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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N63161/01
Title: A NEW EYE FOR SYCLOPS - A SPECTROSCOPY UPGRADE FOR THE DARESBURY CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE
Principal Investigator: ODonnell, Professor K
Other Investigators:
Tobin, Dr M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Physics
Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 16 October 2000 Ends: 15 July 2002 Value (£): 30,570
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Biological & Medicinal Chem. Cells
Chemical Structure Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Chemicals Electronics
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
We propose to upgrade the Daresbury Laboratories confocal microscope SYCLOPS by enhancing its spectroscopic capabilities. The microscope features confocal illumination and detection optics arranged on an optical bench for flexibility of application, and an attached scanning mirror head, objective lens mount, and cooled sample stage. Laser sources are commonly used for high resolution fluorescence imaging, while synchrotron radiation provides a convenient pulsed source for fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy, in addition to allowing excitation at high photon energies. In the present set-up, crude spectral sorting of the fluorescence by interference filters allows the acquisition of a series of quasi-monochromatic images. By replacing the photomultiplier tube that detecs fluorescence with CCD/spectrometer combination, we will greatly enhance the spectroscopic capability of the instrument. The microscope will be capable of performing spectroscopy of spatially selected objects as small as the diffraction limit allows. It will also be able to produce 'spectrum images' that combine the advantages of high spatial and spectral resolution. The unique capabilities of the microscope will be tested on several different kinds of samples in an extension of a current materials portfolio which embraces semiconductor physics, organic chemistry, cell biology and the semiconductor/neuron interface.
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Organisation Website: http://www.strath.ac.uk