The Project aim.
Within the framework of this project it is planned to develop and design a prototypes of enhanced devices (polarimeter, spectropolarimeter, ellipsometer, and non-invasive glucometer) based on new generation optical elements, for study of optically active substances.
Current status.
A substance is optically active if it rotates the plane of polarized light. Optical activity is manifested by practically all natural products. The subject of optical activity impacts on many different areas of science, ranging from classical optics to elementary particle physics, cosmology and the origin of life. The physical parameters, which are describing the optical active media basically, are linear and circular dichroism (CD), optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), and ellipticity.
Various optical devices for investigation of optically active media are widely presented in the modern market. CD measurement in wide spectral range is realized by spectropolarimeters. At the basis of modern spectropolarimeters is the definition of the difference of beam intensities with left and right circular polarizations, and their main functional element is photoelastic modulator (PEM), which separates the components of light, passed through the sample with left and right circular polarizations. Two essential drawbacks in usage of PEM are: huge losses of light intensity, and long data acquisition time for obtaining high signal/noise ratio. Apparently, such device cannot be used for studying of fast processes.
Ellipsometers are used for investigation of physical–chemical properties of surface, its morphology, for thickness measuring of multilayer structures and characterizing of thin films optical properties. Ellipsometry is widely used in microelectronics, solid state physics, surface physics, material science, optical coating technology, polymer chemistry, biology, medecine, etc. A great variety of optical schemes of ellipsometrs are based on change of light polarization by linear optical elements – polarizing prisms and phase-shifting devices.
Today, due to a sharp increase of quantity of people with diabetes, it is difficult to overestimate the role of non-invasive devices for determining the glucose concentration in the blood. The basic methods for determining the glucose concentration are based on optical or chemical analysis of blood taken from the patient. On the other hand, sugar is a substance possessing strong dichroism, and a lot of works are devoted to the study of its CD and ORD spectra. However, the devices, based on polarimetry, are not widely used in everyday practice, as they are expensive and require special training of operating personnel.
The project’ influence on progress in this area.
During recent few years due to synthesis of new liquid crystal polymers it has become possible to make optical elements of new generation - circular diffractive waveplates (CDW), vector vortex waveplates (VVW), phase retarders with axial and azimuthally symmetries. Creation of new generation optical elements has given rise to revolutionary burst for development of devices for studying and investigation of optically active substances.
The present project is devoted to this objective, as well as to development and making new elements, that have no analogues in modern optics, using modern, advanced technologies.
The goals of the project are:
- Design and preparation of polarimeter, spectropolarimeter, ellipsometer and device for estimation of glucose concentration in human on the base of new generation optical elements.
- Carry out the laboratory and independent testing of prototypes of developed devices.
In the aftermath of fulfillment of the project it is supposed to have a developed technology, technical design as well as soft-and hardware for developed devices.
To meet these objectives the following interrelated activities are considered to be more effective:
- Design of polarimeter for medical and pharmaceutical use.
- Design of spectropolarimeter.
- Development of technology for preparation of polarization state analyzers based on VVW and CDW.
- Development of technique and device for non-invasive determination of glucose concentration.
- Design of ellipsometer.
- Mathematical modeling of developing devices and their components.
The basic result of project will be creation of industrial prototype of polarimeter for medical and pharmaceutical use, the industrial prototype of spectropolarimeter, the optical scheme and algorithm for glucose concentration determination and the laboratory prototype of non-invasive glucometer, laboratory prototype of ellipsometer.
The development of these devices on the base of new generation optical elements and their entry into the market will lead to a significant breakthrough in the market of optical devices.
The participants’ expertise.
Main parts of project will be carried out in the Center of Semiconductor Devices & Nanotechnologies at the Yerevan State University under the direct supervision of Dr. H.L. Margaryan. The Center represents an integral formation that will allow all successful performance of all tasks of this project: steps starting with origin of idea and ending with market-ready product creation. The scientists and engineers of the lab are capable of originating and advancing innovative ideas; they are skilled both in modeling physical processes and software creation final product as well as in automation of technological and experimental processes. Leading specialists of the lab participated in various international scientific projects. The labs are equipped with modern technological and research equipment. Leader of NIS team, Dr. Hakob Margaryan, Ph.D., leading researcher, has been the manager of three international scientific projects. From 1997 to 1999 Dr. Margaryan worked in USA in University of Central Florida in Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers, where dealing with the problems of investigation of laser beam interaction with the nonlinear media. Hi is the author of more than 80 publications.
