Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...

Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy or TIRF is an advanced microscopic technique used to visualize fluorophores in samples close to a solid surface with a higher refractive index, such as a glass coverslip. TIRF only allows fluorophores in proximity to the solid surface to be excited. When light from a medium with a lower refractive index (such as air) hits the glass coverslip at a critical angle, the light undergoes total internal reflection stead of passing through the glass.

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.

Photoluminescence: Fluorescence and Phosphorescence

Photoluminescence: Fluorescence and Phosphorescence

Photoluminescence is a process where a molecule absorbs light energy and re-emits it in the form of light. This phenomenon occurs when a substance absorbs photons, promoting its electrons to higher energy level excited states, followed by a relaxation process in which the electrons return to their original ground state energy levels and emit light. Photoluminescence is widely observed in various materials, including semiconductors, and organic and inorganic compounds.
A pair of electrons in a...

Photoluminescence: Applications

Photoluminescence: Applications

Photoluminescence offers a wide range of applications due to its inherent sensitivity and selectivity. This technique allows for both direct and indirect analyses of the analyte. Direct quantitative analysis is possible when the analyte exhibits a favorable quantum yield for fluorescence or phosphorescence. However, an indirect analysis may be feasible if the analyte is not fluorescent or phosphorescent, or if the quantum yield is unfavorable. Indirect methods include reacting the analyte with...

Fluorescence and Phosphorescence: Instrumentation

Fluorescence and Phosphorescence: Instrumentation

Fluorometers and spectrofluorometers are two types of instruments used for measuring molecular fluorescence. These instruments differ in how they select excitation and emission wavelengths and the type of light sources they utilize. Fluorometers use absorption interference filters to choose excitation and emission wavelengths. The excitation source in a fluorometer is typically a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp that emits intense lines distributed throughout the ultraviolet and visible regions.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Greatly enhanced photoluminescence of an integrated WSe<sub>2</sub> monolayer by exploiting the pure magnetic resonance and localized strain induced by a hybrid Si/Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/Au nanoantenna.

Optics express·2026

Same author

Lipid metabolism and gallstone disease risk: a multicenter study.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Voice Disorders After Thyroid Surgery Among Surgeons in Southwestern Mainland China.

Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation·2025

Same author

Cohort profile: the nurses' mental health study.

BMC nursing·2025

Same author

Workplace violence predicts depression and anxiety in nurses: a multi-center longitudinal study in China.

BMC psychiatry·2025

Same author

Quantitative prediction of active components in turnip using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and a multimodal feature fusion method.

Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Development of Whispering Gallery Mode Polymeric Micro-optical Electric Field Sensors

Development of Whispering Gallery Mode Polymeric Micro-optical Electric Field Sensors

Published on: January 29, 2013

Turning a polystyrene microsphere into a multimode light source by laser irradiation.

Shimei Liu¹, Shaolong Tie², Jingdong Chen³

¹Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.

Nanophotonics (Berlin, Germany)

|December 5, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Polystyrene (PS) microspheres can become efficient multimode light sources when irradiated by lasers. This transformation is enhanced by silver films and molybdenum disulfide, enabling new photonic devices.

Keywords:

laser irradiation microsphere polystyrene two-dimensional material whispery gallery mode

More Related Videos

Stimulated Stokes and Antistokes Raman Scattering in Microspherical Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators

Stimulated Stokes and Antistokes Raman Scattering in Microspherical Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators

Published on: April 4, 2016

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Published on: June 2, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Development of Whispering Gallery Mode Polymeric Micro-optical Electric Field Sensors

Development of Whispering Gallery Mode Polymeric Micro-optical Electric Field Sensors

Published on: January 29, 2013

Stimulated Stokes and Antistokes Raman Scattering in Microspherical Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators

Stimulated Stokes and Antistokes Raman Scattering in Microspherical Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators

Published on: April 4, 2016

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Published on: June 2, 2017

Area of Science:

Optics and Photonics
Materials Science
Polymer Science

Background:

Polystyrene (PS) is typically a passive optical material.
PS microspheres are used in photonic crystals via self-assembly.
Whispery gallery modes in PS microspheres are key to light manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the transformation of PS microspheres into multimode light sources using laser irradiation.
To explore methods for enhancing luminescence and reducing laser power thresholds.
To demonstrate the potential for creating novel photonic devices.

Main Methods:

Laser irradiation of PS microspheres on silica and silver substrates.
Investigating the effect of different substrates (silica, silver film, MoS2 monolayer on silver) on luminescence.
Morphological examination to assess material integrity after laser exposure.

Main Results:

PS microspheres can be induced to luminesce with laser irradiation above a threshold power.
Silver films significantly reduce the threshold power and enhance luminescence intensity.
A molybdenum disulfide monolayer further lowers the threshold power, creating efficient light sources with minimal PS damage.

Conclusions:

Laser irradiation can convert passive PS microspheres into active multimode light sources.
Substrate engineering with plasmonic (silver) and 2D materials (MoS2) is crucial for efficient light generation.
This research opens avenues for polymer-based photonic devices utilizing laser-induced luminescence.