INO ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
Brescia, October 1,2,3 2014
POSTER SESSION
i
Poster list
P1.
“Squeezed light from a quantum emitter coupled to a nanostructure”
D. Martín-Cano, H.R. Haakh, K. Murr, M. Agio
P2.
“Classification of normal and tumor tissues using tissue optical
spectroscopy-A multimodal approach”
R. Cicchi, S. Anand, A. Cosci, S. Rossari, A. Crisci, F. Giordano, G. Nesi, A. M. Buccoliero, V.
De Giorgi, M. Carini, R. Guerrini and F. S. Pavone
P3.
"Generation of hybrid entanglement of light"
L. S. Costanzo, S. Grandi, H. Jeong, M. Kang, S. Lee, T. C. Ralph. A. Zavatta, M. Bellini
P4.
"Concordia Multi-Process Atmospheric Studies (CoMPASs): optical sensors and remote sensing
techniques for the analysis of the vertical structure of the Antarctic atmosphere."
G. Bianchini, S. Argentini, M. Baldi, F. Cairo, F. Calzolari, G. Casasanta, A.Conidi, M. Del
Guasta, G. Di Natale, A. Lupi, M. Mazzola, M. De Muro, L.Palchetti, I. Petenko, B. Petkov, M.
Snels, F. Stefano, G. Trivellone, A. Viola, M.Viterbini
P5.
"Quartz-Enhanced Photoacoustic Sensors for Mid-Infrared Trace-Gas Detection"
S. Borri, M. Siciliani de Cumis, I. Galli, S. Viciani, D. Mazzotti, G. Giusfredi, P.Patimisco, G.
Scamarcio, V. Spagnolo, F. D’Amato, N. Akikusa, M. Yamanishi,and P. De Natale
P6.
"Interferometric characterization of gas targets used in laser wakefield acceleration"
F. Brandi, F. Baffigi, M. Borghesi, F. Conti, A. De Luca, S. De Nicola,
R. Fedele, L. Fulgentini, R. Garland, F. Giammanco, P. M. Koester, L. Labate,P. Marsili, G.
Sarri, F. Sylla, and L. A. Gizzi
P7.
"Interacting Bosons in a Disordered Lattice: Dynamical Characterization of the Quantum Phase
Diagram"
P. Buonsante, L. Pezzè, A. Smerzi
P8.
"2D Single Particle Tracking and Superresolution in living cells"
M. Calamai, N. Parenti, F.S. Pavone
P9.
"Evidence of saturation effects in CH3OH molecule by means of THz QCL based spectroscopy"
A. Campa, L. Consolino, S. Bartalini, M. Ravaro, H. E. Beere , D. A. Ritchie ,M. S. Vitiello, P.
Cancio, D. Mazzotti, P. De Natale
P10.
"New Quantum Simulation with Ultracold Ytterbium Atoms"
G. Cappellini, M. Mancini, G. Pagano,C. Sias, J. Catani, M. Inguscio, L. Fallani
P11.
"Copper oxide nanowires for surface ionization based gas sensor"
C. Cerqui, A. Ponzoni, D. Zappa, E. Comini, and G. Sberveglieri
P12.
"Multimodal non-linear optical (NLO) microscopy of ex vivo human tissues"
ii
R. Cicchi, A. Sturiale, E. Baria, C. Matthaeus, N. Vogler, G. Nesi, D. Massi, F.Tonelli, J. Popp,
and F. S. Pavone
P13.
"Frequency comb generation in cavity-enhanced second harmonic generation"
I. Ricciardi, S. Mosca, M. Parisi, P. Maddaloni, L. Santamaria, P. De Natale, M. De Rosa
P14.
"Probing Elastic Modulation of Mixed-Phase Boundary in Epitaxial BiFeO3 Thin Films by
Ultrasonic Force Microscopy"
Franco Dinelli, Cesare Ascoli, Cheng-En Cheng, Heng-Jui Liu, Yi-Chun Chen,Chen-Shiung
Chang, Forest Shih-Sen Chien, and Ying-Hao Chu
P15.
"Quantum enhanced sensors with single spin"
N. Fabbri and P. Cappellaro
P16.
"Measuring spatial entanglement in an optical lattice"
M. Cramer, A. Bernard, N. Fabbri, F. Caruso, S. Rosi, L. Fallani, C. Fort,M. Inguscio, M.B.
Plenio
P17.
"Quantum Interferometry with trapped BEC with tunable interactions"
A. Trenkwalder, M. Landini, G. Spagnolli, G. Semeghini, G. Colzi, G. Modugno, M. Inguscio,
M. Fattori
P18.
"Extremely bright diamond single-photon source with electrical pumping"
D. Yu. Fedyanin and M. Agio
P19.
"Piezoelectric and thermoelectric energy converters forpower harvesting in autonomous
microsystems"
M. Ferrari, M. Baù, S. Dalola, M. Demori, V. Ferrari
P20.
"Prospects for vibrational cooling for RbCs ultra-cold molecules"
A.Fioretti, H. Lignier, D. Comparat and C. Gabbanini
P21.
"Progress towards the realization of a quantum degenerate dipolar gas of dysprosium atoms"
A. Fioretti, J. Catani, L. del Bino, C. Gabbanini, S. Gozzini, M. Inguscio, E. Lucioni and G.
Modugno
P22.
"The calibration system of the new g-2 experiment at Fermilab"
A. Anastasi, D. Babusci, G. Cantatore, D. Cauz,S. Dabagov, G. Di Sciascio, R. Di Stefano, C.
Ferrari,A. Fioretti, C. Gabbanini, D. Hampai1, M. Iacovacci,M. Karuza, F. Marignetti, M.
Mastroianni, D. Moricciani, G. Pauletta, L. Santi, G. Venanzoni
P23.
"A cold cesium atom source for Focused Ion Beams and Single IonImplantation"
M. Allegrini, Y. Bruneau, D. Ciampini, D. Comparat, A. Fioretti, F.Fuso, I. Guerri, L. Kime, P.
Pillet, B. Rasser, G. Shayeganrad, P. Sudraud, and M. Viteau
P24.
"Liquid droplet whispering-gallery mode optical resonators"
S. Avino, R. Zullo, A. Giorgini, P. Malara, P. De Natale, G. Gagliardi
P25.
"High-Coherence Mid-Infrared Frequency Comb Generation and Applications"
iii
I. Galli, F. Cappelli, P. Cancio, G. Giusfredi, D. Mazzotti, S. Bartalini, P. De Natale
P26.
"Nanostructured ZnO for Novel Metal Oxide Gas Sensors"
V. Galstyan, E. Comini, C. Baratto, N. Poli, G. Faglia, G. Sberveglieri
P27.
"Innovative interrogation methods for surface-plasmon-resonancebased bio-chemical sensors"
A. Giorgini, R. Zullo, S. Avino, P. Malara, G. Gagliardi, P. De Natale
P28.
Graphene-Based Hybrid Films for High-Performance Transparent Electrode Applications, I.
Kholmanov, G. Sberveglieri
P29.
"Tailoring and characterization of porous hierarchical nanostructured p-type thin film of Cu-AlOxide for the detection of pollutant gases"
R. Kumar, C. Baratto, G. Faglia, D. Zappa, G. Sberveglieri, K.Vojisavljevic, B.Malic
P30.
"Mid-infrared digital holography with a quantum cascade laser"
M. Locatelli, M. Ravaro, E. Pugliese, M. Siciliani de Cumis, F. D’Amato, P.Poggi, L. Consolino,
R. Meucci, P. Ferraro, and P. De Natale
P31.
"Sensing with a split-mode fiber Bragg-grating ring resonator"
P. Malara, A. Giorgini, S. Avino and G. Gagliardi
P32.
"Single-molecule study for a graphene-based nano-position sensor"
G. Mazzamuto, A. Tabani, S. Pazzagli, S. Rizvi, A. Reserbat-Plantey, K. Schädler,G. Navickaite,
L. Gaudreau, F.S. Cataliotti, F. Koppens, and C. Toninelli
P33.
"Composite materials as high efficiency photoanodes in excitonic solar cells"
R. Milan, G.S. Selopal, I. Concina, G. Sberveglieri, A. Vomiero
P34.
"Remote sensing of micro-physical properties of cirrus clouds using wideband infrared spectral
measurements"
L. Palchetti, G. Di Natale, G. Bianchini, M. Del Guasta
P35.
"Recent development of the diagnostics set up of the laser-driven source of electron at ILIL"
D.Palla, F.Baffigi, P.Ferrara, L.Fulgentini, A.Giulietti, D.Giulietti, P.Koester, L.Labate,
T.Levato, L.A.Gizzi
P36.
"The MONICA Project: Novel Monitoring of coast and sea enviroment"
S. Avino, M. De Rosa, G. Gagliardi, A. Giorgini, P. Malara, S. Mosca, M. Parisi,M. Paturzo, I.
Ricciardi, A. Rocco, P. Ferraro, P. De Natale
P37.
"Bright-White Beetle Scales Optimise Multiple Scattering of Light"
M. Burresi, L. Cortese, L. Pattelli, M. Kolle, P. Vukusic, D.S. Wiersma, U.Steiner, S. Vignolini
P38.
"Strongly confined 2D disordered modes with suppressed scattering losses"
M. Burresi, F. Pratesi , C. Diederik S. Wiersma
P39.
"Ultra-narrow-linewidth Mid-infrared Optical Parametric Oscillator"
iv
I. Ricciardi, S. Mosca, M. Parisi, P. Maddaloni, L. Santamaria, M. De Rosa, G. Giusfredi, P. De
Natale
P40.
"Efficient all-optical production of 6Li quantum gases"
A. Burchianti, J. A. Seman, G. Valtolina, M. Zaccanti, M. Inguscio, G. Roati
P41.
"Using Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry for NDT evaluation
of composite materials"
A.Rocco, V. Pagliarulo, P. Ferraro
P42.
"Advanced optical techniques to explore brain structure and function"
A. L. Allegra Mascaro, L. Silvestri, I. Costantini, L. Sacconi, F. S. Pavone
P43.
"Acetylene spectroscopy at cryogenic temperature"
L. Santamaria, V. Di Sarno, I. Ricciardi, S. Mosca, M. De Rosa, G. Santambrogio,P. Maddaloni,
P. De Natale
P44.
"Molecule Chip"
D. Adu Smith, G. Insero, S. Marx, G. Meijer, T. Zehentbauer, G. Santambrogio
P45.
"Different food application of a Novel Nano-Wire Electronic Nose"
V. Sberveglieri, E. Nunez Carmona, A. Pulvirenti
P46.
"Precise measurements of molecular lineshapes with direct comb spectroscopy"
M. Siciliani de Cumis, P. Cancio Pastor, R. Eramo, N. Coluccelli, M. Cassinerio,G. Galzerano,
P. Laporta and P. De Natale
P47.
"Researches and measurements on Ytterbium and Neodymium activated hosts for lasers in the
near infrared."
Guido Toci, Antonio Lapucci, Marco Ciofini, Angela Pirri, Georges Boulon, Matteo Vannini
P48.
"Fast identification of microbiological contamination in vegetable soup
by electronic nose"
G.Zambotti ,V.Sberveglieri , E. Gobbi , M. Falasconi , E. Nunez , A. Pulvirenti
P49.
"Tungsten oxide nanowires for conductometric chemical sensors"
D. Zappa, A. Bertuna, E. Comini, M. Molinari, N. Poli, G. Sberveglieri
P50.
“Pyro-­‐electric field for the manipulation of biopolymers in contact-­‐free modality” S. Coppola,V. Vespini, O. Gennari, S. Grilli, G. Nasti, L. Mecozzi and P. Ferraro “Activities of Lighting and Photometry Lab at CNR INO” F. Francini, D. Jafrancesco, L. Mercatelli, P. Sansoni, D. Fontani P51.
v
Presenting Authors
P1.
P2.
P3.
P4.
P5.
P6.
P7.
P8.
P9.
P10.
P11.
P12.
P13.
P14.
P15.
P16.
P17.
P18.
P19.
P20.
P21.
P22.
P23.
P24.
P25.
Agio M.
Anand S.
Bellini M.
Bianchini G.
Borri S.
Brandi F.
Buonsante P.
Calamai M.
Campa A.
Catani J.
Cerqui C.
Cicchi R.
De Rosa M.
Dinelli F.
Fabbri N.
Fabbri N.
G. Colzi
Fedyanin D. Yu.
Ferrari M.
Fioretti A.
Fioretti A.
Fioretti A.
Fioretti A.
Gagliardi G.
Galli I.
P26.
P27.
P28.
P29.
P30.
P31.
P32.
P33.
P34.
P35.
P36.
P37.
P38.
P39.
P40.
P41.
P42.
P43.
P44.
P45.
P46.
P47.
P48.
P49.
P50.
P51.
Galstyan V.
Giorgini A.
Kholmanov I.
Kumar R.
Locatelli M.
Malara P.
Mazzamuto G.
Milan R.
Palchetti L.
Palla D.
Parisi M.
Pattelli L.
Pratesi F.
Ricciardi I.
Roati G.
Rocco A.
Sacconi L.
Santamaria L.
Santambrogio G.
Sberveglieri V.
Siciliani de Cumis M.
Toci G.
Zambotti G.
Zappa D.
Coppola S.
Mercatelli L.
vi
Squeezed light from a quantum emitter coupled to a nanostructure
D. Martín-Cano1,3, H.R. Haakh1, K. Murr2,3,4,5, M. Agio2,3,4
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
2
National Institute of Optics (INO-CNR), 50125 Florence, Italy
3
Quantum Science and Technology in ARcetri (QSTAR), 50125 Florence, Italy
4
European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy (LENS), 50019 Sesto F.no, Italy
5
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto F.no, Italy
1
Abstract
One of the most profound phenomena of quantum optics is the reduction of quantum fluctuations in the electromagnetic field, i.e., the existence of squeezed states of light. Approaches to create these non-­‐classical states have commonly relied on large systems, such as non-­‐linear crystals and atomic vapors [1]. However, recent experiments have shown the ability of microscopic entities to generate squeezed light, with the prospect of making quantum integrated devices that further control the squeezing mechanism [2,3]. Among such sources of non-­‐classical light, the most elementary one consists of a quantum emitter driven by a laser field near resonance [4]. In our theoretical work, we investigate this process when the emitter is coupled to an optical nanostructure and find that nano-­‐architectures can strongly modify the creation of squeezed light [5]. In the far field, we observe that squeezing can be significantly boosted by such hybrid systems. Moreover, the physical conditions for reducing quantum fluctuations are strongly relaxed with respect to free space. Finally, we analyze the behaviour of squeezed light in the near field, opening the pathway to its manipulation at the nanoscale. References
[1] R. Loudon and P.L. Knight, Squeezed light, J. Mod. Opt. 34 (1987) 709-759.
[2] A. Ourjoumtsev, A. Kubanek, M. Koch, C. Sames, P.W.H. Pinkse, G. Rempe and K. Murr,
Observation of squeezed light from one atom excited by two photons, Nature, 474 (2011) 623-626.
[3] A.H. Safavi-Naeini, S. Groblacher, J.T. Hill, J. Chan, M. Aspelmeyer and O. Painter, Squeezed light
from a silicon micromechanical resonator, Nature 500 (2013) 185-189.
[4] D.F. Walls and P. Zoller, Reduced quantum fluctuations in resonance fluorescence, Phys. Rev. Lett.,
47 (1981) 709-711.
[5] D. Martín-Cano, H.R. Haakh, K. Murr and M. Agio, Large suppression of quantum fluctuations of
light from a single emitter by an optical nanostructure, ArXiv:1405.1591 (2014).
Presenting author: Mario Agio, INO-CNR, L.go E. Fermi 2, 50125 Florence, phone +39 055 275 5097,
fax +39 055 457 2451, email mario.agio@ino.it
P1
Classification of normal and tumor tissues using tissue optical
spectroscopy-A multimodal approach
R. Cicchi1,2, S. Anand2, A. Cosci2, S. Rossari3, A. Crisci4, F. Giordano5, G. Nesi6, A. M.
Buccoliero6, V. De Giorgi3, M. Carini4, R. Guerrini5, and F. S. Pavone1,2
1
National Institute of Optics, National Research Council (INO-CNR), Largo Enrico
Fermi 6 - 50125, Florence, Italy;
2
European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara, 1 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
3
Division of Clinical, Preventive and Oncology Dermatology, Department of Surgical
and Medical Critical Care, University of Florence, Florence, Italy;
4
Division of Urology, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, University of
Florence, Viale Giovanni Battista Morgagni 85 - 50134, Florence, Italy;
5
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience I, “Anna Meyer” Pediatric
Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24 50141, Florence, Italy;
6
Division of Pathology, Department of Critical Care Medicine and
Surgery, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85 - 50134, Florence, Italy;
Abstract
Tissue optical point spectroscopy has been widely explored as a diagnostic technique
for the classification of normal and tumor tissues. Also, spectroscopy in cancer
detection has the ability to complement the disadvantages associated with tissue biopsy.
Tumor progression in tissues is accompanied by number of biochemical and
morphological changes. Spectroscopic methods operate on different physical principles
and can offer complementary information. For instance, fluorescence phenomena in the
UV-Vis region gives an account of tissue metabolism, biochemical and morphological
information. Raman spectroscopy is an inelastic scattering process which provides
narrow band biochemical finger prints which are specific to each molecule. Though
these optical spectral methods has the ability to discriminate normal and tumor tissues, a
better classification ability can be achieved when information from more than one
method is combined together. In this context, we have developed a multimodal
spectroscopic device incorporating fluorescence at two different wavelengths and
Raman scattering with a fiber optic probe. This device has been implemented in a
clinical setting for the detection of melanocytic lesions. Promising results have been
obtained with a sensitivity and specificity of 89 and 100% respectively for
discrimination of malignant melanoma against melanocytic naevi on freshly excised
biopsies [1]. This experimental setup has the potential to be used as a diagnostic tool for
a broad range of tissues and pathologies. Promising results have been obtained also on
bladder and brain tissues. In particular, good diagnostic performances have been
obtained for the discrimination of dysplastic tissue against brain tumor and for healthy
bladder mucosa against bladder tumor. Currently we are in the process of developing a
compact and movable version of the experimental setup in order to make it usable in a
surgical scenario for real time tissue classification. The final aim is to develop a device
that can be used for the detection of tumor margins and guided biopsies.
References
[1] R. Cicchi, A. Cosci, S. Rossari, D. Kapsokalyvas, E. Baria, V. Maio, D. Massi, V. De Giorgi, N.
Pimpinelli, and F. S. Pavone, Combined fluorescence-Raman spectroscopic setup for the diagnosis of
melanocytic lesions, J. Biophoton., 7, (2014) 86-95.
