Technology: Ultrashort laser pulses to study properties of materials

New techniques based on ultrashort laser pulses are being studied at the ultrafast spectroscopy laboratories of the Casaccia Research Center, to identify chemical bonds in matter through the vibrational spectrum.

Part of this activity, which opens up new perspectives in the field of biomedical research and materials science, is being conducted in collaboration with the Texas A&M University as part of the three-year project SPEED (Raman SPEttrometer coherent to the hemthosecond at low wave numbers ") , funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

"It’s a spectroscopy project, in which the particular properties of ultrashort pulses are exploited with the aim of measuring vibrational maps, that is identifying specific chemical compounds in the materials examined", Mauro Falconieri, ENEA researcher and coordinator of the project, pointed out.

As part of this activity, a spectrometer is being developed for measuring the vibrational spectra in the terahertz region ^[1],

These are the vibration frequencies of the chemical bonds among heavy molecular groups, whose study yields useful information on the conformation of complex molecules like proteins and the structure of nanomaterials.

"To date, THz spectroscopy tools either do not allow to locally probe a sample or require long acquisition times, a major drawback in clinical practice” Falconieri said.

The development of a spectrometer using ultrashort laser pulses, on the other hand, will make it possible to perform vibrational imaging with micrometric resolution, improving measurement sensitivity compared to conventional techniques already mature, dramatically reducing acquisition times.

ENEA team-From left Michele Marrocco, Serena Gagliardi, Flaminia Rondino, Mauro Falconieri and Caterina Merla

The applications will range from biomedicine- to study, for instance, biological processes in degenerative diseases- to energy, to study two-dimensional nanophasic materials, useful to develop electrodes for photovoltaic and electrochemical cells or optoelectronics devices like displays.

"The multidisciplinary team working on the project comprises ENEA skills  and the expertise of Professor Eugenio Del Re at the Rome University La Sapienza. At the end of the project, a new diagnostic tool will be available to be used in  a wide range of fields of interest to the Agency and to be potentially engineered by photonics companies", Falconieri concluded.

For more information please contact:

Mauro Falconieri, ENEA – Ultrafast Spectroscopy Laboratory -Division of Physics Technologies for Health and Safety - mauro.falconieri@enea.it

[1]   Spectral window between infrared and microwaves  - Terahertz (1 THz = 10¹² Hz)