三维分辨率。另外应用荧光分子之间能量转移共振原理以及单荧光分子定位技术也可以突破衍射极限,甚至可以将分子定位精度提高到几个纳米的量级。

Generation of near-field hexagonal array illumination with a phase grating

A hexagonal array not only is a nature-preferred pattern but also is widely used in optoelectronical materials and devices. We report a simple method of hexagonal array illumination based on the Talbot effect that has a theoretical efficiency of 100%. An experimental efficiency of 90.6% with a binary phase (0, pi) hexagonal grating is given. This method should be highly interesting for applications of hexagonal array illumination in optical devices as well as in other hexagonal cells. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.

Experimental study of the Talbot effect under femtosecond laser illumination

Experimental results of the Talbot effect of an amplitude grating under femtosecond laser illumination are reported. Compared with Talbot image under continuous wave (CW) illumination, Talbot images under femtosecond laser illumination are different due to the wide spectral bandwidth and the Talbot images are more distorted at longer Talbot distances. The spectrums and the pulsewidths of femtosecond laser pulses are measured with the frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) apparatus. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improved fluorescence from Tm3+/Er3+/Ce3+ triply doped bismuth-silicate glasses for S+C-bands amplifiers

Fluorescence of Tm3+/Er3+ codoped bismuth-silica (BS) glasses and the sensitization of Ce3+ are investigated. It shows that Ce3+ codoping with Tm3+/Er3+ in BS glasses results in a quenching of Tm3+ ion emission from F-3(4) to the H-3(6) level. Consequently, the 1.47 mu m emission occurs after the population inversion between the H-3(4) and F-3(4) levels. Furthermore, the codoped glasses show the broad emission spectra over the whole S and C bands with full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) up to about 119nm, as it combines 1.55 mu m emission band of Er3+ with 1.47 mu m emission band of Tm3+ under 800nm excitation.

Coma measurement of projection optics in lithographic tools based on relative image displacements at multiple illumination settings

In this paper, we propose a novel method for measuring the coma aberrations of lithographic projection optics based on relative image displacements at multiple illumination settings. The measurement accuracy of coma can be improved because the phase-shifting gratings are more sensitive to the aberrations than the binary gratings used in the TAMIS technique, and the impact of distortion on displacements of aerial image can be eliminated when the relative image displacements are measured. The PROLITH simulation results show that, the measurement accuracy of coma increases by more than 25% under conventional illumination, and the measurement accuracy of primary coma increases by more than 20% under annular illumination, compared with the TAMIS technique. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Near-field hexagonal array illumination based on fractional Talbot effect

Hexagonal array is a basic structure widely exists in nature and adopted by optoclectronic device. A phase plate based on the fractional Talbot effect that converts a single expanded laser beam into a regular hexagonal array of uniformly illuminated apertures with virtually 100% efficiency is presented. The uniform hexagonal array illumination with a fill factor of 1/12 is demonstrated by the computer simulation. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Upconversion and fluorescence spectral studies of Er3+/Yb3+-codoped Bi(2)Q(3)-GeO2-Ga(2)Q(3)-Na2O glasses

The absorption spectra and upconversion fluorescence spectra of Er3+/-Yb3+-codoped natrium-gallium-germanium-bismuth glasses are measured and investigated. The intense green (533 and 549 nm) and red (672 nm) emission bands were simultaneously observed at room temperature. The quadratic dependence of the green and red emission on excitation power indicates that the two-photon absorption processes occur. The influence of Ga2C3 on upconversion intensity is investigated. The intensity of green emissions increases slowly with increasing Ga2O3 content, while the intensity of red emission increases significantly. The possible upconversion mechanisms for these glasses have also been discussed. The maximum phonon energy of the glasses determined based on the infrared (IR) spectral analysis is as low as 740 cm(-1). The studies indicate that Bi2O3-GeO2-Ga2O3-Na2O glasses may be potential materials for developing upconversion optical devices (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Talbot effect of a high-density grating under femtosecond laser illumination

The Talbot effect of a high-density grating under femtosecond laser illumination is analyzed with rigorous electromagnetic theory which is based on the Fourier decomposition and the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). Numerical simulations show that the contrast of the Talbot images steadily decreases as the transmitted femtosecond laser pulses propagate forward and with wider spectrum width of the femtosecond laser pulses. The Talbot images of high-density gratings have much higher sensitivity of the spectrum widths of the incident laser pulses than those of the traditional low-density gratings. In experiments, the spectrums and the pulse widths of the incident pulses are measured with a frequency-resolved optical grating (FROG) apparatus. The Talbot images are detected by using a Talbot scanning near-field optical microscopy (Talbot-SNOM) technique, which are in coincidence with the numerical simulations. This effect should be useful for developing new femtosecond laser techniques and devices. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of polarized illumination on high NA imaging in ArF immersion lithography at 45 nm node

Immersion lithography has been considered as the mainstream technology to extend the feasibility of optical lithography to further technology nodes. Using proper polarized illumination in an immersion lithographic tool is a powerful means to enhance the image quality and process capability for high numerical aperture (NA) imaging. In this paper, the impact of polarized illumination on high NA imaging in ArF immersion lithography for 45 nm dense lines and semi-dense lines is studied by PROLITH simulation. The normalized image log slope (NILS) and exposure defocus (ED) window are simulated under various polarized illumination modes, and the impact of polarized illumination on image quality and process latitude is analyzed. (C) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Laser diode array side-pumped acousto-optic induced unidirectional operation Q-switched Nd : YAG slab ring laser

A laser-diode array (LDA) side-pumped Nd:YAG slab ring laser is described that incorporates a prism-shaped acousto-optic modulator to enforce unidirectional operation and Q-switching. When pumped by the maximum power of 50 W, Q-switched energies of 3.6 mJ and 50 ns duration, corresponding to a peak power of 72 kW, are obtained. (C) 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S0091-3286(99)01306-9].