Part of research works will be conducted in Andronikashvili Institute of Physics (Georgia) under the direct supervision of Dr. Jamlet Monaselidze. During 50 years the department of Biological System Physics at the Andronikashvili Institute of Physics is actively engaged in DNA physics, investigations of physical principles of macromolecular systems, study of the effect of physical-chemical factors on chromatin structure and its components. The group leader Dr. Monaselidze is author of numerous publications and was actively engaged in international scientific projects. Dr. Monaselidze is one of authors of first high-sensitivity microcalorimeter for studying biopolymer solutions.
In 2011-2013 the research group from Andronikashvili Institute of Physics participated in GIPP/ISTC A-1951 project, the leading institution of this project was been Yerevan State University.
Role of Foreign Collaborators.
Foreign collaborators of the project are Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements Corporation (BEAM Co.), Winter Park, Florida (USA), Impex HighTech GmbH, Rheine (Germany), and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (USA).
During the implementation of presented project all works will be carried out under the constant consultations with BEAM Co. From 2001 YSU research group collaborates with BEAM Co. During this time, one regular (ISTC A-321) and two partner projects (IPP/ISTC A-1484 and A-1951) has been implemented by YSU team, and BEAM Co. was the collaborator and industrial partner of these projects. BEAM Co. is the owner of the patented technologies on manufacturing special types of liquid crystals, and also is the only commercial supplier of photosensitive liquid crystals. BEAM Co. will provide NIS team all necessary R&D BEAM Co. proprietary liquid crystals, photopolimerized polimer materials at half prices. BEAM Co. will conduct validation of results and testing on each stage of the project. BEAM Co. will use its facilities to conduct these project.
Impex HighTech GmbH is a provider of wide range of products in the fields of optics, crystals and lasers. Employees of Impex HighTech GmbH for the past ten years have permanent business contacts with YSU research team, often visited the labs at YSU and are acquainted with their works and developments. The YSU team members also had the business trips to Impex HighTech GmbH. During the implementation of presented project permanent discussions with YSU research group will be conducted in order to ensure of marketable parameters for developed devices. In addition, after development of devices and manufacturing of their prototypes, Impex HighTech GmbH will cooperate with YSU research group to commercialize the results of the project.
The Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), New York, USA, conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies. Brookhaven also builds and operates major facilities available to university, industrial, and government scientists. The Laboratory is managed by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited liability company founded by Stony Brook University and Battelle, a nonprofit applied science and technology organization. BNL will collaborate with YSU in refining the conceptual design of the prototypes, the planning and organization of the individual tasks. BNL will review the progress reports of each task, provide comments, help improve details of tasks, and participate in tests. BNL will contact potential market, obtain their comments, and reflect their comments to the design of the prototype.
Meeting ISTC Goals and Objectives. In the development of this project, both personnel and lab facilities formerly supporting the development and manufacture of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Armenia and Georgia will be re-directed towards the development and manufacture of new non-military technology of commercial value to the US, Europe and the NISs. This thereby will make a substantial contribution to international security and provide sustainable private industry jobs to former WMD scientists, as well as to young scientists in Armenia.
Moreover, the development of this Project will open the new perspectives for the use of polarimeter, spectropolarimeters in microbiology and biotechnology as bio-sensors and for real time bio-imaging. The developed device for estimation of glucose concentration in human will allow one to get information in home, without blood sampling. Successful testing and validation of created devices after the end of the project will create all preconditions to commercialize the project’s results, and to organize joint production.
Taking into account current developments in pharmaceutical industry in Armenia and Georgia, we strongly believe that implementation of presented project will carry a significant impact for the entire region.
Technical approach and methodology.
For the realization of project purposes the following methods, scientific and technical approaches will be used.
- Preparation of circular diffractive waveplates (CDW), vector vortex waveplates (VVW) by using new photo-polymerized polymers. Preparation of polarisation state analyser (PSA) systems using CDW and various orders of VVWs.
- Creation of GUI MATLAB models based on solution of the direct and inverse problems, described devices functionality.
- Development of optical scheme and mechanical design of proposed devices.Design of electronics and software of proposed devices.
