Prof. David Richards Nano Photonic lab
which is part of the OpticalProteomics Network
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Lior
Eligal is a PhD
student in Prof. David Richards Nano Photonic lab which is part of the OpticalProteomics Network |
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| "Physicist are jack-of-all-trades,
simultaneously skilled
mathematicians, modelers and computer programmers who pride themselves
on their ability to adapt to new fields and put their knowledge into
practice." Emanuel Derman |
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Current Ph.D.
Research Project - Tip Modified Microscopy
The diffraction limit, limits the resolution for visible light to 250nm laterally and 1000nm axially. This work is an attempt to overcome this limit by bringing a metal tip close to a florescent sample thereby enhancing the electric field in its vicinity. This enhancement only happens a few nano meters away from the metal, making this a surface sensitive technique. The first part of the project has been concerned with the development and modification of a tip-enhanced fluorescence microscope. The fluorescence signal from a Quantum Dots (QDs) is enhanced by the proximity of a sharp metal tip as a consequence of the antenna effect and the successful coupling to the localized surface plasmons on the tip. This near-field enhancement depends on the tip sample distance separation which is regulated by the shear-force control mechanism. A new method for etching suitable tips for this kind of work was introduced [2]. Experimental results of QDs in the presence of a sharp gold tip show an improvement of both the optical resolution and the fluorescent enhancement by a factor of four [1]. The second part of the project included building a new experimental setup consisting of a commercial AFM which is mounted on top of a confocal microscope. By locking-in to the tapping signal one can separate the near-field and far field component thereby significantly increasing the signal to noise by enhancing contrast in the tips vicinity. This work included the construction of an AFM/microscope setup, many components where made in house with the collaboration of both mechanical and electrical workshops. Designing the software (Data Acquisition, LabView™) and implementing an algorithm for improving the signal to noise. |
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M.Sc Thesis "Combined confocal microscopy /FCS spectroscopy for membranal dynamics in bacteria"
My M.Sc project was
motivated by the processes leading to a division of bacteria at the right time and
place. The main aim of this
research was the development of a FCS (Flourescense Correlation
Spectroscopy) with confocal capabilities of a nano metric
resolution.
The work included the design and construction of a FCS (Fluorescent Correlation Spectroscopy) setup with confocal scan (raster scan) capabilities with nano metric resolution. I was responsible for the development of the instrumental control of the scanning stage (Data Acquisition, LabView™) and the image processing (Graphical User Interface, Matlab™). In addition we designed an implemented an algorithm to tackled the floating focus problem.
I was fortunate to have Dr. Oleg Krichevsky as my supervisor,
Oleg always says that "Everything we do we do as Professionals" this is
maybe the most important lesson I have learnt, to think like a Pro.
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Publications
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Contact
Information
Last Update: 2nd
of June
2009
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