Collaborative Research: Development of Novel Nonlinear Optical Contrast for High-Resolution Morphological and Chemical Imaging of Historical Artwork

在化学部化学测量和成像计划和生物基础设施部(DBI)生物研究仪器开发(IDBR)计划的支持下，Martin Fischer教授、Warren Warren教授、Robert Opia教授、Jennifer Mass博士和他们的团队将开发一种新的成像方法，用于对历史艺术品中的组织和广泛的色素样本进行无损识别和高分辨率的三维映射。拟议研究的主要重点将是建立一种用于非侵入性、高分辨率成像的多模非线性光学显微镜，并使用脉冲整形和时间分辨检测技术来同时获得吸收和折射对比，并进一步开发组织样品和色素的新分析和表征方法。然后，这些小组将建立厚组织的三维(3D)成像，绘制横截面和完整的历史绘画，并进一步增加分子吸收和非线性相位对比度的成像深度。研究人员将为该领域的应用开发一种便携式显微镜，然后开发的核心技术将通过工业合作伙伴进行传播。拟议的研究如果成功，将使现场应用于保护环境，避免不得不将艺术品从气候控制的环境中移除，这将通过提供一种非侵入性成像方式，从历史艺术品中提取全面的结构和化学信息，补充现有的测绘技术，从而极大地影响保护科学。开发的技术还将为广大生物界提供工具，以检查生物组织的结构、代谢和功能对比。该计划将为研究生、本科生和高中生提供跨学科环境中的培训机会，涵盖保护科学、艺术史、物理、化学、生物和工程。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry and the Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR) program in the Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI), Professors Martin Fischer, Warren Warren, Robert Opila, Dr. Jennifer Mass and their groups will develop a novel imaging method for nondestructive identification and high-resolution, three-dimensional mapping of both tissue and a broad range of pigment samples in historic works of art. The primary focus of the proposed research will be to set up a multimodal nonlinear optical microscope for noninvasive, high-resolution imaging and use pulse shaping and time-resolved detection technology for simultaneous access to absorptive and refractive contrasts and further develop novel analysis and characterization methods for tissue samples and pigments. The groups will then set up three-dimensional (3D) imaging of thick tissue, paint cross-sections and intact historic paintings and further increase imaging depth for molecular absorption and nonlinear phase contrast. The researchers will develop a portable microscope for applications in the field and the core technology developed will then be disseminated through industrial partners.The proposed research, if successful, will enable in situ applications in a conservation setting to avoid having to remove artworks from their climate-controlled environment, which will dramatically impact conservation science by providing a non-invasive imaging modality that can extract comprehensive structural and chemical information from historic artwork, complementing established mapping techniques. The technology developed will also provide tools to the broad biology community to examine structural, metabolic and functional contrast in biological tissue. The program will provide training opportunities in an interdisciplinary environment spanning conservation science, art history, physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering for graduate, undergraduate, and high-school students.