Optimal Dynamic Discrimination of Similar Molecules Explointing OFC Sources
Abstract
The overall objective of the proposed research is to overcome the current detection limitations of spectroscopic methods for complex molecules. Specific objectives are to explore and develop optimal dynamic discrimination (ODD) combined with optical frequency combs (OFC) for high quality detection among large complex molecules which have overlapping congested spectra. The overall approach is to develop the technique of optical dynamic discrimination (ODD) to address the limitations of current spectroscopic methods for complex molecules. The potential high detection performance of ODD lies in more efficient use of the available electromagnetic spectrum, thereby drawing on the discriminating quantum dynamics of even very similar molecules to create distinguishable signatures. Previous experiments with flavins and fluorescent proteins have shown that the principles of ODD are sound. However, these experiments (especially those with fluorescent proteins) also identified three essential capabilities that are needed in order to push into the desired regime of detection amongst many similar complex molecules: (i) Additional bandwidth from the deep blue lo the near infrared to fully manipulate subtle molecular dynamical features for high finesse discrimination. (ii) A robust laser optical source with high stability while being ng subject to practical broad bandwidth pulse shaping. (iii) High sensitivity detection to identify subtle feature changes in the pulses upon their interaction with the sample. The proposed approach exploits optical frequency combs (OFC) to address items (i) and (i i) . Heterodyne mixing with high frequency lock-in detection is proposed to meet the need in (iii). These optical tools combined with ODD hold out promise to make a breakthrough advance in complex detection scenarios.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610062
Entities
People
- Herschel A. Rabitz
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Princeton University