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Bagdžiūnas G. Can Chirality Answer Whether We Are Alone? Chirality 2024; 36:e23708. [PMID: 39054794 DOI: 10.1002/chir.23708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Detecting biosignatures of life in extraterrestrial environments remains one of the primary objectives of scientific inquiry. Currently, both remote and direct detection methods are primarily aimed at identifying key molecular classes fundamental to terrestrial biology. However, a more universally applicable spectroscopic approach could involve searching for homochiral molecules. Thus, this perspective delves into the significance of homochirality as a critical factor in the origin of life. Without homochirality, the formation of self-recognizing and self-replicating complex molecules would be hindered. The various hypotheses concerning the origin of homochiral molecules have been explored and analyzed within this context. This perspective emphasizes the potential for discovering extraterrestrial microscopic life through the detection of homochiral molecules using chirodetecting methods such as chromatography and chiroptical spectroscopy or circular polarimetry as a promising remote technique. This discussion highlights the importance of homochirality in the broader search for life beyond Earth and underscores the need for innovative methodologies and instrumentation in astrobiological research. These techniques can be an effective method for detecting homochirality on future planetary missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gintautas Bagdžiūnas
- Group of Supramolecular Analysis, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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2
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Choi WJ, Lee SH, Park BC, Kotov NA. Terahertz Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Molecular Assemblies and Nanostructures. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22789-22804. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c04817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Won Jin Choi
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Physical and Life Sciences, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Sang Hyun Lee
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Bum Chul Park
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Nicholas A. Kotov
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Program in Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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3
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Bao J, Chen X, Liu K, Zhan Y, Li H, Zhang S, Xu Y, Tian Z, Cao T. Nonvolatile chirality switching in terahertz chalcogenide metasurfaces. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2022; 8:112. [PMID: 36193224 PMCID: PMC9525255 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-022-00445-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Actively controlling the polarization states of terahertz (THz) waves is essential for polarization-sensitive spectroscopy, which has various applications in anisotropy imaging, noncontact Hall measurement, and vibrational circular dichroism. In the THz regime, the lack of a polarization modulator hinders the development of this spectroscopy. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that conjugated bilayer chiral metamaterials (CMMs) integrated with Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST225) active components can achieve nonvolatile and continuously tunable optical activity in the THz region. A THz time-domain spectroscopic system was used to characterize the device, showing a tunable ellipticity (from ‒36° to 0°) and rotation of the plane polarization (from 32° to 0°) at approximately 0.73 THz by varying the GST225 state from amorphous (AM) to crystalline (CR). Moreover, a continuously tunable chiroptical response was experimentally observed by partially crystallizing the GST225, which can create intermediate states, having regions of both AM and CR states. Note that the GST225 has an advantage of nonvolatility over the other active elements and does not require any energy to retain its structural state. Our work allows the development of THz metadevices capable of actively manipulating the polarization of THz waves and may find applications for dynamically tunable THz circular polarizers and polarization modulators for THz emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Bao
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 P. R. China
| | - Xieyu Chen
- Center for Terahertz waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, and the Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics Information and Technology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin, 300072 P. R. China
| | - Kuan Liu
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhan
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 P. R. China
| | - Haiyang Li
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 P. R. China
| | - Shoujun Zhang
- Center for Terahertz waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, and the Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics Information and Technology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin, 300072 P. R. China
| | - Yihan Xu
- Center for Terahertz waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, and the Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics Information and Technology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin, 300072 P. R. China
| | - Zhen Tian
- Center for Terahertz waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, and the Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics Information and Technology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin, 300072 P. R. China
