Current Methods in Non-linear Microscopy

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editors

Chayan Dutta

Georgia State University, Analytical and Biophysical Division

Chayan Dutta is an Assistant Professor at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. He received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Chemistry at Presidency College, Kolkata, India, and his Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. He received his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Southern California where he investigated the molecular orientation and structure of hydrogen bonds at various interfaces using surface-sensitive non-linear spectroscopy. Chayan did his postdoctoral research at Rice University where he investigated nanoscale molecular transport processes using various fluorescence super-resolution microscopy and single particle tracking methods. Currently, he is building his research laboratory at Georgia State University in the Analytical and Biophysical division to study nanoscale transport and chemical effects of pollutants using various spectroscopic and microscopic methods.

Stephen A. Lee

Rice University, Department of Chemistry

Stephen A. Lee is a postdoctoral fellow under the supervision of Stephan Link at Rice University in Houston, TX. He received his B.S. in chemistry and biology at Sam Houston State University in 2014 where he graduated with the highest honors. He received his M.S. in 2016 and PhD in 2019 in analytical chemistry at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on plasmon-induced charge separation in plasmonic photovoltaic devices and understanding the photophysical mechanism of plasmonic nanoparticle light emission. His expertise includes single molecule/particle imaging and spectroscopy, plasmonics, and nanophotonics.

Christy F. Landes

Rice University, Department of Chemistry, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Center for Adapting Flaws into Features (CAFF)

Christy F. Landes is the Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Chair and Professor of Chemistry, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, and the Director of the Center for Adapting Flaws into Features (CAFF) at Rice University. The Landes Group comprises chemists, applied physicists, and engineers who develop next-generation tools to image dynamics at soft interfaces at the limit of a single event. Her group uses super-resolved chemical knowledge to devise new methods and models for controlling macroscale processes such as protein separations and photocatalysis. The group also uses advanced signal and image processing methods to improve accuracy and precision in low-signal measurements.

Collection Overview

Non-linear optical processes can probe physical and chemical processes in materials with an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution that is difficult to achieve using linear spectroscopic methods. Several advantages for non-linear microscopies include 3D imaging with higher SNR, reduced out-of-focus photobleaching, increased penetration depth for tissue imaging, and sub-ensemble averaged dynamics. Some recent advances in non-linear microscopies have opened new ways to look at both material and biological processes.

However, there are technical challenges associated with performing non-linear microscopy including specialized optical instruments (Lasers, high-resolution cameras, etc), and complex optical pulse characteristics (pulse shaping, phase modulation, etc.). These techniques require expert knowledge of the underlying physics and a knowledge of the intricacies of operating or building such sensitive instruments and proper sample preparation steps.

Our goal is to provide a collection of video articles covering the latest developments in multi-photon non-linear microscopies. Here we will cover multiple experimental papers on multiphoton microscopies, such as two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF), Second-harmonic generation (SHG), Third harmonic generation (THG), Sum frequency generation (SFG), 2D- infrared (2D IR), Coherent anti-stokes Raman (CARS), Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), Upconversion microscopy, etc.

The combined collection of video articles will work as a guideline for the non-linear microscopy methods and their capabilities benefitting the scientific community. We anticipate that our collection will help the next generation of scientists to develop these techniques in their labs and possibly increase the accessibility of specialized knowledge to a wider community.