Biomedical Laser Laboratory – Dr. Hu

Light, or electromagnetic radiation in general, is indispensable for life as either the ultimate source of energy for synthesis or the agent of excitation for variation. Our major research interests lie in the understanding of biological systems by investigating their interaction with light. Our long-term goal is two-fold: (1) to study the pathways and parameters of energy transfer that are fundamental to the understanding of biological systems; (2) to develop instrumentation for biomedical research.

Optical research is conducted at Biomedical Laser Laboratory (BLL) with an approach of ubiquitous computing.

Over the past years, we have developed in BLL a laser-optics experimental research facility and a parallel computing facility.  The computing lab is equipped with a dedicated Beowulf-class 16-node cluster of dual-CPU workstations for large-scale simulations of cell and tissue optics. Experimental measurements are carried out in the laser lab with computer controlled instruments for data acquisition and analysis. These facilities have enabled us to study biomedical problems by combining experimental studies and numerical modeling. Within this unique and world-class environment, students in the biomedical physics Ph.D. program receive rigorous training and conduct independent research.

The laser lab is located in room N-214 and room C204 in the Howell Science Complex. Major equipment includes a diffraction imaging flow cytometer, high-power Nd:YAG Q-switched laser system, a nanosecond N2 and dye laser system, multiple cw diode-pumped solid state lasers and diode lasers, harmonic generators with nonlinear crystals, a UV-VIS-IR spectrophotometer, a high-resolution (0.03nm) spectrometer with a TE-cooled 16-bit CCD camera and a compact CCD array spectrometer system, 8-inch and 6-inch integrating spheres, monochromoters and light sources from 200nm to 2.5 mm, a 500MHz digitizing oscilloscope, a laser beam profile analysis system, dual-channel digital lock-in amplifier, a boxcar with two gated integrators, a synchronized dual-AO modulator system, signal synthesizers, digital pulse delay generators and numerous optical/electronic accessories.