Kemajuan Fisika Optika

Beberapa hasil riset fisika optik yang akan mempengaruhi banyak aplikasi....mungkin sampai bisa melihat yg. ghoib2 juga? :-)

Microscope Has 100 Million Times Finer Resolution Than Current MRI An artistic view of the magnetic tip (blue) interacting with the virus particles at the end of the cantilever. Scientists at IBM Research, in collaboration with the Center for Probing the Nanoscale at Stanford University, have demonstrated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with volume resolution 100 million times finer than conventional MRI. This signals a significant step forward in tools for molecular biology and nanotechnology by offering the ability to study complex 3D structures at the nanoscale. By extending MRI to such fine resolution, the scientists have created a microscope that may ultimately be powerful enough to unravel the structure and interactions of proteins, paving the way for new advances in personalized healthcare and targeted medicine. This advancement was enabled by a technique called magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM), which relies on detecting ultrasmall magnetic forces. In addition to its high resolution, the imaging technique is chemically specific, can "see" below surfaces and, unlike electron microscopy, is non-destructive to sensitive biological materials. The researchers use MRFM to detect tiny magnetic forces as the sample sits on a microscopic cantilever - essentially a tiny sliver of silicon shaped like a diving board. Laser interferometry tracks the motion of the cantilever, which vibrates slightly as magnetic spins in the hydrogen atoms of the sample interact with a nearby nanoscopic magnetic tip. The tip is scanned in three dimensions and the cantilever vibrations are analyzed to create a 3D image. Click here for more information.

NASA-Developed Technique Leads to Cataract Early Detection System The NASA/NEI probe being tested at the National Institutes of Health. (NASA image) A compact fiber-optic probe developed for the space program has become the first non-invasive early detection device for cataracts. Researchers from NASA and the National Eye Institute (NEI) have developed a simple, safe eye test for measuring a protein related to cataract formation. If subtle protein changes can be detected before a cataract develops, people may be able to reduce their cataract risk by making simple lifestyle changes. The new device is based on a laser light technique called dynamic light scattering (DLS) that was initially developed to analyze the growth of protein crystals in a zero-gravity space environment. NASA's Dr. Rafat R. Ansari, senior scientist at Glenn Research Center, brought the technology's possible applications to the attention of NEI vision researchers when he learned that his father's cataracts were caused by changes in lens proteins. The DLS technique will assist vision scientists in looking at long-term lens changes due to aging, smoking, diabetes, and LASIK surgery. It may also help in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, in which an abnormal protein may be found in the lens. In addition, NASA researchers will continue to use the device to look at the impact of long-term space travel on the visual system. "During a three year mission to Mars, astronauts will experience increased exposure to space radiation that can cause cataracts and other problems," Dr. Ansari explained. "In the absence of proper countermeasures, this may pose a risk for NASA. This technology could help us understand the mechanism for cataract formation so we can work to develop effective countermeasures to mitigate the risk and prevent it in astronauts."