| | - Tun Cao
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024 P. R. China
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Chang J, Wang H, Lei Z, Du W, Huang Y, Zhou Y, Zhu L, Xu X. Coherent Elliptically Polarized Terahertz Wave Generation in WSe 2 by Linearly Polarized Femtosecond Laser Excitation. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:10068-10078. [PMID: 34623821 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c02770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coherent polarization control of terahertz (THz) wave radiation in both the time-domain and the frequency-domain is significant in information technology, material science, and spectroscopic analysis. Elliptically polarized THz radiation is generally limited to chiral materials induced by circularly polarized light excitation. Herein, we demonstrate the coherent elliptically polarized THz radiation from few-layer tungsten diselenide (WSe2) in both the time-domain and the frequency-domain under linearly polarized femtosecond laser excitation. This coherent elliptical THz radiation is mainly dominated by in-plane anisotropic shift current and out-of-plane drift current, which is verified by the THz radiation dependence on the pump laser polarization angles, incident angles, and sample azimuthal angles systematically. The ellipticity and major axis direction of the elliptical THz wave can be efficiently controlled by either pump light polarization or sample azimuthal angle due to the controllable amplitudes and phases of two coherent orthogonal THz wave components. Our finding provides a method to distinguish drift and shift photocurrents in different directions and offers a unique design concept for elliptical THz generation with two-dimensional (2D) material physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Chang
- Shaanxi Joint Lab of Graphene, State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - He Wang
- Shaanxi Joint Lab of Graphene, State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Zhen Lei
- Shaanxi Joint Lab of Graphene, State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Wanyi Du
- Shaanxi Joint Lab of Graphene, State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- Shaanxi Joint Lab of Graphene, State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Yixuan Zhou
- Shaanxi Joint Lab of Graphene, State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Lipeng Zhu
- School of Electronic Engineering, Xi'an University of Posts and Telecommunications, Xi'an 710121, China
| | - Xinlong Xu
- Shaanxi Joint Lab of Graphene, State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, International Collaborative Center on Photoelectric Technology and Nano Functional Materials, Institute of Photonics & Photon-Technology, Xi'an 710069, China
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5
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Song Q, Yuan X, Hu S, Huang J, Zhong H, Lin Q, Wang H, Lu X, Zheng M, Cai Y, Zeng X, Xu S. Enhance terahertz radiation and its polarization- control with two paralleled filaments pumped by two-color femtosecond laser fields. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:22659-22666. [PMID: 34266024 DOI: 10.1364/oe.427896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We present experimentally an obvious enhancement of the terahertz (THz) radiation with two paralleled filaments pumped by two-color laser fields for a full use of a high laser power, compared with single filament. By mapping the 3-dimensional electric trajectories of generated THz fields with a (111) ZnTe crystal, we observe that the total THz polarization from two filaments can be manipulated by varying the time delay between the two orthogonally polarized pumps, which agrees well with the simulations under the photocurrent model. Notably, the power and spectrum of the THz field almost keep unchanged while manipulating the ellipticity of the THz polarization, which is important for a polarization-controllable THz source.
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Keiderling TA. Structure of Condensed Phase Peptides: Insights from Vibrational Circular Dichroism and Raman Optical Activity Techniques. Chem Rev 2020; 120:3381-3419. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A. Keiderling
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor Street m/c 111, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7061, United States
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7
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Chang CC, Zhao Z, Li D, Taylor AJ, Fan S, Chen HT. Broadband Linear-to-Circular Polarization Conversion Enabled by Birefringent Off-Resonance Reflective Metasurfaces. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:237401. [PMID: 31868454 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.237401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Due to the scarcity of circular polarization light sources, linear-to-circular polarization conversion is required to generate circularly polarized light for a variety of applications. Despite significant past efforts, broadband linear-to-circular polarization conversion remains elusive particularly in the terahertz and midinfrared frequency ranges. Here we propose a novel mechanism based on coupled mode theory, and experimentally demonstrate at terahertz frequencies that highly efficient (power conversion efficiency approaching unity) and ultrabroadband (fractional bandwidth up to 80%) linear-to-circular polarization conversion can be accomplished by the judicious design of birefringent metasurfaces. The underlying mechanism operates in the frequency range between well separated resonances, and relies upon the phase response of these resonances away from the resonant frequencies, as well as the balance of the resonant and nonresonant channels. This mechanism is applicable for any operating frequencies from microwave to visible. The present Letter potentially opens a wide range of opportunities in wireless communications, spectroscopy, and emergent quantum materials research where circularly polarized light is desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Chieh Chang
