Femtosecond pulse shaping for enhanced optical imaging and control of cells

Optical techniques have garnered increasing interest in biomedical research. As the types of optical probes available continue to expand, the appeal of experiments utilizing multiple probes simultaneously grows rapidly. Unfortunately, the significant spectral overlap in probe responsiveness presents limitations on their potential applications. Much of the effort in circumventing this issue has been focused on developing modified probes with shifted spectral sensitivities; however, this is a long and inefficient process that tends to have undesired consequences on probe activity. This thesis explores the possibility of using temporal pulse shaping in order to improve the selectivity with which optically sensitive molecules can be activated. It is demonstrated that linearly chirped pulses and dark pulses have the potential to improve selectivity by exclusively controlling the spectral phase function of the illumination source for three classes of optical probes: fluorescent molecules, caged compounds, and opsins.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Ark, Eugene D

Contributors dc:contributor

• Boppart, Stephen A.

• Femtosecond pulse shaping
• caged compound
• opsin

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Eugene D. Ark

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89209

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/89209