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Identifier

000448973

Title

Sensitive chiral sensing of single-drop solutions by signal-reversing cavity-ringdown polarimetry

Alternative Title

Ευαίσθητη μέτρηση χειρομορφίας μικρομετρικού όγκου διαλυμάτων με τη χρήση πολωσιμετρίας οπτικής κοιλότητας

Author

Κουτράκης, Μιχαήλ Ε.

Thesis advisor

Ρακιτζής, Πέτρος

Abstract

Theory and experimental results for chiral cavity-ringdown polarimetry based on ring cavities supporting counter-propagating laser beams are presented. Optical-rotation becomes asymmetric for the two counterpropagating beams in the simultaneous presence of two types of circular birefringence of reciprocal symmetry, namely chiral optical activity and Faraday rotation. This asymmetry allows the implementation of signal-reversing measurement techniques, which enable rapid background subtractions, which, in turn, result in reduced common mode noise levels and, ultimately, to higher Signal-to-Noise Ratios and better sensitivities. We present measurements of the specific rotation of tartaric acid and lysozyme at 532 nm. We also present measurements of human and artificial tears. All measurements were performed using a 40 μl cell, a volume approximately two orders of magnitude smaller than cell volumes used in commercial instruments. The current apparatus surpasses commercial polarimeters by providing tangible improvements in every aspect: sensitivity, time resolution, and sample volume.

Language

English

Subject

Chirality

Faraday effect

Lysozyme

Optical activity

Optical cavity

Pulsed laser

Signal reversals

Tartaric acid

Tears