Diagnostic Methodologies and Instrumentation

A wide range of laser spectroscopic methods are employed for studying key properties of novel materials at the molecular-atomic as well as at the nano-scale. In particular, monitoring dynamics at the ultrafast temporal regime enables an in-depth insight into the fundamental processes taking place in condensed phase materials that govern the macroscopic properties of matter. The materials of interest range from molecular architectures mimicking photosynthesis to 3-D photonic nanocrystals and from laser-induced plasmas to strongly correlated systems. Furthermore by use of advanced laser pulse tailoring schemes we investigate how non-conventional excitation of matter can lead to novel functions and properties of the material. Finally, exploiting the fundamental knowledge we expand towards developing versatile methods and instrumentation for analysis of materials responding to challenges relevant to industrial applications. Indicative projects in this framework include the following:

• Study of ultrafast interactions in bulk and nanostructured strongly correlated and nonlinear materials
• Control of ultrafast processes during laser-mater interactions with temporal pulse shaping
• Study of nonlinear optical properties of 3-D photonic materials.
• Scanning probe imaging of material properties at the nanoscale.
• Molecular and nanoparticle photophysics and photochemistry – Sensing applications
• Studies of nanohybrid materials that exhibit random laser action with potential gas sensing capabilities
• Studies of ultrafast dynamic processes on solids related to laser ablation.
• Nanosecond and Femtosecond LIBS for the analysis of solids and liquids
• Development of compact/portable laser-based analytical instrumentation
• Applications of spectroscopic tools in industrial problems.

1. A. Brambilla, A. Philippidis, A. Nevin, D. Comelli, G. Valentini, D. Anglos, Adapting and testing a portable Raman spectrometer for SERS analysis of amino acids and small peptides, J. Molec. Structure, 1044, 121-127, (2013)
2. P. Siozos, A. Philippidis, M. Hadjistefanou, C. Gounarakis, D. Anglos, Chemical analysis of industrial scale deposits by combined use of correlation coefficients with emission line detection of LIB spectra, Spectrochimica Acta Part B 87, 86-91, (2013)
3. S. Zhu, D. Dong, U. J. Birk, M. Rieckher, N. Tavernarakis, X. Qu, J. Liang, J. Tian, and J. Ripoll, Automated motion correction for in vivo optical projection tomography., IEEE Trans Med Imaging 31.7, pp. 1358–71, (2012)
4. D. Dong, S. Zhu, C. Qin, V. Kumar, J. V Stein, S. Oehler, C. Savakis, J. Tian, and J. Ripoll, Automated Recovery of the Center of Rotation in Optical Projection Tomography in the Presence of Scattering., IEEE transactions on information technology in biomedicine : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, (2012)
5. M. Konstantaki, A. Klini, D. Anglos, S. Pisadakis, An ethanol vapor detection probe based on a ZnO nanorod coated optical fiber long period grating , Optics Express, 20, 8472-8484, (2012)
6. A. Nevin, G. Spoto, D. Anglos, Laser spectroscopies for elemental and molecular analysis in art and archaeology, Appl. Phys. A 106, 339-361, (2012)
7. P. Westlake, P. Siozos, A. Philippidis, Ch. Apostolaki, B. Derham, A. Terlixi, V. Perdikatsis, R. Jones, D. Anglos, Studying pigments on painted plaster in Minoan, Roman and Early Byzantine Crete. A multi-analytical technique approach, Analytical Bioanalytical Chemistry, 402, 1413-1432, (2012)
8. J. Chamorro-Servent, J. Aguirre, J. Ripoll, J. Vaquero, and M. Desco, Feasibility of U-curve method to select the regularization parameter for fluorescence diffuse optical tomography in phantom and small animal studies, Optics Express 19.12, pp.11490–11506, (2011)
9. F. Stuker, C. Baltes, K. Dikaiou, D. Vats, L. Carrara, E. Charbon, J. Ripoll, and M. Rudin, Hybrid small animal imaging system combining magnetic resonance imaging with fluorescence tomography using single photon avalanche diode detectors, IEEE Trans Med Imaging 30.6, pp. 1265–1273, (2011)
10. U. J. Birk, A. Darrell, N. Konstantinides, A. Sarasa-Renedo, and J. Ripoll, Improved reconstructions and generalized filtered back projection for optical projection tomography., Applied Optics 50.4 pp. 392–8, (2011)

Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece