Entangled Photon Imaging and Microscopy for Chemical and Biological Investigations

在化学部化学测量和成像计划和理解大脑计划的支持下，密歇根大学的古德森教授和他的团队正在开发一种光学技术，以提高成像空间分辨率，同时对样品的损伤最小。在过去的十年中，光学显微镜的使用有了很大的进步。许多光学显微镜方法已被用于材料和生物成像以及化学传感。虽然这些技术在灵敏度方面有很大的希望，但有些确实需要高的和潜在的破坏性光照强度。现在需要的是一种化学成像技术，它利用双光子过程的高度聚焦行为，但同时将峰值强度保持在低水平。古德森教授正在开发的成像技术使用一束光，其中光子对的量子态被链接，即纠缠光子。利用量子纠缠的特性，古德森教授和他的团队以极高的分辨率和极少量的光子探测和成像分子。 随后开发的技术使他们能够研究有趣的生物系统，如组织成像和阿尔茨海默氏症患者淀粉样蛋白的形成。 美国国家科学基金会的资助还有助于培养和指导化学、物理和材料科学等领域的各类科学家（研究生和博士后）。密歇根大学的Goodson教授和他的研究小组正在利用这笔资助研究一种通过纠缠双光子吸收（ETPA）显微镜提高化学灵敏度的新方法。纠缠双光子显微镜的概念提供了一个突破，超过经典的TPA显微镜允许10个数量级的低激发强度，这是非常重要的生物和材料应用。该项目的目标是：a）证明ETPA显微镜在非常低的输入通量下的灵敏度极限，B）测试ETPA显微镜在非常低的输入通量下探测重要化学过程的能力，并提高空间分辨率，以及c）将该方法应用于一个重要的化学系统，说明ETPA显微镜方法的影响。这项工作的更广泛的影响：a）通过WISE计划为中学生提供暑期光学教育经验，B）为高中生提供更广泛的化学和物理经验，重点是光学，c）为下一代教授开发和扩大研讨会，他们可能对物理科学（包括光学）有浓厚的兴趣。 这项研究的影响还包括为化学和成像界提供一种新的方法，其中包括有关方法，材料和理论的细节。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry and the Understanding the Brain Initiative, Professor Goodson at the University of Michigan and his group are developing an optical technique to enhance imaging spatial resolution with minimal damage to samples. The use of optical microscopy has greatly progressed over the last decade. Many optical microscopic methods have been used in materials and biological imaging as well as chemical sensing. While these techniques hold great promise in sensitivity, some do require high and potentially damaging light intensities in illumination. What is now needed, is a chemical imaging technique which takes advantage of the highly focused behavior of the two photon process, but at the same time it keeps the peak intensity at low levels. The imaging technique under development by Professor Goodson uses a beam of light where the quantum states of photon pairs are linked, i.e. entangled photons. Utilizing the property of quantum entanglement, Professor Goodson and his group probe and image molecules with extremely high resolution and with a very small number of photons. The developed technique subsequently enables them to study interesting biological systems such as tissue imaging and the formation of amyloids with Alzheimer's patients. This support from the National Science Foundation also helps to train and mentor a diverse group of scientists (graduate students and postdoctoral students) in areas such as chemistry, physics and materials science.With this grant, Professor Goodson at the University of Michigan and his research group are investigating a new approach to chemical sensitivity through entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA) microscopy. The entangled two-photon microscopy concept provides a breakthrough over the classical TPA microscopy allowing 10 orders of magnitude lower excitation intensity which is of immense importance for biological and materials applications. The objectives of the project are to a) demonstrate the limits of sensitivity of the ETPA microscopy at very low input flux, b) test the ETPA microscope's ability to probe important chemical processes at very low input flux and with enhanced spatial resolution, and c) apply the methodology to an important chemical system illustrating the impact of the ETPA microscopy method. The broader impact of the work: a) provides summer educational experience in optics through the WISE program for middle school students, b) provides a broader experience for high school students in chemistry and physics with an emphasis on optics, and c) develops and expands a workshop for the next generation professors who might have a strong interest in the physical sciences including optics. The impact of this investigation also includes providing the chemical and imaging community a new approach with important details regarding the specifics of the methodology, materials, and theory.