October 3, 2013

New DELTA Laboratory creation

Creation of the new Dedicated Experimental Laboratory for Time-resolved Analysis (DELTA) at the CANDLE Institute is launched. The DELTA will support two experimental stations on fluorescence microscopy and optoelectronics. The stations will be based on the use of the AREAL Ultra fast Laser for experimental studies with high spatial and temporal resolutions. The stations will be open for scientists and research institutes to conduct their experiments in relevant fields.

Fluorescence microscopy station: the main experimental station setup will be a laser-scanning microscope. Microscope with the T-Pulse excitation laser will provide a unique opportunity to study sub cellular structures in infrared, visible and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. The station will conduct advanced experimental research on a wide range of problems in molecular physics, biophysics and biochemistry. Non-exhaustive list of research areas will include cells structure study, the properties of proteins, cell membranes, bioinformatics, DNA dynamics and etc.

Optoelectronics station: taking into account the relatively large UV laser pulse energy and sub-picosecond pulse duration the experimental R&D program at the station will include the studies on fiber optic sensors; fiber lasers resonators and the telecommunication technologies. A fiber optic sensor is a sensor that uses optical fiber either as the sensing element, or as a means of relaying signals from a remote sensor to the electronics that processes the signals. Fibers have many uses in remote sensing. Depending on the application, fiber may be used due to its small size, or because no electrical power is needed at the remote location and many sensors can be multiplexed along the length of a fiber by using light wavelength shift for each sensor, or by sensing the time delay as light passes along the fiber through each sensor.

The creation of the DELTA is supported by the grant of the State Committee of Science of RA Ministry of Science and Education. “It is our desire and vision for the CANDLE institute as the world-class laboratory open for academic and industrial scientific groups to conduct frontier research in deserved fields of life, material and environmental sciences. The creation of the DELTA laboratory is the first important milestone towards the establishment of the CANDLE user community”, said the Head of State Committee of Science Prof. Samvel Haroutiunian.