Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

Fall 1-31-2009

Degree Name

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Haim Grebel

Second Advisor

Leonid Tsybeskov

Third Advisor

Raquel Perez-Castillejos

Abstract

Nano-structured platforms have been studied for the purpose of enhancing weak fluorescence signals. Each platform was constructed as a thin oxide layer on top of a metal (aluminum) The oxide was perforated with hexagonal array of nano-holes. The pitch of the array was much smaller than the optical wavelengths used. Surface charge waves (Surface Plasmons) could be excited when the platform was oriented at specific direction with respect to the incident optical beam. At this point one can demonstrate that fluorescence signals could be amplified. Since the oxide (alumina) is bio-compatible, one can envision using such platforms in the study of bio-species with fluorescencing biomarkers. Moreover, when imbedding dye chromophores in the structure's nano-pores, one can show that such construction exhibits threshold and gain for the related fluorescence signals.

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