Presenting author: Suresh Anand, LENS, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, 055-4271251.
anand@lens.unifi.it
P2
Generation of hybrid entanglement of light
L. S. Costanzo1, S. Grandi1, H. Jeong2, M. Kang2, S. Lee2, T. C. Ralph3,
A. Zavatta1, & M. Bellini1
1
2
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO-CNR) and LENS, Florence, Italy
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
3
University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia
Entanglement between quantum and classical objects is of special interest in the context
of fundamental studies of quantum mechanics and practical applications to quantum
information processing. Its importance is underlined by the famous Schroedinger’s cat
paradox, where the state of a quantum, microscopic, object (a radioactive atom) is
entangled with that of a classical, macroscopic, one (a cat).
In the optical domain, entanglement between the state of a single photon and of a
coherent state in a free-traveling field is an example of such quantum-classical
entanglement, and it was recently identified to be useful resource for highly-efficient
optical quantum information processing. However, it is also known to be extremely
difficult to generate such states since it requires a clean cross-Kerr nonlinear interaction
that is not experimentally realistic.
In our work [1], we devise and experimentally demonstrate a novel scheme to generate
such hybrid entanglement for the first time by implementing a quantum superposition of
two distinguished operations based on linear optics elements. The small-scale creation
of such states in our experiment clearly shows quantum entanglement between the two
different types of states, and our proposal further provides a feasible way to generate
even larger hybrid entanglement.
References
[1] H. Jeong, A. Zavatta, M. Kang, S. Lee, L.S. Costanzo, S. Grandi, T.C. Ralph, and M. Bellini,
Generation of hybrid entanglement of light, Nature Photonics, 8, 564-569 (2014).
Presenting author: Marco Bellini, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica - CNR, c/o LENS, via N. Carrara 1,
50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy, tel. +39 055 4572493, bellini@ino.it.
P3
Concordia Multi-Process Atmospheric Studies (CoMPASs): optical
sensors and remote sensing techniques for the analysis of the vertical
structure of the Antarctic atmosphere.
G. Bianchini1, S. Argentini3, M. Baldi1, F. Cairo3, F. Calzolari2, G. Casasanta3, A.
Conidi3, M. Del Guasta1, G. Di Natale1, A. Lupi2, M. Mazzola2, M. De Muro3, L.
Palchetti1, I. Petenko3, B. Petkov2, M. Snels3, F. Stefano3, G. Trivellone2, A. Viola3, M.
Viterbini3
1
INO-CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
2
ISAC-CNR, Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
3
ISAC-CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
Abstract
Concordia station, in the Dome C region, Antarctica (76° S, 123° E, 3233 m a.s.l.),
provides ideal conditions, in terms of low humidity and near absence of precipitations,
to characterize, using remote sensing techniques, the micro-physical, and chemical
properties of the Antarctic atmosphere in unperturbed and extreme conditions.
The COMPASS project has been developed in order to perform this kind of study,
mainly through optical sensors. The use of continuously operating, possibly
autonomous, instruments is a peculiar point, since enables us to build a multi-year
continuous dataset that is a key requisite to study long term trends and single shortduration events. The synergy of different instruments and methodologies, allows to
identify and characterize the feedbacks and interactions between the various processes
that span across the three lower atmospheric regions: the boundary layer, the
troposphere and the stratosphere.
The main research themes follow the vertical structure of the atmosphere:
•
•
•
The characterization of the dynamics, turbulence and radiation of the
atmospheric boundary layer, topic that is of particular interest during the winter
period, in which this atmospheric region is characterized by a reduced thickness
and extreme sensitivity to external forcing.
The study of the clouds in the free troposphere and their radiative interaction
with the surface and the neighboring atmospheric layers, a study that, due to the
remarkable variability, both daily and seasonal, typical of the Dome C region,
needs the requisites of continuity and long duration provided by COMPASS.
The study of the stratospheric processes within the Antarctic polar vortex, as
ozone chemistry and polar stratospheric clouds, carried out throughout the year
in order to constantly follow the evolution of the vortex itself.
The COMPASS project plans to complete these tasks through an array of different
instruments all characterized by the vertical remote sensing measurement technique: a
stratospheric and a tropospheric LIDAR, UV and IR photometers and radiometers, a farinfrared Fourier Transform spectroradiometer, and a high-resolution mini-sodar. The
results from the first year of campaign are already available and under analysis to
provide a first multi-process characterization of the Antarctic atmosphere.
Presenting author: Giovanni Bianchini, INO-CNR sezione di Sesto Fiorentino, Via Madonna del Piano
10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, phone ++39-055-5226309, fax ++39-055-5226348, e-mail
giovanni.bianchini@ino.it
P4
Quartz-Enhanced Photoacoustic Sensors for Mid-Infrared Trace-Gas
Detection
S. Borri1, M. Siciliani de Cumis1, I. Galli1, S. Viciani1, D. Mazzotti1, G. Giusfredi1, P.
Patimisco2, G. Scamarcio2, V. Spagnolo2, F. D’Amato1, N. Akikusa3, M. Yamanishi3,
and P. De Natale1
1
CNR-INO and LENS, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino FI, Italy
2
Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica, Università e Politecnico di Bari and CNR-IFN,
70126 Bari, Italy
3
Development Bureau Laser Device R&D Group and Central Research Laboratories,
Hamamatsu Photonics KK, Shizuoka 434-8601, Japan
Abstract
The development of cost-effective, compact optical sensors for trace chemical species
in the gas phase is, for our present society, a challenge in a wide variety of applications,
including climate changes, homeland security, industrial processes control, workplace
surveillance, and medical diagnostics. We report here on our recent advances in the
development of quartz-enhanced photo-acoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) sensors based
on quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) for the detection, quantification, and monitoring of
trace gas species. The architecture and performance of two innovative and sensitive,
real-time gas sensors based on the QEPAS technique will be described:
1) Widely-tunable mid-IR fiber coupled QEPAS sensor.
The sensor is based on an external-cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) tunable
between 7.6 and 8.3 µm wavelengths coupled into a custom-made single-mode hollowcore waveguide. The fiber coupling system converts the astigmatic beam exiting the
laser into a TEM00 mode, optimized for matching the QEPAS spectrophone. During a
full laser scan, we observed no misalignment between the optical beam and the tuning
fork, thus making our system applicable for multi-gas or broadly absorbing detections.
The sensor has been tested on H2S dilutions in both dry and wet N2. We achieved a
minimum detectable H2S concentration of 450 ppb in ~3 s integration time [1], which is
the best value till now reported in literature for H2S optical sensors.
2) Intra-cavity mid-IR QEPAS (I-QEPAS) sensor.
An ultra-sensitive, selective and compact QEPAS system combined with a high-finesse
cavity sensor platform is proposed as a novel method for trace gas sensing. We called
this technique intra-cavity QEPAS (I-QEPAS). In the proposed scheme, a single-mode
continuous-wave QCL emitting around 4.3 µm is coupled into a bow-tie optical cavity,
locked to the QCL emission frequency. A power enhancement factor of ~240 has been
achieved, corresponding to an intra-cavity power of ~0.72 W. An improved sensitivity
with respect to standard QEPAS comparable to the power enhancement factor has been
recorded, leading to a minimum detection limit on CO2 of 300 ppt by volume at a total
gas pressure of 50 mbar with a 20 s acquisition time [2]. This corresponds to a
normalized noise equivalent absorption of 3.2·10-10 W·cm-1/Hz1/2, comparable with the
best results reported for photoacoustic/cantilever systems on faster relaxing gases.
References
[1] M. Siciliani de Cumis, S. Viciani, S. Borri, P. Patimisco, A. Sampaolo, G. Scamarcio, P. De Natale, F.
D'Amato and V. Spagnolo, “A widely-tunable mid-infrared fiber-coupled quartz-enhanced photoacoustic
sensor for environmental monitoring”, Opt. Express (2014, in press)
[2] S. Borri, P. Patimisco, I. Galli, D. Mazzotti, G. Giusfredi, N. Akikusa, M. Yamanishi, G. Scamarcio,
P. De Natale, V. Spagnolo, “Intracavity quartz-enhanced photoacoustic sensor”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 104,
091114 (2014)
Presenting author: Simone Borri, CNR-INO UOS Sesto Fiorentino, via Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto
Fiorentino (FI); phone: 0554572227; email: simone.borri@ino.it.
P5
Interferometric characterization of gas targets used in
laser wakefield acceleration
F. Brandi1,2, F. Baffigi1, M. Borghesi3, F. Conti4, A. De Luca5,6, S. De Nicola6,7,
R. Fedele5,6, L. Fulgentini1, R. Garland4, F. Giammanco4, P. M. Koester1, L. Labate1,8,
P. Marsili4, G. Sarri4, F. Sylla9, and L. A. Gizzi1,8
1
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pisa, Italy
2
Nanophysics Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
3
School of Mathematics and Physics, The Queen's University of Belfast, UK
4
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
5
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Italy
6
INFN Sezione di Napoli. Italy
7
CNR-SPIN Sezione di Napoli, Italy
8
INFN, Sezione di Pisa, Italy
9
SourceLAB SAS, Palaiseaux, France
Abstract
Recent progresses on laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) open the way for the
development of novel compact accelerators with potential applications in biomedical
therapy and diagnosis. For these practical applications the full control of the LWFA
process becomes a must. Among the fundamental parameters in the acceleration process
there are the particle density in the gas targets (e.g., cells, jets and capillaries) and the
electron density of the plasma thereby created by the laser, which can be accurately
measured by interferometric techniques [1,2].
Two interferometric methods are used for the characterization of a pulsed gas jet and a
flowing gas cell are presented, and preliminary results are presented.
A Nomarski interferometer is adopted to study the spatial particle density distribution in
a freely expanding pulsed gas jet in vacuum [3,4]. The measurements are performed
with various gases at different backing pressure, and the evolution of the particle density
in the gas jet during the few-ms long pulse is investigated.
A single-arm two-colour interferometer, so-called second harmonic interferometer (SHI)
[5,6], is used to study the particle density dynamics inside a flowing gas cell in vacuum.
The SHI satisfies the requirements for a fast and reliable measurement, being
intrinsically stable and combining a high-sensitivity with a high-speed. Therefore such
diagnostic can provide an efficient method for the active control of the local gas density
within the interaction region for a long-term stable LWFA process.
References
[1] L.A, Gizzi et. al. Femtosecond interferometry of propagation of a laminar ionization front in a gas
Phys. Rev. E, 74 (2006) 036403.
[2] L.A. Gizzi et. al. Tracking propagation of ultrashort intense laser pulses in gases via probing of
ionization Phys. Rev. E, 79 (2009) 056405.
[3] P. Tomassini et. al., Analyzing laser plasma interferograms with a continuous wavelet transform ridge
extraction technique: the method Appl. Opt., 40 (2001) 6561-6568.
[4] P. Tomassini et. al., Application of novel techniques for interferogram analysis to laser–plasma
femtosecond probing Laser Part. Beams, 20 (2002) 195–199.
[5] F. Brandi and F. Giammanco, Temporal and spatial characterization of a pulsed gas jet by a compact
high-speed high-sensitivity second-harmonic interferometer Opt. Express, 19 (2011) 25479-25487.
[6] F. Conti, et. al., High-spatial resolution second-harmonic interferometry Laser Phys. Lett., 10 (2013)
056003.
Presenting author: Fernando Brandi, Via Moruzzi, 1 56124-Pisa, Italy, Tel. +39 050 315 2584
Fax. +39 050 315 2247, e-mail fernando.brandi@ino.it.
P6
Interacting Bosons in a Disordered Lattice: Dynamical
Characterization of the Quantum Phase Diagram
P. Buonsante1,2, L. Pezzè1,2, A. Smerzi1,2
1
INO-CNR, Firenze, Italia
2
QSTAR Center, Firenze, Italia
Abstract
We study the quantum dynamics of interacting bosons in a three-dimensional
disordered lattice. We show that the superfluid current induced by an adiabatic
acceleration of the disordered lattice undergoes a dynamical instability signalling the
onset of the Bose-glass phase. The dynamical superfluid–Bose-glass phase diagram is
found in very good agreement with static superfluid fraction calculation. A different
phase diagram is obtained when the disorder is suddenly quenched in a moving periodic
lattice. In this case we do not observe a dynamical instability but rather a depletion of
the superfluid density. Our analysis is based on a dynamical Gutzwiller approach which
we show to reproduce the quantum Monte Carlo static phase diagram in the strong
interaction limit.
Presenting author: Pierfrancesco Buonsante, QSTAR Center – Largo Fermi 2 50125 Firenze, +39 055
2755091, pierfrancesco.buonsante@ino.it.
P7
2D Single Particle Tracking and Superresolution in living cells
M. Calamai1,2, N. Parenti2, F.S. Pavone2
1
INO, CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
2
LENS, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Abstract
We use the single particle tracking (SPT) approach to tackle the molecular basis of
timely human pathologies, in particular Alzheimer’s disease. Most of the current
research on the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease is based on averaged
results obtained using bulk methods. In this case, many important details can be missed
and only the most prominent features are eventually taken into account. This
consideration may explain at least part of the discrepancies arising from the several
models that have been proposed during the last years. Within this context, single particle
tracking experiments can provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of
Alzheirmer's disease by monitoring the dynamics of single cytotoxic oligomeric species
and their interaction with the components of the plasma membrane.
Overall, the experimental strategy for 2D surface SPT is based on labelling
immunochemically the target species with antibodies coupled to small (10-30 nm) and
extremely photostable fluorescent probes called ‘quantum dots’ (QDs). Real time
recordings of single molecules moving on the plasma membrane of living cells are
carried out using a high sensitivity camera. The accurate localization of the fluorescent
particle is obtained by fitting its point spread function with a Gaussian function. The
analysis of the trajectories allows to calculate the mean square displacement and the
diffusion coefficient of each particle. These parameters are used to fit the data to several
models of diffusion, and distinguish between different types of motions (random walk,
confined motion, directed motion, etc.).
The last years have witnessed exciting advancements to bypass the limited spatial
resolution inherent to standard optical microscopy. New generations of super-resolution
microscopes, fluorophores and data analysis methods have allowed reaching resolution
of few nanometers. We have very recently set a super-resolution RESOLFT microscope,
which is able to image, based on principles reminiscent of those used for STED
microscopy, cellular structures labelled with photo-switchable fluorescent proteins in
living cells, with a lateral resolution down to 80 nm. Aside to single particle tracking
experiments, the RESOLFT microscope represents an additional exquisite tool for the
study of the molecular processes occurring during the development of Alzheimer’s
disease.
P8
Evidence of saturation effects in CH3OH molecule by means of THz
QCL based spectroscopy
A. Campa1, L. Consolino1, S. Bartalini1,2, M. Ravaro1, H. E. Beere 4 , D. A. Ritchie 4 ,
M. S. Vitiello1,3, P. Cancio1,2, D. Mazzotti1,2, P. De Natale 1,2
1
INO, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica – CNR, Largo E. Fermi 6, Firenze I-50125, Italy.
2
LENS, European Laboratory for NonLinear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto
Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy.
3
NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze – CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San
Silvestro 12, Pisa I-56127, Italy.
4
Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge
CB3 0HE, UK.
Abstract
The Terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum covers a still under-explored gap,
though having potential not only for countless applications in strategic fields, like
bio-medical diagnostics, communication technology, security and defense, but also for
a number of studies on molecules, since rotational transitions generally fall in the
far-infrared range. These transitions typically have large line-strengths [1], and can be
very suitable not only for the development of high-sensitivity trace-gas sensing
techniques [2], but also for investigating fundamental aspects in molecular physics, like
non-linear effects due to saturation mechanisms. Non-linearity is also important for the
development of sub-Doppler spectroscopic techniques, that could provide further
improvements in the precision of already demonstrated approaches to THz metrology.
As an example, the achieved accuracy of 4·10 -9 in the determination of the absolute
frequency of a methanol transition demonstrated by our group [3], is at present limited
only by the experimental signal-to-noise ratio and the Doppler-limited spectroscopic
resolution. In this framework, THz Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) are a valuable
tool, since they have first achieved, in the THz range, mW-level powers that can easily
produce efficient optical pumping between molecular levels, thus inducing measurable
non-linear effects. Here, we present a study of the saturation effect of a molecular
transition by using a free-running QCL, in view of QCL-based sub-Doppler
spectroscopy. The experiment is based on the simple direct-absorption setup, where the
QCL frequency is tuned across the molecular line. Several sets of measurements have
been performed, either while changing the methanol gas pressure at a given laser power,
or while varying the intensity of the laser beam at a given gas pressure. The results
clearly show the presence of a saturation effect, that is very evident at lower pressures,
while disappearing for pressures larger than 0.1 mbar. This confirms the possibility of
performing QCL-based sub-Doppler spectroscopy and gives a quantitative estimation of
the pressure ranges and the power levels that must be used in a future pump-probe
saturated-absorption spectroscopy set-up.
References
[1] H. M. Pickett, R. L. Poynter, E. A. Cohen, M. L. Delitsky, J. C. Pearson, and H. S. P. Mueller,
Submillimeter, Millimeter, and Microwave Spectral Line Catalog, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer
883 (1998) 60.
[2] L. Consolino, S. Bartalini, H. E. Beere, D. A. Ritchie, M. S. Vitiello, and P. De Natale, THz
QCL-Based Cryogen-Free Spectrometer for in Situ Trace Gas Sensing, Sensors 3331–3340 (2013) 13.
[3] S. Bartalini, L. Consolino, P. Bartolini, A. Taschin, P. Cancio, M. De Pas, H. Beere, D. Ritchie, M. S.
Vitiello, R. Torre, and P. De Natale, Frequency comb assisted terahertz quantum cascade laser
spectroscopy, Phys. Rev. X 021006 (2014) 4.
Presenting author: Annamaria Campa, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica – CNR, Largo E. Fermi 6, Firenze
I-50125, Italy, +39 474752954, annamaria.campa@ino.it
P9
New Quantum Simulation with Ultracold Ytterbium Atoms
G. Cappellini1,2, M. Mancini1,4, G. Pagano2,3,
C. Sias1,2, J. Catani1,2, M. Inguscio1,2,4,5, L. Fallani1,2,4
INO-CNR U.O.S. Firenze – LENS, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
LENS – European Laboratory for NonLinear Spectroscopy, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
3
SNS Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
4
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
5
INRIM – Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Torino, Italy
1
2
Abstract
I will report on the latest results in the Ytterbium lab at INO-CNR & LENS in
Florence where we achieve quantum degeneracy of fermionic 173Yb. The specific
features of this atomic element provide a powerful test bench for large-spin models
ranging from quantum simulation of spinful one-dimensional (1D) systems to the
realization of spin-orbit coupling in multicomponent ultracold fermions. The realization
of 1D, strongly-correlated liquids of ultracold fermions interacting repulsively [1] with
a tunable number N of spin components is reported. We observe that static and dynamic
properties of the system deviate from those of ideal fermions and, for N > 2, from those
of a spin-1/2 Luttinger liquid. In the large-N limit, the system exhibits properties of a
bosonic spinless liquid.
