Biological and living lasers from artificial and naturally produced resonators

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Marcel Schubert
• Subject Area: Biophysics ; Biomaterials ; Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2014 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 266762850

More than 50 years after their invention, lasers have become an indispensable tool in research, engineering, consumer electronics and communication. In recent years, lasers have also expanded strongly into the medicine and life science sector. The ongoing miniaturization of lasers even suggests the possibility of bio-injectable, body-integrated laser based sensors and devices. However, current lasers consist of rigid synthetic optical elements and often contain gain media that are potentially harmful, restricting compatibility with direct in vivo operation. The search for more benign alternatives has only just started and in order to be successful it is likely to involve incorporation of biological materials. In an attempt to overcome the design rules and materials used in nowadays lasers, it has recently been demonstrated that bio-derived molecules like vitamins and proteins, and even living cells and bacteria are capable of actively generating laser light. In addition, many naturally occurring biological structures show intense colors and diverse optical functionality. It is this ability to manipulate and amplify light that makes them promising for developing a new class of biological lasers.The proposed project is aimed at identifying structurally colored species with suitable optical properties. These will then be subject to further optimization, to form a working laser that is produced entirely from biological material. In addition, the project will explore ways to produce laser light within a broad range of living cells and organisms. This will be realized by developing innovative concepts to introduce optical feedback into cells. The overarching goal of the project is to demonstrate lasing from single cells without need for any external resonator structure.To reach these ambitious aims, the project will implement innovative concepts, merging the fields of biology and photonics in ways that have not been previously pursued. The project has the potential to create a new direction in science and thus will enable the applicant to establish a strong academic profile. While being designed as a proof of concept study, the applicant envisions that the outcome of this project can lead to numerous practical applications in sensing, imaging as well as beyond what we foresee today.¿

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor Dr. Malte Gather