Subsurface spectroscopy system for optically scattering heterogeneous opaque materials

Unmet Need: Need for a spectroscopic apparatus to perform spectroscopic measurements inside of an optically scattering heterogeneous opaque materials

There was a need to identify a new way to analyze and study the internal structure of materials that don't let light pass through easily, such as clouds, biological tissues, paints, colloidal solutions, and plastic-bonded explosives. Normally, when light hits these materials, it scatters in all directions, making it hard to get a clear picture of what is inside.

The Technology: A special technique of optical phase conjugation along with ultrasonic waves

Researchers at WSU identified a new method for performing subsurface spectroscopy inside of optically scattering heterogeneous opaque materials. This technique utilizes optical phase conjugation of ultrasonically encoded light to focus probe light within an opaque material, producing a spectroscopic signal (e.g., fluorescence, Raman scattering, two-photon fluorescence) that is extracted from additional background light using a spatial or spectral filter. The spectroscopic signal is then measured by an appropriate spectrometer.

Applications:

• Medical diagnostics
• Identifying and assessing the properties of complex opaque materials
• Determining molecular structures and chemical interactions
• Environmental monitoring
• Security and Defense – detecting concealed substances or materials within opaque containers or surfaces
• Industrial quality control and pharmaceuticals

Advantages:

• Beneficial for medical diagnostics, material science, and quality control in industrial and pharmaceutical sectors
• Ability to probe deep inside opaque, light-scattering materials where traditional optical methods fail
• Applicable to a wide range of materials, including biological tissues, industrial products, environmental samples, and explosives

Patent Information:

A provisional patent application has been filed.