I will also report on the direct observation of coherent spin exchange oscillations
between two different two-particles states corresponding to molecular potentials with
opposite symmetry achieved by exciting 173Yb clock transition [2]. The coherence of the
dynamics is revealed by recording long lived oscillations between the populations of the
two states, belonging to different orbitals. This result paves the way to possible
implementations of paradigmatic models of two-orbital magnetism, like the Kondo
model.
Finally I will show some preliminary results and perspectives on the physics of a
spin-orbit coupled multicomponent Fermi gas accessible by opportunely engineering
Raman couplings between the nuclear spin components of 173Yb.
References
[1] G. Pagano, M. Mancini, G. Cappellini, P. Lombardi, F. Schaefer, H. Hu, X.J. Liu, J. Catani, C. Sias, M.
Inguscio, L. Fallani, A one-dimensional liquid of fermions with tunable spin, Nature Physics 10, 198-201
(2014).
[2] G. Cappellini, M. Mancini, G. Pagano, P. Lombardi, F. Schaefer, L. Livi, M. Siciliani de Cumis, P.
Cancio, M. Pizzocaro, D. Calonico, F. Levi, C. Sias, J. Catani, M. Inguscio, L. Fallani, Direct observation
of coherent inter-orbital spin-exchange dynamics, arXiv:1406.6642, (2014), [Phys. Rev. Lett. in press].
Presenting author:
Jacopo Catani,
catani@lens.unifi.it,
LENS & INO-CNR
via Nello Carrara, 1
I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino
Firenze
Italy
P10
Copper oxide nanowires for surface ionization based gas sensor
C. Cerqui1, A. Ponzoni, D. Zappa, E. Comini, and G. Sberveglieri
1
SENSOR Lab, University of Brescia, Eng. Information Department and CNR-INO, Via
Valotti, 9 – Brescia - ITALY
Abstract
This work focuses on the use of copper oxide (CuO) nanowires as gas sensors. CuO
nanowires were prepared by thermal oxidation starting from a thin film of metallic copper
deposited by RF magnetron sputtering. In addition to the well-known conductimetric
sensors, we have developed another kind of device depending upon a different sensing
mechanism, namely surface ionization (SI).
Our preliminary results show that humidity plays an important role in the ions formation
and so in sensors performance. For this reason we have done a systematic study on the
interaction mechanism of target molecules with hydroxyl groups adsorbates on CuO
surface, explaining the experimental results in terms of acidity/basicity.
We have studied the interaction mechanism of ammonia and ethanol molecules with OHadsorbates on CuO surface that resulting in the ion formation. We have seen how the effect
of water is in relationship with acidity/basicity of gas, CuO and substrate. Copper oxide
nanowires has been prepared by thermal oxidation. The growth process consisted into four
main steps. Firstly, alumina substrates were cleaned in acetone using ultrasonic cleaner.
Afterwards, metallic copper layer was deposited by RF magnetron sputtering at room
temperature. The metallic layer was etched in order to remove oxide spontaneously
produced by the interaction of copper and oxygen in air. Finally, samples were oxidized by
thermal oxidation in a tubular furnace [1].
In presence of ammonia in the tested atmosphere we have seen a more intense response in
wet air than in dry air. The reason of this behavior is probably due to OH- ions adsorbates
on the metal surface that give a proton to ammonia molecules and help in the formation of
NH4+ ions. Differently, in presence of ethanol molecules in the tested atmosphere we have
seen an higher response in dry air than in wet air. This is probably due to the fact that in
wet air ethanol molecules cannot give their hydroxyl group to the metal surface, that is
completely covered by hydroxyl groups of water and so it has not free absorption sites.
Otherwise, in dry air ethanol molecules can give their hydroxyl group to CuO surface and
convert itself in an ionic form.
References
[1] D. Zappa and E. Comini; Copper oxide nanowires prepared by thermal oxidation for chemical sensing;
Procedia Engineering 25 (2011) 753 – 756
Corresponding author: Cristina Cerqui, SENSOR LAB via Valotti,9 Brescia, ITALY, Tel. +39 030 3715873,
Fax +39 030 2091271, c.cerqui@unbs.it.
P11
Multimodal non-linear optical (NLO) microscopy of ex vivo human
tissues
R. Cicchi1,2, A. Sturiale3, E. Baria4, C. Matthaeus5, N. Vogler5, G. Nesi6, D. Massi6, F.
Tonelli3, J. Popp5, and F. S. Pavone1,2,5
1
National Institute of Optics, National Research Council (INO-CNR), Largo Enrico
Fermi 6 - 50125, Florence, Italy;
2
European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara, 1 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
3
Department of Clinical Physiopathology, Surgical Unit, University of Florence,
Florence, Italy;
4
Department of Physics, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
5
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT-Jena), Jena, Germany;
6
Division of Human Pathology and Oncology, Department of Surgical and Medical
Critical Care, University of Florence, Florence, Italy;
Abstract
Modern optics and spectroscopy are offering promising non-invasive solutions to
potentially improve diagnostic capability on tissues, as demonstrated by the extensive
use of non-linear laser scanning microscopy for tissue imaging in the past decade. The
recent development and integration of multiple non-linear optical (NLO) microscopy
techniques in a single instrument has provided new opportunities for integrating
morphological and functional information and for correlating the observed molecular
and cellular changes with disease behaviour. In particular, multimodal NLO imaging is
able to perform a morphochemical quantitative analysis in tumour cells and tissue
specimens, providing a high-resolution label-free alternative to both histological and
immunohistochemical examination of tissues. For example, two-photon fluorescence
(TPF) microscopy and second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy are particularly
powerful for tissue imaging. In fact, they can provide morphological information of the
tissue under investigation with sub-cellular resolution at both epithelial and connective
tissue level, producing images that correlates very well with the corresponding
histological images [1]. In addition, the possibility of exciting molecules involved in the
cellular metabolism, such as NADH and FAD nucleotides, as well as the analysis of
fluorescence decay, can add functional information on the investigated tissue specimens,
opening the possibility to diagnose cancer in a very early stage [1]. Results obtained on
various tissues, including colon, skin, and arteries [2] using multiple NLO microscopy
techniques are presented here, showing the capability of NLO microscopy for tissue
imaging and characterization when used with a multimodal approach. Although up to
now limited to optical research labs, multimodal NLO microscopy is becoming
increasingly popular among medical doctors and has the potential to find a stable place
in a clinical setting in the near future [3].
References
[1] R. Cicchi, A. Sturiale, G. Nesi, D. Kapsokalyvas, G. Alemanno, F. Tonelli, and F.S. Pavone,
Multiphoton morpho-functional imaging of healthy colon mucosa, adenomatous polyp and
adenocarcinoma, Biomed. Opt. Express, 4 (2013)1204-1213.
[2] R. Cicchi, C. Matthäus, T. Meyer, A. Lattermann, B. Dietzek, B. R. Brehm, J. Popp, and F. S. Pavone,
Characterization of collagen and cholesterol deposition in atherosclerotic arterial tissue using non-linear
microscopy, J. Biophoton. 7, (2014) 135-143.
[3] R. Cicchi, The New Digital Pathology: Just Say NLO, Dig. Dis. Sci., 59 (2014) 1347–1348.
Presenting author: Riccardo Cicchi, INO-CNR, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, 055-2308228.
riccardo.cicchi@ino.it
P12
Frequency comb generation in cavity-enhanced
second harmonic generation
I. Ricciardi1, S. Mosca1, M. Parisi1, P. Maddaloni1, L. Santamaria1,
P. De Natale2, M. De Rosa1
1
CNR-INO, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
2
CNR-INO, Via Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino FI, Italy
The quest for optical frequency combs (OFCs) has been strongly motivated by the
need of increasingly precise frequency measurements. OFCs have quickly found new
applications beyond frequency metrology and nowadays they are currently used in
many laboratories as a tool for frequency transfer, precision spectroscopy, astronomical
spectral calibration, generation of low-phase-noise microwave and RF oscillators [1].
Mode-locked femtosecond lasers have been the first systems used for realizing OFCs,
however, in the last years, comb generation has been demonstrated in different systems,
as continuously pumped optical microresonators, exploiting third order nonlinearities of
the materials [2].
We report on frequency comb generation in a continuously-pumped second-order
nonlinear crystal, placed in an optical cavity for resonantly-enhanced second harmonic
generation [3]. By properly designing the optical cavity, as the pump power exceeds a
threshold value of about 100 mW cascaded χ (2) nonlinear processes occur, enabling the
onset of broadband comb emission around both the fundamental pump frequency and its
second harmonic. Frequency combs are simultaneously generated both around the
fundamental pump frequency and its second harmonic, with up to about 10 nm of
spectral bandwidth. We observe different regimes of generation, depending on the
phase-matching condition for second harmonic generation. We also present a simple
dynamical model, showing striking resemblance to the four-wave mixing model usually
adopted for combs in microresonators.
References
[1] P. Maddaloni, P. Cancio Pastor, and P. De Natale, Meas. Sci. Technol. 20, 052001 (2009).
[2] T. J. Kippenberg, R. Holzwarth, and S. A. Diddams, Science 332, 555 (2011).
[3] I. Ricciardi, M. De Rosa, A. Rocco, P. Ferraro, and P. De Natale, Opt. Express 18, 10985 (2010).
Presenting author: Maurizio De Rosa, maurizio.derosa@ino.it.
P13
Probing Elastic Modulation of Mixed-Phase Boundary in Epitaxial
BiFeO3 Thin Films by Ultrasonic Force Microscopy
Franco Dinelli1, Cesare Ascoli1, Cheng-En Cheng2,3, Heng-Jui Liu4, Yi-Chun Chen5,
Chen-Shiung Chang2, Forest Shih-Sen Chien3, and Ying-Hao Chu4
1
2
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa, Italy
Department of Photonics and Institute of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Chiao
Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
3
Department of Applied Physics, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
4
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University,
Hsinchu, Taiwan
5
Department of Physics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Abstract
The elastic response at the nanoscale phase boundary of multiferroics is essential to
understand their exotic behaviors in piezo/ferroelectricity and multiferroicity [1,2].
Epitaxial mixed-phase BiFeO3 thin films on LaAlO3 (001) were characterized by means
of Piezo Force Microscopy (PFM) in order to characterize the piezoelectric properties
[3]. Additionally, Ultrasonic force microscopy (UFM) was employed to investigate the
elastic response at the phase boundary of the mixed-phase regions [4]. Our homemade
system allows PFM [3] and UFM [4] to be performed in the same place, with no need to
withdraw the tip. The elastic modulation at the nanoscale mixed-phase region has been
resolved, revealing that the low/high stiffness values perfectly coincide with the
MI/MII,tilt phases. The rhombohedral-like MI phase is found to be more compliant than
other phases. A large elastic modulation at the phase boundary on the MI side suggests a
high strain gradient there compliant to compressive stress.
(a) and (b) Topographic and UFM images of a mixed-phase region. (c) Cross-section profiles of height (in
black for MI and blue for MII,tilt) and UFM signals (in red) along the dotted lines at the mixed-phase
region in (a) and (b). The shadowed areas indicate the MII,tilt phase. The green arrows on the left side
indicate the magnitude of the variation in UFM signal in the MI and MII,tilt areas.
References
[1] R. J. Zeches , et al., Science 326, 977 (2009)
[2] Y.-C. Chen , et al., Advanced Materials 24, 3070 (2012)
[3] A. Gruverman, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B 13, 1095 (1995)
[4] O. Kolosov, K. Yamanaka, Japan J. of Appl. Phys. Part 2-Letters 32 (8A). L 1095 (1993)
Presenting author: franco.dinelli@ino.it
P14
Quantum enhanced sensors with single spin
N. Fabbri1,2 and P. Cappellaro2,3
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica INO-CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, Italia
2
European laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy LENS, Sesto Fiorentino, Italia
3
Nuclear Science and Engineering Department and Research Laboratory of Electronics,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA
1
Abstract
Whereas atoms trapped in optical lattices or cavities have demonstrated to be a
powerful testbed for investigating properties of complex quantum systems in condensed
matter physics, several solid-state systems – such as quantum dots, molecules embedded
in solid-state matrix, and single defects in crystals – have emerged as versatile atom-like
structures, useful for exploring the control of single-quantum systems.
Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects in diamond are a particularly promising platform for
different applications, both in metrology and quantum information, thanks to their
exceptional spin and optical properties. In particular, NV centers can be exploited as
biocompatible sensors of magnetic and electric fields, temperature and pressure, even in
ambient conditions [1-3]. They have also the potential to serve as quantum registers
featuring decoherence-protected quantum gates and long coherence times [4-5].
Here, we present the new experimental activity that we are starting at Lens, focused
on the study of NV centers. Using nuclear and electronic magnetic resonance, we want
to exploit the combined sensitivity and high spatial resolution offered by NV centers for
magnetometry applications.
References
[1] M. S. Grinolds et al., Nanoscale magnetic imaging of a single electron spin under ambient conditions,
Nature Physics 9, 215 (2013).
[2] G. Kucsko et al., Nanometre-scale thermometry in a living cell, Nature (London) 500, 54 (2013).
[3] F. Dolde et al., Electric-field sensing using single diamond spins, Nature Physics 7, 459 (2011).
[4] T. van der Sar et al., Decoherence-protected quantum gates for a hybrid solid-state spin register,
Nature 484, 82 (2012).
[5] P. C. Maurer et al., Room-temperature quantum bit memory exceeding one second, Science 336, 1283
(2012).
Presenting author: Nicole Fabbri, INO-CNR and LENS, via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino
(FI), Italia, phone +39 055 457 2469, email: fabbri@lens.unifi.it.
P15
Measuring spatial entanglement in an optical lattice
M. Cramer1, A. Bernard2, N. Fabbri2,3, F. Caruso2,4, S. Rosi2, L. Fallani2,4, C. Fort2,4,
M. Inguscio2,4,5, M.B. Plenio1
1
Institut für Theoretische Physik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and
Technology, Ulm, Germany
2
European laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy LENS, Sesto Fiorentino, Italia
3
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica INO-CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, Italia
4
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italia
5
Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica INRIM, Torino, Italia
Abstract
Entanglement is a fundamental resource for quantum information processing [1-3], its
applications including scalable quantum communication, secure quantum key
distribution protocols for cryptography, and exponential speedup of quantum
algorithms. It occurs naturally in manybody systems at low temperatures: This makes
cold atoms good candidates to provide entangled states involving a large number of
particles. For realizing and manipulating such states, an essential task is quantifying the
actual amount of entanglement contained in the created state before using it for quantum
information protocols. However, this task represents a major challenge, as it requires
either full state tomography, scaling exponentially in the system size, or the assumption
of unverified system characteristics such as its Hamiltonian or temperature.
In this experiment [4], we obtain a quantification of multipartite entanglement from
readily accessible measurements – that is, time-of-flight atomic density distribution –
based on a recent theoretical proposal [5]. We directly observe and quantify the
multipartite spatial entanglement between the sites of a periodic optical potential
(optical lattice) that hosts massive bosonic particles. We characterize its behaviour when
crossing the superfluid-Mott insulator transition and when varying temperature,
demonstrating the robustness of our method.
References
[1] M. A. Nielsen and I. L. Chuang, Quantum Computation and Quantum Information, Cambridge
University Press (Cambridge, 2000).
[2] R. Horodecki, et al., Quantum entanglement, Rev. Mod. Phys. 81 (2009) 865-942.
[3] O. Göhne and G. Tóth, Entanglement detection, Physics Reports 474 (2009) 1-75.
[4] M. Cramer, A. Bernard, N. Fabbri et al., Spatial entanglement of bosons in optical lattices, Nature
Communications 4, (2013) 2161 1-4.
[5] M. Cramer, M. B. Plenio, and H. Wunderlich, Measuring entanglement in condensed matter systems,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106 (2011) 020401 1-4.
Presenting author: Nicole Fabbri, INO-CNR and LENS, via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino
(FI), Italia, phone +39 055 457 2469, email fabbri@lens.unifi.it.
P16
Quantum Interferometry with trapped BEC with tunable interactions
A. Trenkwalder1, M. Landini1, G. Spagnolli2, G. Semeghini2, G. Colzi2, G. Modugno2,
M. Inguscio3, M. Fattori1,2
1
CNR-INO,Via Nello Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
2
LENS,University of Florence, Via Nello Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
3
INRIM, Strada delle Cacce 91, Torino, Italy
We report on the operation of an atom interferometer with trapped Bose Einstein
condensates of K39 where interactions can be tuned using broad magnetic Feshbach
resonances [1]. An ultra-stable double well trapping potential allows to split and
recombine the atomic matter wave in two distinct spatial modes. Canceling the
homo-nuclear scattering length it is possible to achieve long coherence times and
demonstrate the operation of a sensor with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution in
the measurement of forces [2]. Our system is the ideal test bench to study the usefulness
of non-classical states for quantum enhanced metrology.
References
[1] C. D'Errico, M. Zaccanti, M. Fattori, G. Roati, M. Inguscio, G. Modugno and A. Simoni, New. J. Phys.
9, 223 (2007)
[2] M. Fattori, C. D’Errico, G. Roati, M. Zaccanti, M. Jona-Lasinio, M. Modugno, M. Inguscio, and G.
Modugno, PRL 100, 080405 (2008)
P17
Extremely bright diamond single-photon source with electrical
pumping
D. Yu. Fedyanin,1 and M. Agio2
Laboratory of Nanooptics and Plasmonics, Moscow Institute of Physics and
Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russian Federation
2
National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), Quantum Science and Technology in ARcetri
(QSTAR) and European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy (LENS), Florence, Italy
1
Abstract
Operation at the single-photon level is beneficial for energy efficiency in optical and
optoelectronic devices and opens new prospects for novel applications, ranging from quantum
cryptography to quantum computations. In this regard, efficient single-photon sources operating
at room temperature are crucially important. Color centers in diamond are currently the best
candidates capable of room temperature operation. Intensive study of these defects in the lattice
structure of diamond has resulted in the realization single-photon sources under optical pumping
[1]. However, optical pumping is difficult to be implemented at the nanoscale, its energy
efficiency is low, and, finally, filtering out the pump signal is challenging in integrated circuits.
These problems can be eliminated by means of electrical pumping, where electrons and holes
recombine via states of the color center and emit a photon.
The possibility of operation upon electrical injection was not clear for diamond, mainly
because diamond is a unique material at the interface between solid-state and semiconductor
physics and can demonstrate effects from both of these worlds, but the recently demonstrated
electroluminescence and single photon emission from nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in
diamond have proven the concept [2,3]. However, so far extremely low emission rates,
compared to optical pumping, i.e. of the order of 103 – 104 counts per seconds (cps) compared to
106 cps have been presented. Since neither theoretical description of electrically pumped color
centers in diamond nor emission control has been presented, the fundamental limitations of the
diamond single photon source are not known, so are its potential practical applications.