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Zhexin Zhao
- E. L. Ginzton Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Dongfang Li
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Antoinette J Taylor
- Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Shanhui Fan
- E. L. Ginzton Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Hou-Tong Chen
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
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8
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Sadrara M, Miri M. Electric and Magnetic Hotspots via Hollow InSb Microspheres for Enhanced Terahertz Spectroscopy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2926. [PMID: 30814534 PMCID: PMC6393507 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35833-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
We study electric and magnetic hotspots in the gap between hollow InSb microspheres forming dimers and trimers. The outer radius, core volume fraction, distance, and temperature of the microspheres can be chosen to achieve field enhancement at a certain frequency corresponding to the transition between energy levels of a molecule placed in the gap. For example, utilizing 80 μm radius spheres at a gap of 2 μm held at a temperature of 295 K, allow electric field intensity enhancements of 10-2880 and magnetic field intensity enhancements of 3-61 in the frequency window 0.35-1.50 THz. The core volume fraction and the ambient temperature affect the enhancements, particularly in the frequency window 1.5-2 THz. Electric and magnetic hotspots are promising for THz absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdiyeh Sadrara
- Department of Physics, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14395-547, Tehran, Iran
| | - MirFaez Miri
- Department of Physics, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14395-547, Tehran, Iran.
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9
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Kim TT, Oh SS, Kim HD, Park HS, Hess O, Min B, Zhang S. Electrical access to critical coupling of circularly polarized waves in graphene chiral metamaterials. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:e1701377. [PMID: 28975151 PMCID: PMC5621972 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1701377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Active control of polarization states of electromagnetic waves is highly desirable because of its diverse applications in information processing, telecommunications, and spectroscopy. However, despite the recent advances using artificial materials, most active polarization control schemes require optical stimuli necessitating complex optical setups. We experimentally demonstrate an alternative-direct electrical tuning of the polarization state of terahertz waves. Combining a chiral metamaterial with a gated single-layer sheet of graphene, we show that transmission of a terahertz wave with one circular polarization can be electrically controlled without affecting that of the other circular polarization, leading to large-intensity modulation depths (>99%) with a low gate voltage. This effective control of polarization is made possible by the full accessibility of three coupling regimes, that is, underdamped, critically damped, and overdamped regimes by electrical control of the graphene properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teun-Teun Kim
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Soon Oh
- Blackett Laboratory, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Hyeon-Don Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Sung Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ortwin Hess
- Blackett Laboratory, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Bumki Min
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Shuang Zhang
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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10
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Kan T, Isozaki A, Kanda N, Nemoto N, Konishi K, Takahashi H, Kuwata-Gonokami M, Matsumoto K, Shimoyama I. Enantiomeric switching of chiral metamaterial for terahertz polarization modulation employing vertically deformable MEMS spirals. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8422. [PMID: 26423346 PMCID: PMC4600721 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Active modulation of the polarization states of terahertz light is indispensable for polarization-sensitive spectroscopy, having important applications such as non-contact Hall measurements, vibrational circular dichroism measurements and anisotropy imaging. In the terahertz region, the lack of a polarization modulator similar to a photoelastic modulator in the visible range hampers expansion of such spectroscopy. A terahertz chiral metamaterial has a huge optical activity unavailable in nature; nevertheless, its modulation is still challenging. Here we demonstrate a handedness-switchable chiral metamaterial for polarization modulation employing vertically deformable Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. Vertical deformation of a planar spiral by a pneumatic force creates a three-dimensional spiral. Enantiomeric switching is realized by selecting the deformation direction, where the polarity of the optical activity is altered while maintaining the spectral shape. A polarization rotation as high as 28° is experimentally observed, thus providing a practical and compact polarization modulator for the terahertz range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Kan
