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

在化学部的化学测量和成像计划以及生物基础设施部（DBI）的生物研究仪器开发（IDBR）计划的支持下，Martin Fischer，Warren Warren，Robert Opila教授，詹妮弗·马斯博士和他们的小组将开发多-波长非线性光学显微镜技术，用于从高度散射材料中以微观分辨率提取新的分子对比度，从生物组织到历史艺术品该团队最近将最初用于皮肤成像的显微镜方法扩展到历史颜料，展示了历史绘画横截面和完整绘画中的非破坏性，高分辨率结构和化学对比。博物馆管理员和学术研究人员之间的跨学科研究将专注于使其成为生物医学组织和历史艺术品成像的广泛有用的方法：该研究将扩大可访问的对比度和记录的颜料的范围，展示具有最大灵活性的高质量成像，并构建便携式设备。这项工作整合了看似不同的领域（分子成像，分析化学，激光光谱学，基础非线性光学和生物医学工程），以解决影响医学成像和文化遗产的基本问题。 在艺术品的研究中，非线性光学显微镜的使用受到了高度复杂的油漆层（其中大多数不发荧光）缺乏有用的图像对比度的阻碍。 最近开发的用于生物医学成像的脉冲整形和脉冲串整形技术，现在提供了更弱但更特异的颜料结构和分子对比度，这可以帮助确定真实性，来源，制造技术，和保存状态。该计划可以通过提供一个非-侵入性成像模式可以从这些高度散射的环境中提取全面的结构和化学信息，补充现有的绘图技术。 参与的学生将可以使用杜克大学的激光实验室、NC艺术博物馆保护中心和温特图尔设施;反过来，NCMA和温特图尔的工作人员将积极参与成像研究。 这种交流将鼓励科学家，保护者，策展人和教育工作者之间的跨学科探究。 该计划将导致在跨学科的环境中为研究生，本科生和高中生提供保护科学，艺术史，物理，化学和工程方面的培训机会。

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 multi-wavelength nonlinear optical microscopy techniques for the extraction of novel molecular contrast at microscopic resolution from highly scattering materials ranging from biological tissue to historical artwork. This team has recently extended microscopy methods originally developed for skin imaging to historical pigments, demonstrating non-destructive, high-resolution structural and chemical contrast in historic painting cross sections and an intact painting. This interdisciplinary study between museum conservators and academic researchers will focus on making this a broadly useful method for imaging both biomedical tissue and historic works of art: the study will broaden the range of accessible contrasts and documented pigments, demonstrate high quality imaging with maximum flexibility, and build a portable device. This work integrates seemingly disparate fields (molecular imaging, analytical chemistry, laser spectroscopy, fundamental nonlinear optics, and biomedical engineering) to address fundamental questions impacting medical imaging and cultural heritage. In the studies of artworks the use of nonlinear optical microscopy has been hindered by the lack of useful image contrast in highly complex layers of paint (most of which do not fluoresce). Pulse shaping and pulse train shaping technology, recently developed for biomedical imaging, now provides access to weaker but more pigment-specific structural and molecular contrast, which could help determine authenticity, provenance, technology of manufacture, and state of preservation.This program could dramatically impact biomedical imaging and conservation science by providing a non-invasive imaging modality that can extract comprehensive structural and chemical information from these highly scattering environments, complementing established mapping techniques. Students involved will have access to the laser labs at Duke University, the NC Museum of Art Conservation Center and the Winterthur facilities; in turn NCMA and Winterthur staff will actively participate in the imaging studies. This exchange will encourage interdisciplinary inquiry between scientists, conservators, curators, and educators. The program will result in training opportunities in an interdisciplinary environment spanning conservation science, art history, physics, chemistry and engineering for graduate, undergraduate, and high-school students.