In this work, we propose to pump electrically color center in diamond and use the metal
electrode as a photonic element to control single-photon emission (enhance and direct it).
Besides this, we present for the first time the theory for electroluminescence and single-photon
emission from color centers and demonstrate that emission rates of more than 107 photons per
second can be achieved with a nanoscale Schottky barrier diamond diode, which creates the
backbone for practical implementation of electrically driven single-photon sources.
References
[1] I. Aharonovich et al., Diamond-based single-photon emitters, Rep. Prog. Phys. 74 (2011) 076501.
[2] N. Mizuochi et. al., Electrically driven single-photon source at room temperature in diamond, Nat.
Photon. 6 (2012) 299.
[3] A. Lohrmann et al., Diamond based light-emitting diode for visible single-photon emission at room
temperature, Appl. Phys. Lett. 99 (2011) 251106.
Presenting author: Dmitry Yu. Fedyanin, address: 9 Institutsky Lane, Dolgoprudny 141707, Moscow
Region, Russian Federation, phone: +79260806104, email: dmitry.fedyanin@phystech.edu.
P18
Piezoelectric and thermoelectric energy converters for
power harvesting in autonomous microsystems
1
M. Ferrari1,2, M. Baù1, S. Dalola1, M. Demori1, V. Ferrari1,2
Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
2
CNR-INO, U.O.S. Brescia, SENSOR Lab, Brescia, Italy
Abstract
Networks of autonomous sensors are in constant expansion. To be fully autonomous, it is
necessary that the sensors carry their power supply. Batteries have limitations such as the
demand for periodical access for replacement/recharge; the energy harvesting from
freely-available ambient sources is generally considered a very promising alternative. The
piezoelectric effect can be exploited in energy harvesters from mechanical sources such as
vibrations and movement, while thermoelectric converters can be used when thermal
gradients are present.
Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric converters fabricated by Thick-Film
Technology (TFT) have been proposed to power autonomous sensors [1]. Besides
screen-printing, approaches based on direct-writing technology are investigated by
depositing a low-curing-temperature PZT ink on a MEMS silicon cantilever [2]. Recent
trends in energy harvesting from vibrations are aimed at obtaining broadband response
overcoming the bandwidth limitations of the conventional harvesters based on single
resonant converter. One investigated approach is multi-element harvesters which combine
the outputs from multiple converters with different frequency responses into a
Multi-Frequency Converter Array (MFCA) [3]. Another approach to widen the effective
frequency range of the harvested energy from broadband vibrations is the exploitation of
nonlinear effects coupled to a piezoelectric converter. The use of magnets introduces a
counter-restoring force which sums to the elasticity of the beam and causes nonlinearity or
bistability [4-5]. Autonomous systems based on piezoelectric converters have been
implemented in different application including energy harvesting from Von Karman
vortices in airflow [6].
Commercial thermoelectric modules have been investigated and used to supply an
autonomous system that interfaces with a temperature sensor and periodically transmits the
measurement information via an RF link [7]. In order to improve the power density per unit
area in thermoelectric generators (TEGs), a thermoelectric microgenerator based on a novel
structure, has been designed, fabricated in BESOI MEMS technology and experimentally
characterized [8]. The concept exploits the heat flowing in elements with different thermal
resistances and produces local temperature differences in the device. In addition, promising
high-efficiency thermoelectric materials based on zinc oxide and copper oxide nanowires
have been investigated. Combining ZnO and CuO nanowire elements, a prototype of planar
thermoelectric module has been fabricated and experimentally characterized, confirming
feasibility of fabricating planar thermoelectric generators based on metal-oxide nanowires
with the future aim to powering autonomous sensor microsystems [9].
References
[1] M. Ferrari et al., IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 55-6 (2006) 2096-2101.
[2] M. Baù et al., Procedia Engineering, 25 (2011) 737-744.
[3] M. Ferrari et al., Sens. Actuators A, 142-1 (2008) 329-335.
[4] M. Ferrari et al., Sens. Actuators A, 162-2 (2010) 425-431.
[5] M. Ferrari et al., Sens. Actuators A, 172-2 (2011) 287-292.
[5] M. Demori et al., Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, 268 LNEE, (2014) 417-421.
[6] S. Dalola et al., Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on, 58-1 (2009) 99,107.
[7] S. Dalola, V. Ferrari, Procedia Engineering, 25 (2011) 207-210.
[8] D. Zappa et al., Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 5 (2014) 927-936.
Presenting author: Marco Ferrari, Dept. of Information Engineering, University of Brescia, via Branze
38, I-25123 Brescia, Italy, Tel: +39.030.3715899, Fax: +39.030.380014, E-mail: marco.ferrari@unibs.it
P19
Prospects for vibrational cooling for RbCs ultra-cold molecules
A. Fioretti1, H. Lignier2, D. Comparat2 and C. Gabbanini1
1
2
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, INO-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS, Univ Paris-Sud, Bat. 505, 91405 Orsay, France
Abstract
Hetero-nuclear ultra-cold molecules are the object of many experimental and theoretical efforts
because of their promising applications in precise measurements of fundamental physical
constants, in quantum computation and in the so-called ultra-cold chemistry [1].
Beside the very successful results obtained with the magneto-association technique followed by
stimulated Raman adiabatic passage , which produces almost quantum degenerate samples of
molecules in a definite ground level [2,3], photo-association (PA) of cold atoms in a
double-species magneto-optical trap remains an experimentally simpler option. In this case,
spontaneous emission distributes molecules over many ground-state levels. Nevertheless, the
ro-vibrational laser cooling technique, which uses a combination of broad-band and
narrow-band lasers, is in principle able to pump most of the molecules in a target level [4, 5,6].
In this poster we present our experimental and theoretical efforts for the RbCs case. In this
system, quite efficient, short-range PA transitions have been found [7], some of them already
naturally producing a large fraction of molecules in the (v=0, J=0) level of the ground-state [8].
As we will show, the structure of the potential energy curves of RbCs is rather unfavorable to
the vibrational cooling of the molecules into the (v=0) level, and indeed it was not observed
experimentally. On the contrary, vibrational cooling into a higher level, for example the (v=3),
should be possible although needs a more complex spectral shaping of the pumping laser.
References
[1] R.V. Krems, W.C. Stwalley and B. Friedrich, Cold molecules: theory, experiment, applications, (CRC
Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 2009).
[2] K.-K. Ni, S. Ospelkaus, D. Wang, G. Quemener, B. Neyenhuis, M.H.G. de Miranda, J.L. Bohn, J. Ye,
and D. Jin, Nature, 464 (2010). 1324
[3] T. Takekoshi, L. Reichsollner, A. Shindewolf, J.M. Hutson, C.R. le Sueur, O. Dulieu, F. Ferlaino, R.
Grimm, and H.C. Nagerl, ArXiv e-prints (2014), arXiv :1405.6037 [cond-mat.quant-gas].
[4] M. Viteau, A. Chotia, M. Allegrini, N. Bouloufa, O. Dulieu, D. Comparat, and P. Pillet, Science, 321
(2008) 232
[5] I. Manai, R. Horchani, H. Lignier, P.Pillet, D. Comparat, A. Fioretti, and M. Allegrini, Phys, Rev,
Lett., 109 (2012). 183001
[6] A.Wakim, P. Zabawa, M. Haruza, and N. P. Bigelow, Luminorefrigeration of NaCs, Opt. Ex., 20
(2012) 16083
[7] C. Gabbanini and O. Dulieu, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 13 (2011) 18905
[8] T. Shimasaki, M. Bellos, C.D. Bruzewicz, Z. Lasner, and D. de Mille, ArXiv e-prints (2014),
arXiv :1407.7512.
Presenting author: Andrea Fioretti, INO-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, tel +050 3152528, email:
andrea.fioretti@ino.it
P20
Progress towards the realization of a quantum degenerate dipolar gas
of dysprosium atoms
A. Fioretti1, J. Catani2,3, L. del Bino2, C. Gabbanini1, S. Gozzini1,
M. Inguscio2,4, E. Lucioni2,3 and G. Modugno2,3,
1
2
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, C.N.R., UOS Pisa, via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
LENS and Dip. di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Firenze, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
3
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica,CNR, UOS Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
4
INRIM, 10135 Torino, Italy
Abstract
Long-range interactions, such as Coulomb interaction between electrons and dipolar
interaction between magnetic spins, usually govern the behavior of many physical
systems. A controlled experimental environment to study quantum effects of long-range
interactions is therefore of general interest. Ultracold polar molecules, frozen Rydberg
atoms and quantum gases with strong magnetic dipolar interactions offer the possibility
to study paradigm systems that can lead to better understanding some physical
mechanisms of real matter and possibly to the engineering of new materials. Moreover,
the ability to hold them in the ordered environment provided by an optical lattice opens
the way to studies of strongly-correlated systems in different dimensionalities.
With the present project we plan to realize a quantum gas of dysprosium atoms to
perform quantum simulations of strongly-correlated dipolar systems. Contrary to alkali
atoms, usually employed in cold atoms experiments, dysprosium has a huge magnetic
dipole moment, 10 Bohr magnetons, the largest among all elements. For this reason,
besides interacting via van der Waals interaction, which has substantially a contact
nature, Dy atoms also interact via dipole-dipole magnetic interaction, which is both
long-range and anisotropic. The combination of these two ingredients leads to the
appearance of peculiar quantum phenomena so far only barely explored[1]. Moreover,
Dy isotopes, with both fermionic and bosonic nature, can be brought to quantum
degeneracy[2,3], allowing statistics-dependent studies.
At present, a blue laser source (421nm) for the Zeeman slowing of the Dy beam has
been realized, together with part of the control electronics. Test of the vacuum apparatus
is in progress. The first results of magneto-optical trapping (MOT) of dysprosium are
expected at the beginning of 2015, as soon as a 626nm narrowline laser source,
necessary for MOT operation, is acquired.
This experiment is a joint effort of teams from both the Pisa and the Sesto Fiorentino
sections of the INO-CNR.
References
[1] C. Trefzger, C. Menotti, B. Capogrosso-Sansone, and M Lewenstein, Ultracold dipolar gases in
optical lattices, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 44 (2011) 193001.
[2] Mingwu Lu, Nathaniel Q. Burdick, Seo Ho Youn, and Benjamin L. Lev, Strongly Dipolar
Bose-Einstein Condensate of Dysprosium, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107 (2011) 190401
[3] Mingwu Lu, Nathaniel Q. Burdick, and Benjamin L. Lev, Quantum Degenerate Dipolar Fermi Gas,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108 (2012) 215301
Presenting author: Andrea Fioretti, INO-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, tel +050 3152528, email:
andrea.fioretti@ino.it
P21
The calibration system of the new g-2 experiment at Fermilab
A. Anastasi1,3, D. Babusci1, G. Cantatore4,7, D. Cauz4,9,
S. Dabagov1, G. Di Sciascio6, R. Di Stefano5,10, C. Ferrari1,2,
A. Fioretti1,2, C. Gabbanini1,2, D. Hampai1, M. Iacovacci5,8,
M. Karuza4,11, F. Marignetti5,10, M. Mastroianni8, D. Moricciani6,
G. Pauletta4,9, L. Santi4,9,G. Venanzoni1
1
Laboratori Nazionali Frascati dell' INFN, Via E. Fermi 40, 00044 Frascati, Italy
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica del C.N.R., UOS Pisa, via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
3
Dipartimento di Fisica e di Scienze della Terra, Universita di Messina, Messina, Italy
4
INFN, Sezione di Trieste e G.C. di Udine, Italy
5
INFN, Sezione di Napoli, Italy
6
INFN, Sezione di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
7
Università di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
8
Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
9
Università di Udine, Udine, Italy
10
Università di Cassino, Cassino, Italy
11
University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
2
Abstract
The muon anomaly a=(g-2)/2 is a low-energy observable, which can be both measured
and computed to high precision [1]. Therefore it provides an important test of the
Standard Model (SM) and it is a sensitive search for new physics [2]. Since the first
precision measurement of a from the E821 experiment at Brookhaven National
Laboratory (BNL) in 2001 [3], there has been a discrepancy between its experimental
value and the SM prediction. This discrepancy has been slowly growing to more than 3
standard deviations due to impressive theoretical and experimental achievements, and
its now dominated by the uncertainty in the theoretical calculation.
A new experiment, E989 [4] at Fermilab, to measure the muon g-2 to a precision of
1.6x10-10 (0.14 ppm), is expected to start data taking in 2017. To achieve a statistical
uncertainty of 0.1 ppm, the total data set must contain more than 1.8x1011 detected
positrons with energy greater than 1.8 GeV. The systematical uncertainty will be
reduced to 0.1 ppm thanks to: (i) a higher proton rate but with less protons per bunch
than at BNL; (ii) 900m pion decay line (BNL: 80m); (iii) less pion flash at muon ring
injection; (iiii)improved detectors against signal pileup, new electronics and better
shimming to reduce B-field variations.
The new experiment will require upgrades of detectors, electronics and data acquisition
equipment to handle the much higher data volumes and slightly higher instantaneous
rates. In particular, it will require a continuous monitoring and state-of-art calibration of
the detectors, whose response may vary on both the short timescale of a single fill, and
on the long one of an entire run. This will be attained by sending trains of calibrated
laser pulses simultaneously on all the detectors.
References
[1] F. Jegerlehner, \The anomalous magnetic moment of the muon," Berlin, Springer (2008) 426 p
(Springer tracts in modern physics. 226)
[2] D. St ockinger, \Muon (g-2) and physics beyond the standard model," In Roberts, Lee B., Marciano,
William J. (eds.): Lepton dipole moments 393-438 (Adv. series on directions in high energy physics. 20)
[3] H. N. Brown et al. [Muon g-2 Collaboration], Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 2227 (2001).
[4]
New
Muon
(g
2)
Collaboration,
R.M.
Carey
et.
al.,
see
http://lss.fnal.gov/archive/testproposal/0000/fermilab-proposal-0989.shtml
Presenting author: Andrea Fioretti, INO-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, tel +050 3152528, email:
andrea.fioretti@ino.it
P22
A cold cesium atom source for Focused Ion Beams and Single Ion
Implantation
M. Allegrini1,4, Y. Bruneau2, D. Ciampini1,4, D. Comparat2, A. Fioretti4,1, F. Fuso1,4,
I. Guerri1, L. Kime3, P. Pillet2, B. Rasser3, G. Shayeganrad1, P. Sudraud3, and M. Viteau3
1
Dipart. di Fisica, Univ. di Pisa,and CNISM, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 PISA, Italy
2
Lab. Aimé Cotton, CNRS, Un. Paris-Sud, ENS Cachan, Bât. 505, 91405 Orsay, France
3
Orsay Physics, 95 Avenue des Monts Aurélien,ZAC Saint Charles, 13710 Fuveau, France
4
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, CNR, U.O.S. Pisa, via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
Abstract
Monochromatic ion beams are invaluable tools in material sciences, in the emerging
nanotechnology industry, and in studies of biological materials. In these domains, where
ions are used to modify, image or analyze surfaces and materials, the ability to convey
large ion currents into smaller and smaller spot sizes is considered as a primary figure of
merit.[1] State-of-the-art Focused Ion Beams (FIBs) are commercially available, based
mainly on plasma, liquid metal tip or Helium ion sources for large, intermediate, and
low currents, respectively. On the other extreme of the current range, single ion delivery
and implantation onto a surface with nanometric precision opens exciting research
possibilities and leads to the ultimate frontiers of the solitary dopant optoelectronics solotronics - for engineering few atoms devices.[2]
Recently, experimental realizations of novel ion or electron sources based on the
ionization of laser-cooled atoms have been reported [3,4] and have shown the potential
of these new sources. Due to the low temperatures associated with laser cooling, the ion
(or electron) beam originating from the cold sample has an extremely narrow angular
spread. This means that ion or electron sources based on the ionization of cold atoms
would have the ability to create very small focal spots with relatively strong currents.
Here we present two experiments realized within the framework (IAPP grant) of a
collaboration among three (two academic and one industrial) partners. In the first one a
FIB machine has been realized and used to image and modify different targets with a
typical 100nm resolution. In the second one, bunches of low-energy ions, virtually
single ones, are extracted and directed onto a detector, trying to establish a protocol for
deterministic delivery of single ions. Both experiments are based on the ionization of
laser-cooled cesium atom beams.
After this first demonstration of the prototype cold atom-based FIB, further
development and engeneering are actually undertaken by the industrial partner.
D.C., F.F. and P.S. acknowledge gratefully the support of the European Union
Seventh Framework Program FP7/2007-2013 under Grant Agreement No. 251391
MC-IAPP ”COLDBEAMS”. G.S. and M.V. are Research Fellows hired under this
program.
References
[1] J. Orloff, M. Utlaut, and L. Swanson, High Resolution Focused Ion Beams: FIB and its applications
(Springer-Verlag, New York, 2002).
[2] P.M. Koenraad and M.A.. Flatté, single dopants in semiconductors, Nature Materials, 10 (2011) 91
[3] B. Knuffman, A.V. Steele, J. Orloff and J.J. McClelland, Nanoscale focused ion beam from
laser-cooled lithium atoms, New Journal of Physics 13 (2011) 103035
[4] L. Kime, A. Fioretti, Y. Bruneau, N. Porfido, F. Fuso, M. Viteau, G. Khalili, N. Šantić, A. Gloter, B.
Rasser, P. Sudraud, P. Pillet, and D. Comparat, High-flux monochromatic ion and electron beams based
on laser-cooled atoms, Phys. Rev. A, 88 (2013) 033424
Presenting author: Andrea Fioretti, INO-CNR, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, tel +050 3152528, email:
andrea.fioretti@ino.it
P23
Liquid droplet whispering-gallery mode optical resonators
S. Avino1, R. Zullo1, A. Giorgini1, P. Malara1, P. De Natale2, G. Gagliardi1
CNR-Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO), via Campi Flegrei 34, Complesso “A.
Olivetti”, 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
2
CNR-Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO), Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy
1
Abstract
Over the last decade, optical whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) have been observed in solid
micro-cavities of various geometries [1]. WGMs supported by dielectric microspheres and
toroids exhibit and optical field that is confined near to the surface. The interaction with
chemical species may occur through the modification of the optical environment of the
resonator if the internal field is exposed along the cavity-medium interface. For example, if
interacting molecules exhibit optical absorption features at the operating wavelength, the
lifetime of photons within the cavity is reduced [2]. Silica resonators proved ultra-sensitive
bio-chemical probes but were also studied as miniature systems to observe coupling and
interaction phenomena between light and matter. Here, we demonstrate the use of liquid
droplets as micro-resonators for sensing applications. The droplet itself serves as the sensor and
the sample at the same time, where the internal optical field is directly used to probe dissolved
analytes or nanoparticles. We free-space light excitation of whispering-gallery modes in
vertically-suspended mm-size oil droplets and laser frequency locking on resonant modes for
cavity lifetime measurements, recording Q-factors ranging from 5x105 to 107 in the
near-infrared and visible spectral regions [3]. The potential of droplet cavities for sensing of
dielectric and metallic nanoparticles in the liquid by WGM shifts and Q-factor measurement is
investigated [3, 4]. Future applications for bio-sensing, material characterization and non-linear
optics are envisaged.
