Periodic Reporting for period 1 - UVALITH (Continuous Wave, Tunable Monolithic Frequency Converter)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2018-08-01 al 2020-01-31
UVALITH advanced optical frequency conversion technology developed for the FET Proactive project QUIC (Quantum Simulation of Insulators and Conductors) toward industrial and biomedical use. Optical frequency converters use nonlinear optical processes such as second harmonic generation to produce coherent light at wavelengths that are not available, or not efficient, with existing laser sources. Importantly, optical frequency converters can reach near-ultraviolet (UVA) wavelengths, employed in biological and medical applications based on fluorescent biomarkers. In QUIC, we have developed a monolithic frequency converter (MFC), in which a single nonlinear optical crystal acts simultaneously as an optical resonator, frequency converter, and tuning system. The resulting device is compact and extremely stable, and efficiently converts inexpensive near-infrared (NIR) light into coherent UVA. UVALITH advanced this patented technology from the laboratory proof-of-principle stage toward a technology level suitable for uptake by industrial and commercial actors, including advances in scalability, versatility and reliability.
Fluorescent markers are extraordinarily valuable to advanced biology and diagnosis because of their specificity: these markers bind to bio-molecules such as DNA or surface proteins, with a specificity that allows them to, for example, distinguish cancer cells from healthy ones. This specificity enables high-resolution identification of intra-cellular components in microscopy and high throughput screening in flow cytometry. In general, fluorescent markers require an excitation wavelength shorter than their emission wavelength, and many important biological markers, including the DNA markers DAPI-DNA, GelRed and Hoechst 33258- DNA, require excitation wavelengths below 375 nm, the shortest wavelength available with a diode laser. For this reason, frequency converters in the UVA range can potentially enable a large expansion in applications of fluorescence-based bio-marker detection.
Fluorescent markers are extraordinarily valuable to advanced biology and diagnosis because of their specificity: these markers bind to bio-molecules such as DNA or surface proteins, with a specificity that allows them to, for example, distinguish cancer cells from healthy ones. This specificity enables high-resolution identification of intra-cellular components in microscopy and high throughput screening in flow cytometry. In general, fluorescent markers require an excitation wavelength shorter than their emission wavelength, and many important biological markers, including the DNA markers DAPI-DNA, GelRed and Hoechst 33258- DNA, require excitation wavelengths below 375 nm, the shortest wavelength available with a diode laser. For this reason, frequency converters in the UVA range can potentially enable a large expansion in applications of fluorescence-based bio-marker detection.
UVALITH carried out the following activities: Designed a second-generation MFC with higher efficiency, reliability and ease of use. Identified manufacturing pathways to scale-up MFC production of the gen-2 MFC. Engaged with component suppliers as manufacturing partners. Engaged with laser system manufacturers as customers and manufacturing partners. Performed MFC lifetime and reliability testing. Integrated the MFC in a fluorescence microscopy setup. Designed a third-generation MFC to reach shorter UVA wavelengths. Performed market analysis and business plan development.
** Image explanation
Figure 1: Schematic drawing, photo, and measured efficiency of a monolithic frequency converter for generation of coherent UVA light at 397 nm. Periodically poled active section is visible on the photo, and depicted on the schematic by the central striped area. The non-poled sections provide an independent means to control the cavity degrees of freedom by adjusting their corresponding temperatures T1 and T2. Right image shows an experimental 2D scan of SHG power emitted by the prototype crystal vs. T1 and T2, demonstrating the ability to simultaneously resonate blue and red wavelengths. The tuning range offered by the method is more than sufficient to optimize the resonance conditions of the cavity, as we can reach several distinct maxima. The highest efficiency shown in 230%/Watt.
** The patents related to UVALITH are these:
https://patents.google.com/patent/EP3299884B1/en?q=mitchell&inventor=zielinska&oq=mitchell+zielinska
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20180081256A1/en?q=mitchell&inventor=zielinska&oq=mitchell+zielinska
At this time they are not applications, they are granted patents.
** Image explanation
Figure 1: Schematic drawing, photo, and measured efficiency of a monolithic frequency converter for generation of coherent UVA light at 397 nm. Periodically poled active section is visible on the photo, and depicted on the schematic by the central striped area. The non-poled sections provide an independent means to control the cavity degrees of freedom by adjusting their corresponding temperatures T1 and T2. Right image shows an experimental 2D scan of SHG power emitted by the prototype crystal vs. T1 and T2, demonstrating the ability to simultaneously resonate blue and red wavelengths. The tuning range offered by the method is more than sufficient to optimize the resonance conditions of the cavity, as we can reach several distinct maxima. The highest efficiency shown in 230%/Watt.
** The patents related to UVALITH are these:
https://patents.google.com/patent/EP3299884B1/en?q=mitchell&inventor=zielinska&oq=mitchell+zielinska
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20180081256A1/en?q=mitchell&inventor=zielinska&oq=mitchell+zielinska
At this time they are not applications, they are granted patents.
UVALITH technology has a large potential impact in the area of flow cytometry, a rapidly-growing sector with an estimated 2019 revenue of 4BEUR, projected to grow to 6BEUR-8BEUR by 2025. The extension of MFC technology to wavelengths near 325 nm, at which fluorescent markers for DNA dyes can be excited, potentially opens many new applications for ultra-specific bio-detection and personalized medicine.