- Department of Mechano-Informatics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Akihiro Isozaki
- IRT Research Initiative, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Natsuki Kanda
- Extreme Photonics Research Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako 351-0198, Japan
- Photon Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Natsuki Nemoto
- Department of Physics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Konishi
- Institute for Photon Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Takahashi
- Department of Mechano-Informatics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Makoto Kuwata-Gonokami
- Department of Physics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Matsumoto
- IRT Research Initiative, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Isao Shimoyama
- Department of Mechano-Informatics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- IRT Research Initiative, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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11
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Choi JH, Cho M. Terahertz Chiroptical Spectroscopy of an α-Helical Polypeptide: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study. J Phys Chem B 2014; 118:12837-43. [DOI: 10.1021/jp508547y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ho Choi
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Korea
| | - Minhaeng Cho
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Korea
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12
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Yasumatsu N, Watanabe S. Precise real-time polarization measurement of terahertz electromagnetic waves by a spinning electro-optic sensor. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2012; 83:023104. [PMID: 22380076 DOI: 10.1063/1.3683570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We propose and develop a method to quickly and precisely determine the polarization direction of coherent terahertz electromagnetic waves generated by femtosecond laser pulses. The measurement system consists of a conventional terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system with the electro-optic (EO) sampling method, but we add a new functionality in the EO crystal which is continuously rotating with the angular frequency ω. We find a simple yet useful formulation of the EO signal as a function of the crystal orientation, which enables a lock-in-like detection of both the electric-field amplitude and the absolute polarization direction of the terahertz waves with respect to the probe laser pulse polarization direction at the same time. The single measurement finishes around two periods of the crystal rotations (∼21 ms), and we experimentally prove that the accuracy of the polarization measurement does not suffer from the long-term amplitude fluctuation of the terahertz pulses. Distribution of the measured polarization directions by repeating the measurements is excellently fitted by a gaussian distribution function with a standard deviation of σ = 0.56°. The developed technique is useful for the fast direct determination of the polarization state of the terahertz electromagnetic waves for polarization imaging applications as well as the precise terahertz Faraday or Kerr rotation spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Yasumatsu
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan.
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13
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XU JING, PLAXCO KEVINW, ALLEN SJAMES. THz SPECTROSCOPY OF PROTEINS IN WATER: DIRECT ABSORPTION AND CIRCULAR DICHROISM. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1142/s0129156407004916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Many of the functionally relevant collective vibrations of proteins and other biopolymers are expected to occur at terahertz frequencies. Precise absorption measurements combined with careful titration of biopolymers in water have allowed us to directly measure the terahertz absorption spectra associated with these motions, despite the strong background absorption of the solvent. We have also explored the circular dichroism spectroscopy of biomolecules over this same frequency range. Since circular dichroism requires the presence of net chirality in a molecule and chirality is present in nearly all biomaterial, it has the potential to capture the background free spectral features in biopolymers. To undertake these studies we have developed a broad band terahertz spectrometer suitable for both direct absorption and circular dichroism measurements of proteins in water between 0.75 – 3.72 THz. Direct terahertz absorption spectra of prototypical proteins bovine serum albumin (BSA) and hen egg white lysozyme have been documented and are described here. We have also successfully demonstrated the magnetic circular dichroism in semiconductors, and placed an upper bound on the terahertz circular dichroism signature of solvated BSA. In the terahertz frequency range, it appears that circular dichroism signatures are exceedingly small and detection remains a challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- JING XU
- Department of Physics, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - KEVIN W. PLAXCO
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - S. JAMES ALLEN
- Department of Physics, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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14