References
[1] A. B. Matsko, V. S. Ilchenko, Optical resonators with whispering-gallery modes, IEEE J. Sel. Top.
Quant. 12 (2006) 3-32.
[2] J. A. Barnes, G. Gagliardi, H.-P. Loock, Absolute absorption cross section measurement of a
sub-monolayer film on a silica microresonator, Optica 1 (2014) 75-83.
[3] S. Avino, A. Krause, R. Zullo, A. Giorgini, P. Malara, P. De Natale, H.-P. Loock, and G. Gagliardi,
Direct sensing in liquids using whispering-gallery mode droplet resonators, Adv. Opt. Mat., in press.
[4] M. R. Foreman, S. Avino, R. Zullo, H.-P. Loock, F. Vollmer, and G. Gagliardi, Enhanced nanoparticle
detection with liquid droplet resonators, Eur. Phys. J. ST, in press.
Presenting author: Gianluca Gagliardi, Complezzo A. Olivetti, via Campi Flegrei 34 80078 Pozzuoli,
+390818675423, +390818675420, gianluca.gagliardi@ino.it.
P24
High-Coherence Mid-Infrared Frequency Comb Generation and
Applications
I. Galli, F. Cappelli, P. Cancio, G. Giusfredi, D. Mazzotti, S. Bartalini, P. De Natale
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO) - CNR
and European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy (LENS)
50019 Sesto Fiorentino FI, Italy
Abstract
A highly-coherent MIR-comb is generated through an intracavity DFG process [1].
The 1040-nm portion of the spectrum of a visible/NIR OFCS is amplified in an Ybdoped fiber and then mixed with the intracavity radiation at 839 nm of a Ti:sapphire
(Ti:Sa) laser in a MgO:PPLN non-linear crystal. A MIR-comb centered around 4.33 μm
is thus generated. We demonstrate that excess frequency noise of the NIR-comb can be
efficiently removed in the down-converted one by properly using a direct digital
synthesis (DDS) scheme. This leads to a 2.0 kHz tooth linewidth (in a 1-s timescale) of
the generated MIR-comb. In addition, the high repetition rate (fr=1 GHz) and the
intracavity power-boosted DFG determine an average per-tooth power of 1 μW and thus
a power spectral density at the μW/kHz level, comparable to the best results achieved
with OPO-based MIR-combs.
The MIR-comb beam has been coupled to a high-finesse cavity in order to resolve the
teeth and to study the frequency noise power spectral density (FNPSD). At this
wavelength (4.33 μm) the finesse is ~8000. We have used the empty cavity to observe
the resolved MIR-comb teeth with the Vernier technique. In order to estimate the
coherence of the MIR-comb we have used the high-finesse cavity as frequency-toamplitude converter to retrieve the FNPSD of the radiation. From the FNPSD we have
estimated a linewidth of the comb teeth of 2.0 kHz FWHM in a 1-s timescale and
750 Hz in a 20-ms timescale. This is to our knowledge the narrowest measured
linewidth of a MIR-comb. Taking into account the MIR-comb power, we calculate a
per-tooth power spectral density of 0.5 μW/kHz (in a 1-s timescale), which is
comparable with the best values obtained with OPO-based MIR-combs [2, 3]. It is
worth noting that this power level is in a range suitable for direct comb spectroscopy in
this spectral region [4].
Moreover a quantum cascade laser at 4.33 μm has been phase-locked to a comb tooth
and coupled to the same cavity in order to verify its frequency narrowing. Thanks to the
locking, the QCL linewidth is reduced from about 600 kHz to 4.6 kHz in a 1-s timescale
and the locking efficiency is ~73%.
References
[1] I. Galli, F. Cappelli, P. Cancio, G. Giusfredi, D. Mazzotti, S. Bartalini, and P. De Natale, Highcoherence mid-infrared frequency comb, Opt. Express, 21 (2013) 28877-28885.
[2] F. Adler, K. C. Cossel, M. J. Thorpe, I. Hartl, M. E. Fermann, and J. Ye, Phase-stabilized, 1.5 W
frequency comb at 2.8-4.8 μm, Opt. Lett., 34 (2009) 1330-1332.
[3] K. L. Vodopyanov, E. Sorokin, I. T. Sorokina, and P. G. Schunemann, Mid-IR frequency comb source
spanning 4.4-5.4 μm based on subharmonic GaAs optical parametric oscillator, Opt. Lett., 36 (2011)
2275-2277.
[4] E. Baumann, F. R. Giorgetta, W. C. Swann, A. M. Zolot, I. Coddington, and N. R. Newbury,
Spectroscopy of the methane ν3 band with an accurate midinfrared coherent dual-comb spectrometer
Phys. Rev. A, 84 (2011) 062513.
Presenting author: Iacopo Galli, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO) - CNR, UOS Firenze LENS, Via
Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino FI, phone: 055-457-2292, email: iacopo.galli@ino.it.
P25
Nanostructured ZnO for Novel Metal Oxide Gas Sensors
V. Galstyan, E. Comini, C. Baratto, N. Poli, G. Faglia, G. Sberveglieri
Sensor Lab, Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia and CNR
INO, Via Valotti 9, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Abstract
The specific physical and chemical properties of transition metal oxides open great
perspectives for their applications in environmental monitoring and catalysis [1-3].
Among different transition oxides ZnO with a wide direct band gap (3.37 eV) and high
exciton energy (60 meV) is one of the extensively investigated materials due to its
mixed covalent/ionic aspects in the chemical bonding [4].
Herein, we report fabrication and gas sensing properties of ZnO nanostructures. The
structures have been obtained by electrochemical anodization and post-growth
annealing of thin films of metallic Zn. Thin films of metallic Zn were deposited on 2
mm square alumina substrates by means of RF (13.56 MHz) magnetron sputtering.
Metallic thin films of Zn were anodized in two-electrode system at room temperature. A
platinum foil was used as a counter electrode. Anodization was carried out in ethanolic
solution of oxalic acid dihydrate. As-prepared samples were zinc oxalate dihydrate
(ZnC2O4⋅2H2O). To transform the prepared samples to crystalline ZnO they were
annealed at 400 °C for 4 h. The morphology of the samples was analyzed using
scanning electron microscopy. The crystal structure studies were performed by means of
X-Ray Diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Gas sensing properties towards H2,
CH4 and NO2 were investigated in a wide range of operating temperature.
Morphological analysis shows that ZnO has been obtained in shape of nanoparticles
with the diameter of 25 nm that are connected with each other forming chains. The
structural investigations indicate that the samples have been transformed to crystalline
ZnO after the thermal treatment. The structures show high and reversible response to
NO2, H2 and CH4 indicating that the obtained architecture of nanostructured ZnO is
promising for chemical sensors.
References
[1] M.J.S. Spencer, Gas sensing applications of 1D-nanostructured zinc oxide: Insights from density
functional theory calculations, Progress in Materials Science, 57 (2012) 437-486.
[2] V. Galstyan, E. Comini, G. Faglia, G. Sberveglieri, TiO2 nanotubes: Recent advances in synthesis and
gas sensing properties, Sensors (Switzerland), 13 (2013) 14813-14838.
[3] C. Brookes, P.P. Wells, G. Cibin, N. Dimitratos, W. Jones, D.J. Morgan, M. Bowker, Molybdenum
Oxide on Fe2O3 Core-Shell Catalysts: Probing the Nature of the Structural Motifs Responsible for
Methanol Oxidation Catalysis, Acs Catalysis, 4 (2014) 243-250.
[4] Q. Yuan, Y.P. Zhao, L. Li, T. Wang, Ab Initio Study of ZnO-Based Gas-Sensing Mechanisms: Surface
Reconstruction and Charge Transfer, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 113 (2009) 6107-6113.
Presenting author: Vardan galstyan, Sensor Lab, Department of Information Engineering, University of
Brescia and CNR INO, Via Valotti 9, 25133 Brescia, Italy, + 39 030 3715702, +39 030 2091271,
vardan.galstyan@unibs.it.
P26
Innovative interrogation methods for surface-plasmon-resonance
based bio-chemical sensors
A. Giorgini1, R. Zullo1, S. Avino1, P. Malara1, G. Gagliardi1, P. De Natale1,2
1
INO-CNR, Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
2
INO-CNR, Firenze, Italy
The growing interest towards safety controls and environmental monitoring, has
driven the demand of a new generation of label free, selective chemical sensors [1,2]. In
this framework a lead role is played by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensors. An
intensive research activity has been spent on different stages of the sensing process. On
one side, the efforts have been concentrated on the efficiency improvement of chemical
immobilization protocols, while new techniques have been applied to on-chip
engineering for sensitivity enhancement. No real advance has been obtained in optical
techniques for detection&readout of the SPR interaction with the target medium. The
state-of the-art resolution ranges between 10-6 and 10-7 RIU. The ultimate resolution
limiting factor, in most cases,is set by the amplitude fluctuations of the light source and
photodetector noise [2,3]. However, the selective detection of low-weight molecular
species at low concentration, of great importance in bio-medical tests and experiments,
requires even higher resolution. With the aim to overcome the present limits, our activiy
has focused on the development of new SPR optical interrogation methods. In
particular, the application of experimental techniques derived from laser spectroscopy
has been considered. The first step is represented by the integration of the SPR sensing
element (chip), in a Kretschmann configuration [1], as an intermediate mirror of an
optical resonator. The system is interrogated by a single-wavelength laser source. The
SPR light coupling variations, caused by sample refractive index changes or by an
analyte captured on the sensing surface, affect the reflectivity of the chip and thus
modulate the intracavity radiation loss. Very promising results have been obtained
thanks with a time-domain measurements approach. In this scheme, the refractive-index
changes seen by the SPR have been detected through the measurement of the cavity
photon lifetime [4,5]. New measurement schemes, based on a differential detection
approach, are under development to improve resolution and longterm stability.
Applications to bio-sensing are envisaged using a microfluidic system within the
resonator set-up and standard chip-functionalization protocols.
References
[1] J. Homola, Surface plasmon resonance based sensors, Springer, Vol. 4 (2006).
[2] P. Adam, M. Piliarik, H. Šípová, T. Špringer, M. Vala, J. Homola, Surface Plasmons for Biodetection,
in Photonic Sensing: Principles and Applications for Safety and Security Monitoring, G. Xiao & W.
Bock, (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons (2012) 1-58.
[3] M. Piliarik and J. Homola, Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors: approaching their limits?,
Optics express, 17.19 (2009) 16505-16517.
[4] A. Giorgini, et al., Surface plasmon resonance optical cavity enhanced refractive index sensing,
Optics letters, 38.11 (2013): 1951-1953.
[5] A. Giorgini, S. Avino, P. Malara, R. Zullo, G. Gagliardi, J. Homola, P. De Natale, Cavity-enhanced
surface-plasmon resonance sensing: modeling and performance, Measurement Science and Technology
25.1 (2014): 015205.
Presenting author: Antonio Giorgini, INO-CNR, UOS Napoli, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli
(NA), Italy, phone +39 081 867 5415, fax +39 081 867 5420, e-mail: antonio.giorgini@ino.it.
P27
Graphene-Based Hybrid Films for High-Performance Transparent
Electrode Applications
I. Kholmanov, G. Sberveglieri
CNR-INO, Sensor Lab, Via Branze 45, Italy
Abstract
Today, indium tin oxide (ITO) is the main material used for transparent conductive
films (TCFs). However, the brittle ceramic structure, poor compatibility with organic
materials, and the growing cost of indium, seriously limit the use of ITO in TCFs.
Therefore, several other materials including new oxide films, conductive polymers,
carbon nanotubes (CNT), metal nanostructures, and graphene-based nanostructures have
been investigated as alternatives to ITO. Among these materials, carbon nanotubes,
metal nanowires (NWs), and graphene-based films garner interest due to their good
TCF characteristics, i.e., low sheet resistance (Rs) and high optical transmittance (T).
However, their use in a wide range of devices is restricted by several specific
drawbacks. In particular, metal NW and CNT films, are characterized by open spaces
between nanostructures, high surface roughness, and poor adhesion to substrates.
Drawbacks of graphene films include the currently costly fabrication that use vacuum
and high temperature and the time-consuming and challenging multiple transfer steps
from metal to the transparent substrate.
Here, we demonstrate a general strategy for fabrication of hybrid TCFs composed of
graphene and metal nanowires. We demonstrate that the shortcomings of single
component TCFs might be overcome by hybrid films, in which the film properties can
be improved due to synergy between individual components. Moreover hybrid TCFs
may exhibit additional functionalities that can vary depending on their composition.
This feature opens up possibilities for developing next generation multi-component and
multifunctional TCFs.
Presenting author: Dr. Iskandar Kholmanov, CNR-INO Sensor Lab, iskandar.kholmanov@unibs.it
P28
Tailoring and characterization of porous hierarchical nanostructured p
type thin film of Cu-Al-Oxide for the detection of pollutant gases
R. Kumar1, C. Baratto1, G. Faglia1, D. Zappa1, G. Sberveglieri1, K.Vojisavljevic2, B.
Malic2
1
SENSOR Lab. CNR-INO and University of Brescia, Dept. of Information Engineering,
Via Valotti, 9 25133 Brescia, Italy
2
Electronic Ceramics Department, Jozef Stefan Institute Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana,
Slovenia
Abstract
In past one decade, thin film, nanobelts, and nanowire based on p-type transparent
conducting oxide materials have attracted significant research interest in the field of
chemical gas sensing, nano electronic devices. An experimental approach for the
detection of harmful gases in presence of humidity has been applied for gas sensors based
on p-type Cu-Al-Oxide thin films. The impact of deposition conditions on the surface,
morphology and sensing properties of the semiconducting oxide thin films are
investigated. We observed that inert atmosphere and deposition temperature play the
important role to affect the structural and surface morphology of Cu-Al-Oxide thin films.
Thin films were deposited by RF sputtering on silicon in inert atmosphere starting with
a 2” delafossite (CuAlO2) target [1,2]. The polycrystalline porous hierarchical
nanostructured thin films on the silicon substrate were observed by SEM. For
realization of solid state gas sensing device, thin film of Cu-Al-Oxide were deposited on
alumina substrates. Sensors were exposed to reducing (Ethanol, acetone, NH3 and CO)
and oxidizing (NO2 and O3) gases in 50% R.H. Sensors behave like p-type oxide
material as observed from dynamics response. Operating temperature was varied form
150°C to 500°C. The optimum response towards low concentrations of O3 (70ppb) was
observed at 300°C. Response to reducing gases was much smaller than that to ozone
and optimum working temperature was observed to be 400°C. The result shows that
Cu-Al-Oxide thin films might be used as p-type MOX for fabrication of gas sensor to
detect the low concentration of acetone and ozone gases. The relation between testing
properties and thin film morphology analyzed by SEM, Raman spectroscopy and XRD
will also be discussed [3].
The research leading to this work has received funding from the European Communities
7th Framework Programme under grant agreement NMP3-LA-2010 – 246334. Financial
support of the European Commission is therefore gratefully acknowledged.
References
[1] H. Kawazoe, M. Yasukawa, H. Hyodo, M. Kurita, H. Yanagi, and H. Hosono, P-type electrical
conduction in transparent thin films of CuAlO2, Nature 389 (1997) 939.
[2] K. Vojisavljevic, B. Malic, M. Senna, S. Drnovsek, M. Kosec, Solid state synthesis of
nano-boehmite-derived CuAlO2 powder and processing of the ceramics, Journal of the European Ceramic
Society 33 (2013) 3231–3241.
[3] X. G. Zheng, K. Taniguchi, A. Takahashi, Y. Liu, and C. N. Xu, Room temperature sensing of ozone by
transparent p-type semiconductor CuAlO2, Appl. Phys. Lett., 1728 (2004) 85.
Presenting author: Raj Kumar, SENSOR Lab, University of Brescia & CNR-INO, Dept. of Information
Engineering, Via Valotti, 9 25133 Brescia, Italy, Phone: +39-0303715873, Fax: +39 030 2091271, e-mail:
r.kumar001@unibs.it.
P29
Mid-infrared digital holography with a quantum cascade laser
M. Locatelli1, M. Ravaro1,2, E. Pugliese1, M. Siciliani de Cumis1,2, F. D’Amato1, P.
Poggi1, L. Consolino1,2, R. Meucci1, P. Ferraro3, and P. De Natale1,2
1
INO, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica – CNR, Largo E. Fermi 6, Firenze I-50125, Italy
2
LENS, European Laboratory for NonLinear Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto
Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy
3
INO, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica – CNR – Sezione di Napoli, Via Campi Flegrei, 34
80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
Extension of hologram recording to the infrared (IR) spectrum has attracted a
considerable interest since the early stage of holography, due to the relaxation of the
mechanical stability requirements and to the IR transparency of many materials opaque
to the visible radiation [1]. In addition, IR hologram recording intrinsically benefits of a
large field of view and is well suited for measuring optical path variations, avoiding
recourse to phase-unwrapping algorithms [2]. In the last decade, in the wake of the
establishment of digital holography (DH) in the visible range, the development of
pyrocameras and focal plane array microbolometers, combined with powerful and
highly coherent CO2 lasers, has finally boosted IR holography: thanks to sensors
including 100,000s of pixels as small as few tens of μm and operating at room
temperature, CO2 laser based DH has proved its potential for practical applications [3].
Although their maximum output power and coherence length cannot be as high as
those of CO2 lasers, QCLs appear as interesting sources for mid-IR holography, due to
their compactness and to the coverage of different regions of the mid-IR spectrum,
ranging from 3 to 16 µm [4]. Moreover, the present availability of tunable QCLs
oscillating in an external cavity makes them convenient in particular for holographic
interferometry [5]. In this work we report the first demonstration of mid-IR digital
holography based on a QCL, included in an external cavity and tunable by several 100s
nm around 8 µm. By means of a high sensitivity microbolometric thermocamera we
acquired speckle holograms of scattering objects, which could be processed in real time
[6]. In addition, by exploiting the broad laser tunability, we could acquire holograms at
different wavelengths, from which we extracted phase-images not affected by
phase-wrapping, with equivalent wavelengths ranging from 100s µm to several mm,
thus largely extending the optical path range of mid-IR holographic interferometry [7].
References
[1] J. S. Chivian, R. N. Claytor, and D. D. Eden, "Infrared holograms at 10.6 µm", Appl. Phys. Lett. 15, 123
(1969).
