Projects per year
Abstract
Upon illumination by ultraviolet light, many animal species emit light through fluorescence processes arising from fluorophores embedded within their biological tissues. Fluorescence studies in living organisms are however relatively scarce and so far limited to the linear regime. Multiphoton excitation fluorescence analyses as well as nonlinear optical techniques offer unique possibilities to investigate the effects of the local environment on the excited states of fluorophores. Herein, these techniques are applied for the first time to study of the naturally controlled fluorescence in insects. The case of the male Hoplia coerulea beetle is investigated because the scales covering the beetle's elytra are known to possess an internal photonic structure with embedded fluorophores, which controls both the beetle's coloration and the fluorescence emission. An intense two-photon excitation fluorescence signal is observed, the intensity of which changes upon contact with water. A third-harmonic generation signal is also detected, the intensity of which depends on the light polarization state. The analysis of these nonlinear optical and fluorescent responses unveils the multi-excited states character of the fluorophore molecules embedded in the beetle's elytra. The role of form anisotropy in the photonic structure, which causes additional tailoring of the beetle's optical responses, is demonstrated by circularly polarized light and nonlinear optical measurements.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 20180052 |
Pages (from-to) | 20180052 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Interface focus |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 Feb 2019 |
Keywords
- natural photonics
- photonics crystals
- fluorescence
- two-photon fluorescence
- third-harmonic generation
- Beetle
- Natural photonics
- Third-harmonic generation
- Photonic crystals
- Fluorescence
- Two-photon fluorescence
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Nonlinear optical spectroscopy and two-photon excited fluorescence spectroscopy reveal the excited states of fluorophores embedded in a beetle's elytra'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Understanding the importance of the interaction between ultraviolet radiation and natural photonic structures
Mouchet, S. (PI) & Deparis, O. (Supervisor)
1/10/17 → 31/12/20
Project: Research
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Fluorescence emission changes in photonic structures of living organisms induced by contact with fluids
Mouchet, S. (PI)
1/10/15 → 30/09/17
Project: Research
Equipment
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Morphology - Imaging
Cecchet, F. (Manager) & Renard, H.-F. (Manager)
Technological Platform Morphology - ImagingFacility/equipment: Technological Platform
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Belgian Physical Society (BPS) General Scientific Meeting 2017
Mouchet, S. (Poster)
17 May 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Linear and Non-Linear Fluorescence Investigation of a Beetle’s Photonic Structure
Mouchet, S. (Speaker)
17 May 2017Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Datasets
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Supplementary material from "Nonlinear optical spectroscopy and two-photon excited fluorescence spectroscopy reveal the excited states of fluorophores embedded in a beetle’s elytra"
Mouchet, S. R. (Contributor), Verstraete, C. (Creator), Mara, D. (Creator), Cleuvenbergen, S. V. (Creator), Finlayson, E. D. (Creator), Deun, R. V. (Creator), Deparis, O. (Contributor), Verbiest, T. (Creator), Maes, B. (Creator), Vukusic, P. (Creator) & Kolaric, B. (Contributor), University of Namur, 6 Feb 2019
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4302665.v1, https://figshare.com/collections/Supplementary_material_from_Nonlinear_optical_spectroscopy_and_two-photon_excited_fluorescence_spectroscopy_reveal_the_excited_states_of_fluorophores_embedded_in_a_beetle_s_elytra_/4302665/1
Dataset