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Kanda N, Konishi K, Kuwata-Gonokami M. Light-induced terahertz optical activity. OPTICS LETTERS 2009; 34:3000-2. [PMID: 19794795 DOI: 10.1364/ol.34.003000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
We propose and demonstrate a simple method to induce optical activity in the terahertz (THz) region using photoexcited carriers in a semiconductor substrate with metal two-dimensional chiral masks, which does not show optical activity without photoexcitation. The three-dimensional chirality induced by the combination of photocarriers and metal mask gives rise to the optical activity. With this simple method, we can develop THz polarization modulation techniques applicable for biology, chemistry, and material sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuki Kanda
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Tokyo and Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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15
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Castro-Camus E, Johnston MB. Extraction of the anisotropic dielectric properties of materials from polarization-resolved terahertz time-domain spectra. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1088/1464-4258/11/10/105206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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16
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Peralta XG, Smirnova EI, Azad AK, Chen HT, Taylor AJ, Brener I, O'Hara JF. Metamaterials for THz polarimetric devices. OPTICS EXPRESS 2009; 17:773-783. [PMID: 19158890 DOI: 10.1364/oe.17.000773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We present experimental and numerical investigations of planar terahertz metamaterial structures designed to interact with the state of polarization. The dependence of metamaterial resonances on polarization results in unique amplitude and phase characteristics of the terahertz transmission, providing the basis for polarimetric terahertz devices. We highlight some potential applications for polarimetric devices and present simulations of a terahertz quarter-wave plate and a polarizing terahertz beam splitter. Although this work was performed at terahertz frequencies, it may find applications in other frequency ranges as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xomalin G Peralta
- Sandia National Laboratories, P. O. Box 5800, MS 1082, Albuquerque, NM 87185, USA.
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17
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Hussain A, Andrews SR. Ultrabroadband polarization analysis of terahertz pulses. OPTICS EXPRESS 2008; 16:7251-7257. [PMID: 18545430 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.007251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We describe the characteristics of a sensitive photoconductive detector that simultaneously measures orthogonal electric field components of electromagnetic transients with bandwidths up to 30 THz. The device consists of an As(+) implanted GaAs photoconducting region at the centre of a pair of perpendicular bow-tie antennas. The performance is illustrated by studies of optical rectification in GaSe, retardation in a birefringent polymer film and THz emission from impulsively excited optical phonons in GaN.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Hussain
- Department of Physics, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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Edwards GS, Allen SJ, Haglund RF, Nemanich RJ, Redlich B, Simon JD, Yang WC. Applications of Free-Electron Lasers in the Biological and Material Sciences¶. Photochem Photobiol 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2005.tb01437.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Schulze-Makuch D, Grinspoon DH. Biologically enhanced energy and carbon cycling on Titan? ASTROBIOLOGY 2005; 5:560-7. [PMID: 16078872 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2005.5.560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
With the Cassini-Huygens Mission in orbit around Saturn, the large moon Titan, with its reducing atmosphere, rich organic chemistry, and heterogeneous surface, moves into the astrobiological spotlight. Environmental conditions on Titan and Earth were similar in many respects 4 billion years ago, the approximate time when life originated on Earth. Life may have originated on Titan during its warmer early history and then developed adaptation strategies to cope with the increasingly cold conditions. If organisms originated and persisted, metabolic strategies could exist that would provide sufficient energy for life to persist, even today. Metabolic reactions might include the catalytic hydrogenation of photochemically produced acetylene, or involve the recombination of radicals created in the atmosphere by ultraviolet radiation. Metabolic activity may even contribute to the apparent youth, smoothness, and high activity of Titan's surface via biothermal energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Department of Geological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
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Edwards GS, Allen SJ, Haglund RF, Nemanich RJ, Redlich B, Simon JD, Yang WC. Applications of Free-Electron Lasers in the Biological and Material Sciences¶. Photochem Photobiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1562/2004-11-08-ir-363r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Schulze-Makuch D, Irwin LN. Introduction to the special paper collection: methodologies and techniques for detecting extraterrestrial (microbial) life. ASTROBIOLOGY 2003; 3:487-488. [PMID: 14678659 DOI: 10.1089/153110703322610591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schulze-Makuch
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-0555, USA.
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