[2] M. P. Gerorges, J.-F. Vandenrijt, C. Thizy, Y. Stockma, P. Queeckers, F. Dubois, and D. Doyle, "Digital
holographic interferometry with CO2 lasers and diffuse illumination applied to large space reflectors
metrology", Appl. Opt. 52, A102 (2013).
[3] M. Locatelli, E. Pugliese, M. Paturzo, V. Bianco, A. Finizio, A. Pelagotti, P. Poggi, L. Miccio, R.
Meucci, and P. Ferraro, "Imaging live humans through smoke and flames using far-infrared digital
holography", Opt. Express 21, 5379 (2013).
[4] J. Faist, Quantum Cascade Lasers, (Oxford, 2013).
[5] R. Maulini, I. Dunayevskiy, A. Lyakh, A. Tsekoun, C. K. N. Patel, L. Diehl, C. Pfluegl, and F. Capasso,
"Widely tunable high-power external cavity quantum cascade laser operating in continuous-wave at room
temperature", Electron. Lett. 45, 107 (2009).
[7] M. Ravaro, M. Locatelli, E. Pugliese, I. Di Leo, M. Siciliani de Cumis, F. D’Amato, P. Poggi, L.
Consolino, R. Meucci, P. Ferraro, and P. De Natale, " Mid-infrared digital holography and holographic
interferometry with a tunable quantum cascade laser", Opt. Lett. 39, 4843 (2014).
[6] A. Wada, M. Kato, and Y. Ishii, "Multiple-wavelength digital holographic interferometry using tunable
laser diodes", Appl. Opt. 47 , 2053 (2008).
Presenting author: Massimiliano Locatelli, email: massimiliano.locatelli@ino.it, Tel: +39 055 2308286
P30
Sensing with a split-mode fiber Bragg-grating ring resonator
P. Malara, A. Giorgini, S. Avino and G. Gagliardi
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO), via
Campi Flegrei, 34 - Comprensorio A. Olivetti, 80078 Pozzuoli (Naples), Italy
L. Mastronardi, C. E. Campanella, , V.M.N. Passaro
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e dell’Informazione, Politecnico di Bari,
Via Edoardo Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy.
A Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) integrated into a ring cavity acts as a partial reflector that
couples the two counterpropagating modes of the resonator. Such a coupling results in a
frequency splitting of the resonances that depends on the reflectivity of the intracavity
FBG. We show that the mode-splitting of such a device can be used as an observable for
strain sensing applications. The width of the split resonances depends on the length of
the fiber loop, but the mode-splitting is almost immune from the perturbations of L. The
demonstrated technique thus combines the measurement precision attainable in a long
fiber optic resonator with the local sensing approach of a standalone FBG. A resolution
of 320 pε/Ηz1/2 at 0 Hz is experimentally demonstrated, which is to our knowledge the
highest achieved to date for static deformations.
References
1. J. Rao, “In-fibre Bragg grating sensors” Meas. Sci. Technol. 8, 355 (1997).
2. J. H. Chow, D. E. McClelland, M. B. Gray, I. C. M. Littler, “Demonstration of a
passive subpicostrain fiber strain sensor”. Opt. Lett. 30, 1923 (2005).
3. G. Gagliardi, S. De Nicola, P. Ferraro, P. De Natale - “Interrogation of fiber
Bragg-grating
resonators
by
polarization-spectroscopy
laser-frequency
locking”. Opt. Express 15, 3715 (2007).
4. C. E. Campanella, A. Giorgini, S. Avino, P. Malara, R. Zullo, G. Gagliardi, and P.
De Natale, “Localized strain sensing with fiber Bragg-grating ring cavities”
Opt.Expr. 21, 24, pp. 29435-29441 (2013)
5. J. Ctyroky, I. Richter, M. Sinor, “Dual resonance in a waveguide coupled ring
micro-resonator,” Opt. Quantum Electron. 38, 781 (2006).
Presenting author: Pietro Malara, pietro.malara@ino.it.
P31
Single-molecule study for a graphene-based
nano-position sensor
G. Mazzamuto1,4, A. Tabani1, S. Pazzagli2, S. Rizvi1, A. Reserbat-Plantey5, K. Schädler5,
G. Navickaite5, L. Gaudreau5, F.S. Cataliotti1,2,3, F. Koppens5, and C. Toninelli1,3,4
LENS and Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Dipartimento di Fisica ed Astronomia, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
3
QSTAR, Firenze, Italy
4
INO, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Firenze, Italy
5
ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
1
2
Abstract
In this study we lay the groundwork for a graphene-based fundamental ruler at the
nanoscale. It relies on the efficient energy-transfer mechanism between single quantum
emitters and low-doped graphene monolayers. Our experiments, conducted with
dibenzoterrylene (DBT) molecules, allow going beyond ensemble analysis due to the
emitter photo-stability and brightness.
A quantitative characterization of the
fluorescence decay-rate modification is presented and compared to a simple model,
showing agreement with the d-4 dependence, a genuine manifestation of a dipole
interacting with a 2D material. With DBT molecules, we can estimate a potential
uncertainty in position measurements as low as 5 nm in the range below 30 nm.
References
[1] A. A. L. Nicolet et al., Single Dibenzoterrylene Molecules in an Anthracene Crystal: Spectroscopy
and Photophysics, ChemPhysChem, 8 (2007) 1215–1220
[2] C. Toninelli et al., Near-infrared single-photons from aligned molecules in ultrathin crystalline films
at room temperature, 18 (2010) 6577–6582.
[3] A. A. L. Nicolet et al., Single Dibenzoterrylene Molecules in an Anthracene Crystal: Main Insertion
Sites, ChemPhysChem, 8 (2007) 1929–1936.
[4] L. Gaudreau et al., Universal Distance-Scaling of Nonradiative Energy Transfer to Graphene, Nano
Lett., 13 (2013) 2030–2035
Presenting author: Giacomo Mazzamuto, European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via N.
Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, tel. +39 055 457 2026, mazzamuto@lens.unifi.it
P32
Composite materials as high efficiency photoanodes in excitonic solar
cells
R. Milan1, G.S. Selopal1, I. Concina1, G. Sberveglieri1, A. Vomiero1
1
CNR INO Sensor Lab and Department of Information Engineering, University of
Brescia, Italy
Abstract
Excitonic solar cells (XSCs) are appealing candidates as alternative devices for solar
energy conversion, being in principle low cost, environmentally friendly and suitable
for exploiting the near infrared (NIR) region of solar spectrum, which is typically lost in
commercial solar cells. [1]
Nanoparticulate TiO2 is currently the most known and exploited metal oxide
semiconductor (MOS) applied as photoanode in both dye- and quantum dot-sensitized
solar cells (DSCs and QDSCs), but in the last years main efforts are spent to study
alternative materials to increase the efficiency and to reduce the costs of the devices.
For example, the exceptional charge transport properties of carbonaceous materials,
such as multi walled carbon nanotubes and graphene, make them ideal candidates to be
integrated in TiO2 scaffold, with the aim to create a preferential path for the
photogenerated charges to be transported and collected, significantly reducing charge
recombination. [2] Transparent graphene layers can be also applied as front contact in
dye-sensitized solar cells, as alternative to traditional transparent conducting oxides
(TCOs).
Other MOSs, such as ZnO and SnO2, are used in substitution of titania, due to higher
electron mobility and band structure suitable for NIR-absorbing light harvesters,
respectively. [3,4,5]
Herein we present the results obtained from a deep investigation of alternative
materials used as photoanodes and TCO in the DSSCs and QDSSs devices highlighting
the benefits of the engineered materials and process in terms of efficiency and stability
of the device.
References
[1] B. O’Regan, M. Graetzel, A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2
films, Nature, (1991) 353,737−740.
[2] T. Dembele, G.S. Selopal, C. Soldano, R. Nechache, J.C. Rimada, I. Concina, G. Sberveglieri, F.
Rosei, A. Vomiero, Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Scaffolds for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, J. Phys.
Chem. C (2013) 117, 14510–14517
[3] E. Guillén, L. M. Peter, J. A. Anta, Electron Transport and Recombination in ZnO-Based
Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, J. Phys. Chem. C (2011) 115, 2262
[4] N. Memarian, I. Concina, A. Braga, SM Rozati, A Vomiero, G Sberveglieri, Hierarchically
Assembled ZnO Nanocrystallites for High-Efficiency Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Angew Chem (2011) 51,
12321
[5] A. Hossain, JR Jenning, Z.Y. Koh,Q. Wang, Carrier generation and collection in
CdS/CdSe-sensitized SnO2 solar cells exhibiting unprecedented photocurrent densities, ACS Nano
(2011) 5, 3172
Presenting author: Riccardo Milan, via Branze 45, 25131, Brescia, Tel +39 030 6595253, email:
riccardo.milan@unibs.it
P33
Remote sensing of micro-physical properties of cirrus clouds using
wideband infrared spectral measurements
L. Palchetti, G. Di Natale, G. Bianchini, M. Del Guasta
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Cirrus clouds play a key role in the Earth's climate system because, by covering
about 30% of the surface of the planet, with peaks of 60% in the tropics, they greatly
influence the balance between the incoming solar radiation and the outgoing Earth's
thermal emission. Cirrus cloud radiative properties depend on the particle microphysics, which must be accurately characterised in order to better evaluate the climate
effects of these atmospheric components.
In the poster we show the results of the remote sensing of the ice crystals parameters, such as
the effective diameter, ice water path, effective temperature and optical thickness, obtained
using wideband infrared spectral measurements covering the 9 - 50 micron range, and the
support of a LIDAR system for ancillary information. The spectral measurements have been
performed by the Fourier transform spectrometer REFIR - PAD (Radiation Explorer in Far
InfraRed – Prototype for Application and Development) [1] during many field campaigns that
have took place since 2007 from different high-altitude ground-based stations: Testa Grigia
Station, Cervinia-Italy, (3480 m asl), Cerro Toco, Atacama-Chile, (5380 m asl), Concordia
Base, Dome C-Antarctica (3230 m asl). These measurements also show for the first time the
spectral effect of cirrus clouds in the far infrared (FIR) part of the emission spectrum above 15
micron of wavelength.
The remote sensing of the ice particle properties has been performed by fitting the
measurements with a model of the radiative transfer that integrates the LBLRTM forward model
[2] for the atmosphere, with a specific code that simulates the propagation of the radiation
through the cloud. The optical properties of clouds have been modelled using the two flux δscaled Eddington approximation for a single layer and the Yang's database for the singlescattering properties of ice crystals [3].
The sounding of the FIR spectrum, where the cirrus cloud signal is higher than in the other
infrared regions, has allowed to increase the fit accuracy, thus improving the quality of the
remote sensing.
References
[1] L. Palchetti. G. Bianchini, F. Castagnoli, B. Carli, C. Serio, F. Esposito, V. Cuomo, R. Rizzi, T.
Maestri, Breadboard of the Fourier-transform spectrometer for the Radiation Explorer in the Far
Infrared (REFIR) atmospheric mission, Applied Optics, 44 (2005), 2870-2878.
[2] S.A. Clough, M.W. Shephard, E.J. Mlawer, J.S. Delamere, M.J. Iacono, K. Cady-Pereira, S.
Boukabara, and P.D. Brown, Atmospheric radiative transfer modeling: a summary of the AER
codes, Short Communication, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 91 (2005), 233-244.
[3] P. Yang , H. Wei, H.L. Huang, B.A. Baum, Y. X. Hu , G.W. Kattawar , M.I. Mishchenko, and Q. Fu,
Scattering and absorption property database for nonspherical ice particles in the near-through farinfrared spectral region, Applied Optics, 44 (2005), 5512-5523..
Presenting author: Luca Palchetti, INO-CNR UOS Sesto Fiorentino, via Madonna del Piano 10,
+39.055.522.6311, +30.055.522.6348, luca.palchetti@ino.it.
P34
Recent development of the diagnostics set up of the
laser-driven source of electron at ILIL
D.Pallaa, F.Baffigia, P.Ferraraa, L.Fulgentinia, A.Giuliettia, D.Giuliettib,c, P.Koestera, L.Labatea,b, T.Levatoa,
L.A.Gizzia,b
a) ILIL, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, CNR, Via G. Moruzzi, Pisa, Italy
b)INFN, Sez. Di Pisa, Italy
c)Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pisa, Italy
daniele.palla@ino.it
In the original paper, Tajima and Dawson (1979), suggest to use a wakefield generated by
an intense laser pulse to accelerate relativistic electron. After many years, high-power laser
pulses with a suitable femtosecond duration have been develop in many laboratory and
laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) has been explored an impressive results have been
obtained word-wide1,2.
In the Laser Wakefield Accelerators (LWFA), the high longitudinal electric field supported
by plasma waves is used to accelerate trapped (self-injected) electrons with velocity close
to wave phase velocity. With respect to the standard RF-linacs, the accelerating distances
of relativistic electron beams is impressively small (in principle, 1000 time shorter).
Recently, LWFA has been investigated for the generation of high energy radiation using
secondary processes like Bremsstrahlung and Thomson/Compton scattering3,4. At the same
time, great attention is being dedicated to the possible use of LWA as a source of high
energy particles for radiobiology and radiation therapy.
LWA is being investigated at the INO ILIL laboratory where a 10TW laser system is
currently operating. The laser delivers up to 400mJ (on target) with 40 fs duration pulse.
The beam is focused using a f/10 off-axis parabolic mirror down to 17μm diameter
(FWHM) focal spot, the corresponding maximum intensity on target being was up to
2×1018 W/cm2 . The beam is focused onto a supersonic laminar gas jet produced using a
rectangular nozzle with size 1.2× 4mm. The gas used was He, N2, Ar and mixture of HeN2.
The laser-gas interaction is monitored using Thomson scattering imaging, shadowgraphic
and interferometric techniques. The electrons beam is monitored using a LANEX
scintillator screen and a magnetic spectrometer. In general, the electron spectrum strongly
depends on the gas properties (type and pressure) and the position of gas jet (with respect
to the focal spot). In this configuration we have been able to produce electrons with a peak
energy up to 30MeV and maximum energy up to 50 MeV, with a good reproducibility.
Optimization of this configuration is being carried out to be used for secondary X-ray
source development. In the poster we will describe details of the experimental set up and
discuss the most important issues for the reliable operation of the LWFA electron source.
[1] Nature 431 (2004)
[2] Leemans et, al., Nat. Phys., 2:696 (2006)
[3] Giulietti et, al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 105002 (208)
[4]S. Chen, N.D. Powers, I. Ghebregziabher, C.M. Maharjan, C. Liu, G. Golovin, S. Banerjee, J. Zhang, N.
Cunningham, A. Moorti, S. Clarke, S. Pozzi, and D.P. Umstadter, 155003, 1 (2013).
P35
The MONICA Project: Novel Monitoring of coast and sea enviroment
S. Avino1, M. De Rosa1, G. Gagliardi1, A. Giorgini1, P. Malara1, S. Mosca1, M. Parisi1,
M. Paturzo1, I. Ricciardi1, A. Rocco1, P. Ferraro1, P. De Natale1
1
CNR-INO-UOS Napoli, Italy
The MONICA project aims to give a major contribution to prevention and management
of sea and coastal environmental emergencies. In particular, the main goal of the project
is to realize a monitoring network based on fiber optic communication which will
connect traditional and innovative sensors.The monitoring activity is performed on
emerged and submerged areas in Pozzuoli Gulf, in order to realize an early warning
system for hydrogeological and volcanic risk. We are developing innovative sensors
which can be easily connected in complex structures for geophysical and geochemical
parameters monitoring, in particular:
- fiber Bragg grating-based sensors for mechanical strain and acceleration
measurements;
- evanescent wave-based sensors for chemical analysis of liquid samples;
- 3D digital holographic systems for non-intrusive imaging of aquatic microorganisms.
The main experimental results attained during the project are presented.
References
[1] D. Gatti, G. Galzerano, D. Janner, S. Longhi and P. Laporta, Fiber strain sensor based on a
p-phase-shifted Bragg grating and the Pound-Drever-Hall technique ,Opt. Express 16,
1945-1950 (2008).
[2] B. Lissak, A. Arie, and M. Tur, Highly sensitive dynamic strain measurements by locking
lasers to fiber Bragg gratings, Opt. Lett. 23, 1930-1932 (1998).
[3] S. Avino, A. Giorgini, M. Salza, M. Fabian, G. Gagliardi, P. De Natale, Evanescent-wave
comb spectroscopy of liquids with strongly dispersive optical fiber cavities, Applied Physics
Letters, 102(20), 201116 (2013).
[4] S. Avino, C. Richmond, A. Giorgini, P. Malara, R. Zullo, P. De Natale and G. Gagliardi,
High sensitivity ring-down evanescent-wave sensing in fiber resonators, Optics Letters, In Press
[5] M. Paturzo, A. Finizio, P. Memmolo, R. Puglisi, D. Balduzzi, A. Galli and P. Ferraro,
Microscopy imaging and quantitative phase contrast mapping in turbid microfluidic channels
by digital holography, Lab Chip, 2012, *12*, 3073.
[6] V. Bianco, M. Paturzo, A. Finizio, D. Balduzzi, R. Puglisi, A. Galli, P. Ferraro, Clear
coherent imaging in turbid microfluidics by multiple holographic acquisitions, Opt. Lett.,
37(20), 4212-4214, 2012.
Presenting author: Maria Parisi, maria.parisi@ino.it.
P36
Bright-White Beetle Scales Optimise Multiple Scattering of Light
M. Burresi1,2, L. Cortese1,3, L. Pattelli1,3, M. Kolle4, P. Vukusic5, D.S. Wiersma1,3, U.
Steiner6 & S. Vignolini6,7
1
European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Univ. di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
2
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (CNR-INO), Firenze, Italy
3
Univerisità di Firenze, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
4
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard Univ., Cambridge MA, USA
and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA
5
Thin Film Photonics, School of Physics, Exeter University, Exeter, UK
6
Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
7
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Complex nanostructures found in nature are generally produced in ambient conditions
using relatively simple materials. However, since the host animal's survival typically
rely on their quality, evolution has optimised these nanostructures at least for the last 50
millions of years [1]. By tailoring the morphology of such materials animals and insects
can influence thermoregulation, obtain adhesive and hydrophobic properties and finally
brilliant coloration, of which they take advantage in diverse contexts such as communication, mating and camouflage. Whiteness, in particular, arises from diffuse and broadband reflection of light typically achieved through optical scattering in randomly structured media [2]. In contrast to structural colour due to deterministic photonic structures
which exploit light interference to achieve high values of reflectivity [3], white appearance generally involves thick systems comprising randomly positioned high refractiveindex scattering centers. In the case of the scales of the beetles Cyphochilus and Lepidiota Stigma whiteness is produced using an interconnected random network of chitin
rods that, despite their relatively low refractive index of ~1.56, has been found to be extremely efficient in reflecting all visible wavelengths in a layer just 5 to 15 µm thick [4].
