Quantum-enabled nano-scale rheology of the microbial seawater environment
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Despite appearances, a single drop of seawater is teeming with life. Even more surprising perhaps, is that this microscopic life has a huge influence on both the oceans and our climate. Microorganisms such as phytoplankton and bacteria interact with each other in complex ways that ultimately determine both productivity (how much algae is available at the base of the food web, leading to differences in fish populations and fisheries) and carbon storage in the deep ocean (helping to mitigate climate change). Over the past few decades we have come to realise that these microorganisms live in a world that is patchy - that is their food sources and predators are not spread evenly, even at scales of around 100 micrometres (1/10 of a mm). This microscale patchiness is strongly determined by the way nutrients and other chemicals move at smaller, even nanometric scales.
We have recently developed a novel quantum sensing scheme that, when combined with a specific class of fluorescent molecules, can sense nano-scale viscosity in water-environments, therefore outclassing previous classical techniques that can only operate at the micro-scale or at very high viscosities. We aim to further improve our recent demonstration of this technique by optimising the photon sources and also the sensors for the detection of photon pairs.
Therefore, by using a range of cutting-edge quantum sensing techniques we will be able to obtain a clear idea of what the nanoscale and microscale environment looks like to a microbe. We will take advantage of new methods to measure viscosity at small scales, microfluidic devices that now allow us to study behavioural responses of individual microbes and of populations in the lab, and novel theory to demonstrate the existence of these processes in real life. Our aim is to consolidate a new field of quantum-enabled nanorheology and to then use this to reveal the 'hidden' impact of small-scale differences in viscosity on the interactions between marine microorganisms and ultimately ocean and climate dynamics. The results generated by this project will improve our understanding of marine microbial interactions in localised areas, but will also help inform global biogeochemical and climate models that rely on accurate estimates of microbial productivity.
We have recently developed a novel quantum sensing scheme that, when combined with a specific class of fluorescent molecules, can sense nano-scale viscosity in water-environments, therefore outclassing previous classical techniques that can only operate at the micro-scale or at very high viscosities. We aim to further improve our recent demonstration of this technique by optimising the photon sources and also the sensors for the detection of photon pairs.
Therefore, by using a range of cutting-edge quantum sensing techniques we will be able to obtain a clear idea of what the nanoscale and microscale environment looks like to a microbe. We will take advantage of new methods to measure viscosity at small scales, microfluidic devices that now allow us to study behavioural responses of individual microbes and of populations in the lab, and novel theory to demonstrate the existence of these processes in real life. Our aim is to consolidate a new field of quantum-enabled nanorheology and to then use this to reveal the 'hidden' impact of small-scale differences in viscosity on the interactions between marine microorganisms and ultimately ocean and climate dynamics. The results generated by this project will improve our understanding of marine microbial interactions in localised areas, but will also help inform global biogeochemical and climate models that rely on accurate estimates of microbial productivity.
Publications
Lyons A
(2023)
Fluorescence Lifetime Hong-Ou-Mandel Sensing
Lyons A
(2023)
Fluorescence lifetime Hong-Ou-Mandel sensing.
in Nature communications
| Description | This project relies on using a quantum interference effect to measure very short fluorescence lifetimes. In the original implementation of this technique, a special that has two colour-beams was required. We have now developed a method that allows us to use a single laser for the same approach. We achieve this by using a special fibre, called a photonic crystal fibre. This allows us to generate a white light (supercontinuum) that we can then use as the "second colour" for our quantum interference approach. This has now been used to achieve similar results as in the original implementation and brings us a step closer to commerical viability as we can now insert this technique in commercial microscope bodies. |
| Exploitation Route | We are hoping toi develop this technique to the point that it could become a commerical product. At this point, anyone would be able to have an add=on to theri fluorescence microscope that allows to measure lifetimes in the femotsecond and picosecond scale (rather than the standard nanosecond scale). |
| Sectors | Chemicals Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |