Advancement of Photoacoustic Spectroscopy in Biomedicine Leveraging QCL-IR

Optoacoustic spectroscopy, a technique originally established in the 19th century, is currently being leveraged to push boundaries in biomedical science. Research groups are making vast improvements to mid-infrared optoacoustic imaging and detection techniques that have yielded promising results for applications including both non-invasive glucose monitoring and label-free analytic histology.

Several biomolecules, such as glucose, lipids, and proteins, are excited by the high spectral brightness of quantum cascade infrared lasers (QCL-IR). Illuminating these biomolecules with a pulsed QCL-IR source operating in the “fingerprint” wavelength band causes acoustic waves to propagate via the photoacoustic effect. The combination of high spectral brightness, high wavelength-resolution, and low acoustic background enables researchers to collect highly detailed spectroscopic data at increased sample depths with improved signal-to-noise ratios. By coupling established techniques with modern technology, researchers have enabled the exploration of critical new applications in biomedical science.

About the presenter
Jason Sorger is an engineer with over five years of experience in development of cutting-edge laser technologies. He has a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Utah and a Master of Science in physics from San Diego State University.

Sorger is currently the senior field service engineer for DRS Daylight Solutions, the world’s leading provider of best-in-class mid-infrared, quantum cascade laser (QCL) sources for life sciences, research, industrial, and defense industries. Sorger was most recently a laser engineer with Daylight Solutions specializing in the design, build, and verification of next-generation laser technologies. Jason is a native Californian but spent time living in Utah and Colorado where he enjoyed exploring the mountains in both winter and summer. He currently resides in San Diego but continues to get into the mountains to snowboard when he’s not spending time appreciating the sunshine and surfing at the beach.