This is surprising since, as it is well known, high density strongly limits the scattering
strength. Here, we show that the exceptionally bright white appearance of these beetles
arises from a remarkably optimised anisotropy of intra-scale chitin networks, which act
as a dense scattering media. Using ultra-fast time-resolved measurements, we show that
light propagating in the scales of the beetles undergoes pronounced multiple scattering
that is associated with the lowest transport mean free path reported to date for low-refractive-index systems. We also show evidence that this brightness is due to the anisotropy of the network scatterers. Introducing a certain degree of anisotropy in the alignment of those elongated scatterers, the beetle succeeds in creating a denser random network yet preserving to some extent the scattering strength of the single scattering element. We find that the scale is just as thick as necessary to virtually remove the ballistic
light so that most of the impinging radiation is scattered, achieving an effective reflection. This reduced thickness reflects a careful trade-off between brightness and mass
density per area, of crucial importance for flying insects. Our investigation unveils high
level of optimisation that achieves high-brightness white in a thin low-mass-per-unitarea anisotropic disordered nanostructure. This investigation suggests new designs for
efficient strongly-scattering 3D biomimetic photonic structures.
References
[1] M.E. McNamara et al. The original colours of fossil beetles, Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
Biological Sciences 279.1731 (2012) 1114-1121.
[2] P. Vukusic et al. Brilliant whiteness in ultrathin beetle scales, Science 315.5810 (2007) 348-348.
[3] S. Kinoshita et al. Physics of structural colors, Reports on Progress in Physics 71.7 (2008) 076401.
[4] S.M. Luke et al. Structural optimization for broadband scattering in several ultra-thin white beetle
scales, Applied optics 49.22 (2010): 4246-4254.
Presenting author: Lorenzo Pattelli, LENS, Università di Firenze, Via Nello Carrara 1 – 50019 – Sesto
Fiorentino (FI), Italiy, tel. +39 055 457 2452, pattelli@lens.unifi.it
P37
Strongly confined 2D disordered modes with suppressed scattering
losses
A. Matteo Burresi1,2, B. Filippo Pratesi 1, C. Diederik S. Wiersma1,2
European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence,
Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze)
2
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO), Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze)
The study of wave propagation in disordered systems is tackled in various areas of
science, e.g. from biology to solid state physics. A rising interest is recently aimed
toward the effect of different structural correlations on waves propagation. For example,
in short-range correlated systems the opening of band-gaps was theoretically predicted
[1], as well as the formation of localized states [2].
In this work we show that in correlated-disordered quasi-2D systems short-range order
not only modifies the in-plane multiple scattering, inducing a strong localization of light
[3], but also dominates the out-of-plane coupling mechanism (Fig. a, b). As the volume
of these localized modes reduces, the vertical loss concurrently decreases, leading to the
counterintuitive effect of having a better ‘cavity mode’ in a smaller volume (Figure a).
We show that this effect is induced by the coherent scattering involving nearestneighbor scattering elements which inhibits the out-of-plane coupling.
1
b)
Figure: (a) Numerically calculated (3D FDTD) quality factor of three disorder realizations of a correlateddisordered system (black, blue, green) and effective mode volume (red) obtained from the Inverse
Participatin Ratio. (b) Lifetime of a random and a correlated disordered system (single realizations)
compared with semi-analytical model described in [3]. The modal dispersion has been included in the
model to take into account the effective thickness of the slab. (c) Out-of-plane transmission, Tout, (2D
FDTD) of the guided light for a single isolated hole (black) and two holes (red) placed ad a distance dav.
To study this effect we calculated with 3D Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD)
method the lifetime associated with a random and correlated patterns of holes (typical
distance between neighbours dav, radius r=0.23*dav ) in a thin slab (thickness t=0.1 µm,
dielectric constant ε = 12). Lifetime in the random system is inversely related to the inplane scattering strength, that is the inverse of the transport mean free path (Fig. b). This
is not the case in average for the correlated system, in particular around the
adimensional frequency 0.073 t/λ where, for some disorder realization, lifetime can also
increase. To study this process, we numerically calculated the out-of-plane transmission
of guided light incident on one and two isolated holes in a slab (Fig. C, inset). We
showed how these two cases are different, having a minima at 0.073 t/λ when the two
holes are detached by dav (Fig. c). This suggest that a coherent scattering mechanism is
acting between neighbouring holes to reduce the out-of-plane losses.
References
[1] S. F. Liew et al.,Phys. Rev. A 84 063818 (2011).
[2] S. R. Huisman et al., Phys. Rev. B 86 155154 (2012).
[3] G. M. Conley et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 143901 (2014).
[4] K. Vynck et al., Nature Materials 11, 1017–1022.
Presenting author: Filippo Pratesi, LENS, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy,
+39 055-4572475, pratesi@lens.unifi.it.
P38
Ultra-narrow-linewidth Mid-infrared Optical Parametric Oscillator
I. Ricciardi1, S. Mosca1, M. Parisi1, P. Maddaloni1, L. Santamaria1, M. De Rosa1,
G. Giusfredi2, P. De Natale2
1
CNR-INO, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
2
CNR-INO, Via Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino FI, Italy
Highly stable and spectral pure laser sources are crucial for a wide range of
demanding applications, including high-resolution spectroscopy, frequency metrology,
and precision tests of fundamental physics.
We demonstrate sub-kHz narrowing of a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator
(OPO), emitting in the frequency range between 2.7 and 4.2 µm [1,2]. In our
experimental set-up a Nd:YAG laser, frequency narrowed at 1-Hz-linewidth against a
stable ultra-low-expansion Fabry–Pérot cavity, is amplified up to 10 W to pump the
OPO. The OPO is based on a periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 crystal placed in a
bow-tie cavity resonant for the signal. The crystal has seven different poling periods,
allowing the continuous tuning of the idler frequency between 2.7 and 4.2 µm, with
about 1 Watt of emitted power. We exploit a transfer oscillator scheme [3], according to
which an optical frequency comb synthesizer acts as the transfer oscillator between a
highly stable pump laser mode and the resonating OPO signal mode: as a consequence,
the spectral features of the pump laser are transferred to the signal mode, independently
of technical fluctuations of the comb frequencies. In turn, the fluctuations of idler mode
frequency will be of the same order of the pump laser ones, as in a singly-resonant OPO
the idler linewidth is the sum of the two uncorrelated pump and signal linewidths.
References
[1] I. Ricciardi, E. De Tommasi, P. Maddaloni, S. Mosca, A. Rocco, J.-J. Zondy, M. De Rosa, and P. De
Natale, Opt. Express 20, 9178–9186 (2012).
[2] I. Ricciardi, E. De Tommasi, P. Maddaloni, S. Mosca, A. Rocco, J.-J. Zondy, M. De Rosa, and P. De
Natale, Mol. Phys. 110, 2103–2109 (2012).
[3] H. R. Telle, B. Lipphardt, and J. Stenger, Appl. Phys. B 74, 1–6 (2002).
Presenting author: Iolanda Ricciardi, iolanda.ricciardi@ino.it
P39
Efficient all-optical production of 6Li quantum gases
A. Burchianti1, J. A. Seman2, G. Valtolina1,3, M. Zaccanti1, M. Inguscio1, G. Roati1
1
INO-CNR and LENS, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
2
Instituto de Fısica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, D. F. Mexico, Mexico
3
Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
Abstract
We demonstrate fast and efficient production of 6Li quantum gases using a sub-Doppler
cooling scheme based on the D1 transition [1]. After loading in a standard
magneto-optical trap, the atomic sample is cooled at temperatures as low as 40 µK in a
bichromatic D1 gray-molasses [2]. Then, we transfer more than 2x107 atoms into a
high-intensity optical dipole trap, where a two-spin state mixture is evaporatively
cooled to quantum degeneracy. We observe that D1 cooling remains effective in the
deep trapping potential, allowing an effective increase of the atomic phase-space
density. The feasibility of all cooling phases in our system is here proved by the
production of both weakly-interacting degenerate Fermi gases of 7x105 atoms at
T/TF<0.1 and molecular Bose-Einstein condensates of up to 5x105 molecules.
Furthermore, we also discuss the implementation in our set-up of engineered optical
potentials for future experiments towards quantum simulation of many-body systems.
References
[1] A. Burchianti, et al., All-Optical production of a Lithium Quantum Gas Using gray molasses cooling
arXiv: 1406.4788 (2014).
[2] A.T. Grier, et al. Λ-enhanced sub-Doppler cooling of lithium atoms in a D1 gray molasses, Phys.
Rev. A 87, 063411 (2013).
Presenting author: Giacomo Roati, via N. Carrara 1, 0554572458, giacomo.roati@ino.it, Alessia
Burchianti, via N. Carrara 1, 0554572458, alessia.burchianti@ino.it.
P40
Using Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry for NDT evaluation
of composite materials
1
A.Rocco1, V. Pagliarulo1, P. Ferraro1
CNR, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, 80078 – Pozzuoli (Na)
Abstract
We present the activity in the framework of the NDT damages evaluation on
composite and innovative materials.
Through real-time surface illumination by visible laser (i.e. 532 nm), the ESPI
technique allows the non-contact, non-destructive detection of micro-deformations,
micro-cracks, residual stress and delaminations. The measurement range and accuracy is
related to the wavelength and the deformation value is measured by half-wavelength
laser multiples. The method records the surface field differential displacement, due to
thermal or mechanical solicitations. Speckle interferograms are recorded as images
through a CCD camera and a computer. Adapting different setup configurations it is
possible to measure out-of-plane or in-plane displacements
With this technique it is possible to reveal hidden defects, cracks and to evaluate
the effective delamination area due to, for example, an impact damage; such
characteristic can be particularly relevant when the examined materials are employed in
the industrial application (i.e. aerospace, automotive and so on) when the detection of
invisible or barely visible damages is required and the quality of the materials is a key
point, involving human safety.
This kind of NDT evaluation is useful in all the fields where it is important to operate
without contact with the object to be examinated, as it does not require any
manipulation of the sample and do not involve any harm. In particular it can be also
used in the field of cultural heritage conservation where it is essential to identify, on
artifacts incipient or invisible cracks, as well as an understanding of the processes by
which the fractures and the discontinuity of the supports alter the layer of the painting,
causing degradation of the works. Wood artifacts are particularly suitable for the optical
based analysis as the support is the basis for praparation and paint layers.
Presently we will focus on the Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) used
to evaluate the effective delaminated area of damaged Epoxy-Carbon Fibers and Glass
Fiber Composites after mechanical tests [1].
References
[1] V. Pagliarulo. A. Rocco et al. Evaluation of delaminated area of polymer/Carbon Nanotubes fiber
reinforced composites after flexural tests by ESPI 978-1-4799-2069-3/14 IEEE.
Presenting author: Alessandra Rocco, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, 0818675422,
alessandra.rocco@ino.it
.
P41
Advanced optical techniques to explore brain structure and function
1
A. L. Allegra Mascaro1, L. Silvestri1, I. Costantini1, L. Sacconi2, F. S. Pavone1,2,3
European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence
2
National Institute of Optics, National Research Council
3
Department of Physics, University of Florence
Abstract
One of the unique features of the brain is that its activity cannot be framed in a single
spatio- temporal scale, but rather spans many orders of magnitude both in space and
time. A single imaging technique can reveal only a small part of this complex
machinery. To obtain a more comprehensive view of brain functionality,
complementary approaches should be combined. Here we show how correlative
two-photon and electron microscopy allows us to characterize the effect of laser
nanosurgery on the ultrastructure of neural tissue. In particular, we show that single
axonal branches can be dissected avoiding collateral damage to surrounding dendrites
and the formation of a persistent glial scar [1]. Moving to the other extreme of spatial
scale, we correlate two-photon and light sheet microscopy, taking advantage of blood
vessels as reference chart [2]. We show how the apical dendritic arbor of a single
cortical pyramidal neuron imaged in living thy1-GFP-M mice can be found in the
large-scale brain reconstruction obtained with light sheet microscopy. Starting from the
apical portion, the whole pyramidal neuron can then be segmented and contextualized
within a three- dimensional anatomic framework. Finally, we report how innovative
nonlinear microscopy [3] in combination with novel voltage sensitive dyes [4] allow
optical registrations of action potential across a population of neurons opening
promising prospective in understanding brain functionality. The complementary
framework presented here allows overcoming the inherent limitations of the single
technique, providing a more comprehensive and solid view of the brain.
References
[1] A. L. Allegra Mascaro et al., “In vivo single branch axotomy induces GAP-43-dependent sprouting
and synaptic remodeling in cerebellar cortex”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, (2013) 110,.
[2] L. Silvestri et al., “Correlative two-photon and light sheet microscopy”, Methods, (2013) available
online.
[3] L. Sacconi et al., “Action potential propagation in transverse-axial tubular system is impaired in heart
failure”, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, (2012) 109.
[4] P. Yan et al. “Palette of fluorinated voltage sensitive hemicyanine dyes”, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A,
(2102) 109.
Presenting author: Leonardo Sacconi, National Institute of Optics (INO-CNR) c/o LENS - European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy, Tel 055
457 2482/2018 (off./lab), Fax 055 457 2451, sacconi@lens.unifi.it
P42
Acetylene spectroscopy at cryogenic temperature
L. Santamaria1, V. Di Sarno1, I. Ricciardi1, S. Mosca1, M. De Rosa1, G. Santambrogio2,3,
P. Maddaloni1,4, P. De Natale 4,5
1 CNR-INO, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pozzuoli, Italy
2 CNR-INO, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
3 Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Berlin, Germany
4 INFN, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare – Sez. di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
5 CNR-INO, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Firenze, Italy
Abstract
We performed ro-vibrational spectroscopy on the 12C2 H 2 ( 1   3 ) band at cryogenic
temperatures, based on a buffer gas cooling (BGC) technique1 with a continuous flow of
4
He gas2. 12C2 H 2 translational temperature was measured by means of Doppler
thermometry performed in buffer gas cell. Then, rotational temperature was retrieved by
fitting the intensity of several rotational lines using Boltzmann distribution. Finally, we
studied the helium-acetylene collision mechanism at 25 K and 100 K through
meaurements of 12C2 H 2 diffusion in cold helium environment. The measurement were
compared to a Montecarlo simulation in order to estimate the helium-acetylene cross
setion and its dependence on temperature.
References
[1] N. R. Hutzler, H. I. Lu, J. M. Doyle, The Buffer Gas Beam: An Intense, Cold, and Slow Source for
Atoms and Molecules, Chem. Rev., 112, (2012) 4803-4827
[2] L. Santamaria, V. Di Sarno, I. Ricciardi, S. Mosca, M. De Rosa, G. Santambrogio, P. Maddaloni, P. De
Natale, Assessing the time constancy of the proton-to-electron mass ratio by precision ro-vibrational
spectroscopy of a cold molecular beam, J. Mol. Spec., 300, (2014) 116-123
P43
1
2
Molecule Chip
D. Adu Smith , G. Insero , S. Marx1, G. Meijer1,3, T. Zehentbauer1, G. Santambrogio1,2,4
1
Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Berlin, Germany
2
European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
3
Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
4
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
For physics, the atom chip and ion chip have been employed in fields as diverse as
quantum computation, many-body non-equilibrium physics, and gravitational sensing.
For chemistry, the lab-on-a-chip shrinks the pipettes, beakers and test tubes of a modern
lab onto a microchip-sized substrate, with applications from the international space
station to anti-terrorism. The molecule chip, however, is currently in its infancy, but
promises a marriage between fundamental quantum physics and the richness of the
chemical world. A particular advantage of using molecules instead of atoms on a chip is
that they can be coupled to photons over a wider range of frequencies due to their
rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom. Moreover, for chemists the molecule chip
offers the prospect of extending the control of molecular concentrations and interactions
to the level of single molecules with the accuracy in interaction energy reduced to the
mK scale and below.
A major obstacle that has delayed the development of the molecule chip arises from
the extreme richness of molecules’ internal degrees of freedom. As molecules generally
lack a closed two-level system, efficient laser cooling and detection using absorption or
laser-induced fluorescence is in general not possible. In the last years, it was
demonstrated that neutral molecules can be loaded on a microchip directly from a
supersonic beam. Once the molecules are trapped, they can be decelerated to a
standstill, for instance, or re-ejected at low speed for high resolution spectroscopic
measurements. We control the position of the trapped molecules with an accuracy of
few microns and the molecules are in a single quantum state.[1]
We were able to show that trapped molecules can be transferred between quantum
states with absolute selectivity. First, we demonstrated this for rotational transitions, by
coupling the molecule chip to a mm-wave radiation source.[2] Then, we extended this
technique into the infrared region using laser light.[3] More recently, we showed
time-resolved spatial imaging of molecule on the chip, adding the final fundamental
component to the molecule chip.[4] For this, we use resonant-enhanced multi-photon
ionization, which is quantum state selective, intrinsically background-free, and of
general applicability. Imaging detection allows for the determination of the phase space
distribution of the molecules in the microtraps, which we exploited, for instance, for the
measurement of the temperature of the trapped molecules.
References
[1] S.A. Meek, H. Conrad, G. Meijer, New J. Phys., 11 (2009) 055024.
[2] G. Santambrogio, S.A. Meek, M.J. Abel, L.M. Duffy, G. Mejer, Chem. Phys. Chem., 12 (2011) 1799.
[3] M.J. Abel, S. Marx, G. Meijer, G. Santambrogio, Mol. Phys., 110 (2012) 1829.
[4] S. Marx, D. Adu Smith, M.J. Abel, T. Zehentbauer, G. Meijer, and G. Santambrogio, Phys. Rev. Lett.,
111 (2013) 243007.
Presenting author: Gabriele Santambrogio, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, CNR, Via Nello Carrara 1,
50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy, +39 055 457 2006, santambrogio@lens.unifi.it
P44
Different food application of a Novel Nano-Wire Electronic Nose
V. Sberveglieri1,2, E. Nunez Carmona2,3, A. Pulvirenti1,2
1
CNR-INO sensor lab, Brescia, Italy
2
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42124 Reggio
Emilia, Italy
3
CNR-IBF, Palermo, Italy
Abstract
In thi paper is illustrated a range of different applications, in innumerable foodstuffs, by
a novel Electronic Nose (EN) based on a mixed metal oxide sensors array collected by
thin films as well as nanowires.
The electronic nose used for this work has been done, beginning from the commercial
model EOS835 produced by SACMI Scarl[1]. The SENSOR Lab (CNR – INO,
Brescia) has produced, both typologies of sensors, classical MOX and the new
technologies with nanowire[2]. The aim of this work was to test and to show the broad
spectrum of potential uses of the EN technique in food quality control and microbial
contamination diagnosis.
The EN technique was combined with Classical Microbiological and Chemical
techniques, like Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) with SPME
technique.
Three different situations are presented: (a) detection of indigenous mould in green
coffee beans (fig.1), (b) selection of microbiological spoilage of Lactic Acid Bacteria
(LAB) and (c) monitoring of potable water.
