Fundamental new insights in life sciences have often been enabled by new scientific tools based on new technologies. In particular, optical techniques are quickly gaining ground in biological imaging because they allow for precise and non-invasive imaging along with the ability to label and identify specific molecules while avoiding ionization in contrast to, for instance, X- rays. Optical techniques can be used in fundamental studies and diagnostics, as well as to monitor emerging photo-therapies targeting cancer cells. Yet for many real-world applications, optical technologies still face considerable challenges due to limited detector performances in the infrared, a spectral region that holds very important potentials to improve image contrasts, monitor new processes and image far deeper in tissues. While outstanding infrared detectors are available with very limited pixel numbers for tis spectral range, biological imaging requires large arrays of high-performance optical sensors. In this project we will push state of the art sensor arrays from 2x2 pixels to 10x10 pixels to enable and demonstrate new brain imaging techniques.
The objectives are:
1) Develop a 100-pixel array of quantum sensors based on superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors
2) Develop a near-IR Multi-Photon Microscopy system specifically designed to operate with near-IR chromophores and implement the detector of objective (1).
3) Use the near-IR Multi-Photon Microscopy system to noninvasively image biological functions in a mouse brain at millimetre depth.