In each case, the novel EN was able to identify the spoiled product by means of the
modifications in the pattern of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reconstructed by
principal constituent analysis (PCA) of the sensor responses. The completed results
strongly encourage the use of EN in industrial laboratories. Finally recent trends and
future directions are illustrated.
Fig. 1 PCA score PLOT about Indonesia green coffee beans during 6 days of analysis (T0 to T6).
References
[1] I. Concina, M. Falasconi, V. Sberveglieri, Electronic nose as a flexible tools to assess food quality
and safety: should we trust them?, IEEE Sensors Journal, 12, (2012) 3232-3237.
[2] G. Sberveglieri, I. Concina, E. Comini, M. Falasconi, M. Ferroni, V. Sberveglieri, Synthesis and
integration of tin oxide nanowires into an electronic nose, Vacuum, 86, (2012) 532-535.
Presenting author: Veronica Sberveglieri, +393204377973, veronica.sberveglieri@unimore.
P45
Precise measurements of molecular lineshapes with direct comb
spectroscopy
M. Siciliani de Cumis1, P. Cancio Pastor1, R. Eramo1, N. Coluccelli2, M. Cassinerio2,
G. Galzerano2, P. Laporta2 and P. De Natale1
1
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica-CNR and European Laboratory for Non-linear
Spectroscopy, Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
2
Dipartimento di Fisica-Politecnico di Milano and Istituto di Fotonica e
Nanotecnologie-CNR, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano, Italy
Abstract
Direct comb spectroscopy (DCS) is a unique spectroscopic tool in terms of
resolution, sensitivity, frequency accuracy and broad-band spectral coverage for
measurements in molecular gases mixtures, at frequencies that can now encompass the
entire XUV-THz range. This technique uses frequency-comb lasers (FCL’s) [1] as the
sources to interact with molecular samples to recover spectra of molecular transitions in
the spectral range of FCL emission. DCS- based instrumentation has been developed for
multiple trace gas sensing [2, 3], or for hyperspectral lidar [4] with possible large impact
in environmental and climatic change monitoring applications. Spectroscopic
information about composition, temperature, chemical evolution of the analyzed gases
is retrieved by measuring with precision spectral lineshapes of the detected molecular
transitions. Such aim can be fulfilled, in part, thanks to the metrological-grade of
absolute frequency accuracy of FCL’s, and in part to the ability of the DCS technique of
extract molecular lineshapes free of instrumental contributions. Here, we present a DCS
approach which allows multiplex spectroscopy with high resolution and precision.
Application to measure line-shape behavior against gas pressure and light power is
shown for transitions of CO2 molecule around 2 μm. In our DCS spectrometer, a
commercial 250 MHz repetition rate (fr) 1-2μm-FCL, amplified around 2-μm
wavelength edge by using a home-made Tm-Ho-doped fiber amplifier (FA), is filtered
with a medium finesse FP cavity by following the Comb-Vernier dispersive approach
with a Vernier ratio of about 18/1. An active electronic control of the FP length is used
to keep all FP-resonant FCL modes at the maximum transmission. In this way, the FPtransmitted comb, spaced by the FP free spectral range, FSR=4.5 GHz is resolved by a
1.5 GHz resolution-diffraction limited grating dispersive spectrometer (SOPRA). Then,
the dispersed modes are detected by an InSb 320 x 256 CCD camera, recording images
for each FCL-fr and SOPRA-grating position. Our first results are encouraging from the
point of view of possible environmental application of this technique. Knowledge of
precise data about transition frequencies and collisional shifts of a molecule as CO 2, so
relevant for studies of climatic change are extremely needful to extract information
about concentrations and temperatures from in-field samples.
References
[1] P. Maddaloni, P. Cancio and P. De Natale, “Optical comb generators for laser frequency measurement”
Meas. Sci. Technol. 20, 052001 (2009).
[2] A. Schliesser, M. Brehm, F. Keilmann and D. W. van der Weide, “Frequency-comb infrared
spectrometer for rapid, remote chemical sensing” Optics Express 13, 9029-9038 (2005).
[3] R. Grilli, G. M ́ jean, S. Kassi, I. Ventrillard, C. Abd-Alrahman and D. Romanini, “Frequency Comb
Based Spectrometer for in Situ and Real Time Measurements of IO, BrO, NO 2 , and H2 CO at pptv and
ppqv Levels” Environ. Sci. Technol 46, 10704-10710 (2012).
[4] S. Boudreau, S. Levasseur, C. Perilla, S. Roy and J. Genest, “Chemical detection with hyperspectral
lidar using dual frequency combs” Optics Express 21, 7411 (2013).
Presenting author: Mario Siciliani de Cumis, Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino, tel 0554572292,
mario.siciliani@ino.it
P46
Researches and measurements on Ytterbium and Neodymium activated hosts
for lasers in the near infrared.
Guido Toci1, Antonio Lapucci2, Marco Ciofini2, , Angela Pirri3, Georges Boulon4, Matteo Vannini1
1 Istituto Nazionale di Ottica INO-CNR UOS di Sesto Fiorentino, Via Madonna del Piano 10,
50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
2 Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Largo Enrico Fermi 6 50125 Firenze, Italy
3 Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara” IFAC-CNR Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto
Fiorentino. Italy
4 Institute Light Matter (ILM), UMR5306 CNRS-University Lyon1, University of Lyon, 69622
Villeurbanne, France
Abstract
We present the work performed on diode pumped active media doped with ytterbium and
neodymium for laser sources in the near infrared (~1 μm emission).
Because of the short distance between the pump and the emission wavelength, Yb3+ lasers exhibit a
very low quantum defect and in consequence limiting the heating and maximizing the full
exploitation of the diode emission. This is because Yb3+ has only two levels, so pump and lasing
happen between the two manifolds involving different vibration levels.
Our work spans several hosts starting from activated crystals and ceramics showing different
characteristics which depend on the different electric field surrounding the doping ions. In
consequence some media, due to the longer lifetime of the upper level, are more suitable for
amplifiers (such as Yb:YLF) whereas other work very efficiently as laser oscillators i.e. LuAG,
Sc2O3, Lu2O3, YAG). We describe the tuning range and the slope efficiency of several laser systems
tested in our laboratory.
The pump consists of a fiber coupled semiconductor laser coupled to the media by an achromatic
doublet and emitting at 940 nm for the Yb3+ systems and at 808 nm for Nd3+ (see Fig. 1).
We measured the thermal lensing generally negatively affecting the laser performance with a
Shack-Hartmann device and we discuss here the main results [1].
The investigation on Neodymium doped media focused on sesquioxides (Y2O3 and Lu2O3) ceramics,
fabricated at the Tohoku University (Japan) with the Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) sintering and the
Shock Plasma Sintering (SPS) method. This latter is a new and non-conventional method, resulting
in a simpler and less time-consuming production of transparent ceramics. We demonstrated for the
first time the laser oscillation of two near IR emission lines at 1076.3 nm and 1080.5 nm using a 1%
Nd3+-doped Lu2O3 transparent ceramics fabricated by SPS (see Fig. 2).
Yb:YAG Achromatic
doublets
D1
EM
D2
0.6
Fiber-coupled
diode laser
=936 nm
Pump
beam
OC
R=90%
R=95%
R=99%
R=98%
0.5
Output power (W)
FM
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
Absorbed pump power (W)
Figure 1 - Typical laser set-up for CW lasing of Ybdoped ceramics and crystals.
Figure 2 - Output power vs. absorbed pump power for
the SPS 1%Nd3+-doped Lu2O3 ceramics. R:
reflectivity of the output coupler.
References
[1] Experimental evidence of a nonlinear loss mechanism in highly doped Yb: LuAG crystal , A. Pirri, G. Toci, M. Nikl,
V. Babin, M. Vannini, Optics Express 22 (4), 4038-4049 (2014)
[2] Nd3+-doped Lu2O3 transparent sesquioxide ceramics elaborated by the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method.
Part2: First laser output results and comparison with Nd3+:Lu2O3 and Nd3+-doped Y2O3 ceramics elaborated by
conventional methods G. Toci, M. Vannini, M. Ciofini, A. Lapucci, A. Pirri, A. Ito, T. Goto, A. Yoshikawa, Akio
Ikesue, G. Alombert-Goget, Y. Guyot,M. Guzik, G. Boulon. Submitted to Optical Materials (August 2014)
P47
Fast identification of microbiological contamination in vegetable soup
by electronic nose
G.Zambotti 1,2,V.Sberveglieri 2,3, E. Gobbi 4,2, M. Falasconi 1, 2 , E. Nunez 3,5, A.
Pulvirenti 2,3
1
Dept. of Information Engineering, - University of Brescia, Via Vallotti 9, 25133
Brescia, Italy
2
CNR INO, SENSOR Lab., Via Branze 45, 25123 Brescia, Italy
3
Dept. of Life Sciences- Padiglione Besta,University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,Via
Amendola 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
4
Dept. Molecular and Translational Medicine,and AgrifoodLAB,University of
Brescia,Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
5
CNR-IBF Via Ugo La Malfa 153 90146 Palermo, Italy
Summary
In this work we present the EOS507C Electronic Nose (EN) for early screening of
Enterobacter hormaechei type strain (ATCC 49162) contamination in vegetable soup.
The EOS507C based on an array of metal oxide semiconductor (MOX) sensors [1], is a
rather innovative system equipped with dynamic headspace autosampler and new
functionalities such as real-time sample humidity compensation, sensor response
linearization and automated periodic calibration. The EOS507C has provided excellent
results in terms of screening capabilities: E.hormaechei contamination was detected in
24 hours at very low inocula concentrations (down to 10 cfu per 100 ml).
Motivation and result
Microbial contamination of food is cause of economic losses for the food industry and
may often lead to emerging disease risks for the consumers. Today microbial
contamination is screened by the industries through post-production storage of the food
packages in large incubators for two weeks. Previous works [2],[3] have demonstrated
that the EN is capable of diagnosing microbial contamination in different food matrices
through the detection of volatile secondary metabolites produced by the organisms
during their growth. In this work vegetable soups, mix of vegetable, were contaminated
with E.hormaechei. Suspension cell were inoculate in 100 ml of vegetable soup and
incubated at 35 °C for a variable time: 3, 5, 7, 12, 15, 17 and 21 hours, in order to
identify the best detection time. Subsequently the sample was aliquoted in 10 ml vials
wrapped and incubate for 3 hours before the measurement. Control samples
(uncontaminated) followed the same procedure. The EN is able to discriminate the
vegetable soups contaminated by E.hormaechei from the control samples after 24 hours
of incubation. All the samples contaminated with 100 cfu/100 ml can be correctly
classified while the minimum detection threshold looks to be around 10 cfu/100 ml
which is compatible with typical contamination values that may occur during actual
production. All the contaminated samples that were incubated for less than 24h are
overlapped with control samples, independently of the inoculum concentration. The EN
has proven to be an excellent tool for microbiological screening, although the diagnosis
is limited by the production of volatile metabolites that can occur after few hours of
growth. Future improvements of the technology which are currently under investigation,
e.g. the incorporation of much more sensitive sensors, can lead to reduction of detection
limits and hence of the detection time.
Acknolegments:
This work has been supported by Consorzio Casalasco del Pomodoro, Cremona (Italy)
Reference:
[1] M. Pardo and G.Sberveglieri, Electronic olfactory systems based on metal oxide semiconductor sensor
arrays, MRS Bulletin, 29 (2004) 703-708.
[2] I. Concina, M. Falasconi, V. Sberveglieri Electronic Noses As Flexible Tools To Assess Food Quality
And Safety: Should We Trust Them?,IEEE Sensor Journal,12 (2012) 3232-3237.
[3]M. Falasconi, I. Concina, E. Gobbi,,V. Sberveglieri, A. Pulvirenti, and G. Sberveglieri,Electronic Nose
for Microbiological Quality Control of Food Products,Int.J. Electrochem.,2012 (2012) Article
ID 715763.
Corresponding author: Giulia Zambotti, Via Branze 45, Brescia, 030-6595249, g.zambotti@unibs.it
P48
Tungsten oxide nanowires for conductometric chemical sensors
D. Zappa, A. Bertuna, E. Comini, M. Molinari, N. Poli, G. Sberveglieri
SENSOR Laboratory, University of Brescia and CNR-INO, Via Valotti 9, 25133 Brescia, Italy
Abstract
Metal oxide nanowires are well-known as candidate for next generation of low-cost chemical sensors. Scientific
research is looking forward new materials that exhibit excellent performances together with high selectivity and
stability over time.
Tungsten oxide is a n-type promising semiconductor material that is under investigation by quite long time,
especially in form of thin film [1]. Nanostructured tungsten oxide could enhance the overall performances of the
devices compared to traditional thin film technology [2].
Thermal oxidation is a technique that was successfully used to synthetize metal-oxide materials [3]. In the
present work it was slightly adapted to be used in low vacuum environment, in order to reduce the oxygen partial
pressure in the atmosphere. Tungsten oxide nanowires were synthetized on both silicon and alumina substrates:
silicon substrates (10x10 mm) were used for morphological (Fig.1) and structural investigations; alumina (2x2
mm) was used for the fabrication of sensing devices.
A 18nm thin layer of metallic tungsten was deposited on target substrates by RF magnetron sputtering at 300°C,
and then oxidized in a tubular furnace at 550°C for one hour at 1 mbar pressure. Conductometric mat-based devices
were prepared depositing interdigited platinum contacts on the front side of samples, while a platinum heater was
deposited with the same technique, to thermally activate metal oxide interaction with the surrounding atmosphere.
The substrate was bonded on 4-pins TO package using gold wires.
A custom climatic chamber was used to evaluate the performance of fabricated nanostructures (Fig. 2). Sensors
were exposed to various concentration of both oxidizing and reducing chemical species (CO, NO2, NH3, Acetone,
Ethanol). Relative humidity was set at 50% @ 20°C during temperature screening, to find out the optimal working
temperature of the devices. Afterwards calibration curves were estimated for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide
and ammonia. Nanowires seems to perform excellent towards ammonia and carbon monoxide. The influence of
humidity was also taken into account. We changed the humidity level form 0% to 75% and detected the response
ratio compared to the standard 50% level.
Fig. 2: Dynamic response of sensing devices towards
some oxidizing and reducing gas chemical
compound, measured at 200°C with a relative
humidity of 50% @ 20°C.
Fig. 1: SEM picture of tungsten oxide nanowires at
50k magnification level
References
[1] Wang, X.S., Miura, N. and Yamazoe, N., Sens. Actuator B-Chem. 2000, 66(1-3), 74
[2] Meng, D., Shaalan, N.M., Yamazaki, T. and Kikuta, T., Sens. Actuator B-Chem. 2012, 169, 113
[3] Zappa, D., Comini, E. and Sberveglieri, G., Nanotechnology. 2013, 24(44)
Presenting author: Dario Zappa, Via Valotti 9 Brescia, +390303715767, dario.zappa@unibs.it
P49
Pyro-electric field for the manipulation of biopolymers in contact-free
modality
S. Coppola1,V. Vespini1, O. Gennari1, S. Grilli1, G. Nasti1, L. Mecozzi1 and P. Ferraro1
1
National Institue of Optics,INO-CNR,Pozzuoli, Italy
Abstract
In the present work we show an unconventional but very simple approach: a nozzle-less
and electrode-less pyro-electrodynamic method for the manipulation of biopolymers.
The proposed technique could be used for the direct fabrication of 2D full-ordered
patterns. The tethered pyro-electrodynamic spinning is based on a revolutionary
nozzle-free approach operating in wireless modality, i.e. without electric circuit,
electrodes and voltage supply [1]. This novel approach definitively simplify the
conventional electrospinning apparatus extending the nanofiber spinning also to active
organic polymers preserving at the same time all the properties of conventional systems.
Fiber drawing from the liquid polymer is driven through the pyroelectric charge
generated into a ferroelectric crystal (LiNbO3) able to induce the electrohydrodynamics
(EHD) pressure required for polymer manipulation without wires. The high resolution
patterns produced could find exploitations in biotechnology and photonics as photonic
waveguide and cell patterning. In fact, this study could open the way to innovative
optogenesys analysis, guiding light for generating or transporting optical/electronic
signals from and to cells. The pyro-EHD manipultaion of polymers could also be used
to shape polymers in 3D microstructures in form of microneedles [2]. This micro
components mounted onto a flexible substrate could be inserted into a transdermal drug
delivery cuff made of an interchangeable cartridge able to provide a controlled
transdermal drug delivery just by tightening it in an appropriate condition. This novel
technique overcomes the technological limitations of both microcasting and drawing
lithography opening new frontiers in the field of transdermal delivery.
References
[1] S. Coppola, R. Vecchione, E. Esposito, C. Casale, V. Vespini, S. Grilli, P. Ferraro, P. A. Netti,
Electro-Drawn Drug-Loaded Biodegradable Polymer Microneedles as a Viable Route to Hypodermic
Injection, Advanced Functional Materials, 24 (2014) 3515-3523.
[2] S. Coppola, V. Vespini, G. Nasti, O. Gennari, S. Grilli, M. Ventre, M. Iannone, P. A. Netti, P. Ferraro,
Tethered Pyro-Electrohydrodynamic Spinning for Patterning Well-Ordered Structures at Micro- and
Nanoscale, Chemistry of Materials, 26 (2014) 3357-3360.
Presenting author: Sara Coppola, National Institue of Optics INO-CNR Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078
Pozzuoli (NA), +390818675039, sara.coppola@ino.it.
P50
Activities of Lighting and Photometry Lab at CNR INO
F. Francini1, D. Jafrancesco1, L. Mercatelli1, P. Sansoni1, D. Fontani1
1
CNR INO, Florence, Italy
Abstract
The Photometry and Lighting Laboratory is an internal structure of CNR - National
Institute of Optics of Florence, Italy.
The aim of this Lab is to develop both research activities (up to now mainly concerned
the solar energy) and measurements, optical design and consulting for industrial
companies and public utilities.
The P&L Lab executes a set of standard measurements according to procedures and
international standards and norms. The Lab activity includes the measure of optical
properties of materials, measurement of spatial and spectral emission of luminous
sources, color measurements and analysis of the compliance of a product (i.e. monitor,
lamps, optical devices) to a defined standard. The Lab performs also measurements on
lamps and laser safety (according CEI EN 60825-1 and CEI EN 62471). The Lab
designs and tests optical systems for industrial or medical applications and performs
lighting simulation of sources, following also their realization.
The Lab participated to National and European Projects and is open to collaboration
with other research centers or industrial structures both public or privates.
The Lab staff can plan training courses on radiometry, photometry, colorimetry and
safety of optical sources.
Presenting author: Luca Mercatelli, CNR Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Largo E. Fermi 6 – Firenze
(Italy), phone +390552308310, fax +390552337755, email luca.mercatelli@ino.it
P51