LLAMS (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

LLAMS develops new techniques and tools, including ultra-precise spectroscopy, to study the interaction of (laser) light and matter. Looking at systems ranging from atoms and molecules to living cells and tissues, the focus is on advancing understanding of both molecular physics and living systems.
Research highlights

LaserLaB Amsterdam

Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics
Amsterdam (LaserLaB Amsterdam), Netherlands 

map-laserlab-amserdam

www.laserlab.vu.nl 

Contact: Freek Ariese

Biophysics
Single-molecule polarization microscopy of DNA intercalators sheds light on the structure of S-DNA, Science Advances (2019)

Medical Imaging
Leukocyte differentiation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids using higher harmonic generation microscopy and deep learning, PLoS ONE 18(6): e0279525 (2023)

Atomic and Molecular Physics

F.M.J. Cozijn et al., Rotational level spacings in HD from vibrational saturation spectroscopy, Phys. Rev. A 105, 062823 (2022)

Physical Chemistry

H. Ganjitabar et al., The role of the intermediate state in angle-resolved photoelectron studies using (2 + 1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization of the chiral terpenes, α-pinene and 3-carene, Mol. Phys. 119, e1808907 (2021)

Projects performed by external users >>

Further application highlights
Expertise

The mission of the Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics (LaserLaB) Amsterdam is to perform research, using the interaction of (laser) light and matter, on systems ranging from atoms and molecules to living cells and tissues. Apart from molecular physics and ultra-precise spectroscopy, strong focus is on the further development of new methods, techniques and tools for photovoltaics, photosynthesis, material science, biomedical applications and to study fundamental aspects of living systems. This will improve understanding of, for instance, cellular mechanics and will pave the way for novel medical diagnostics, photonic integrated circuits, environmental analysis and possible solutions for the global energy crisis. The institute offers 6 different research programs, on: physics of light, energy, biomedical physics, analytical chemistry and spectroscopy, molecular biophysics and light-tissue interaction at the (sub-)cellular, tissue and organ level. The depth and breadth of the research activities as well as the available equipment make it a very attractive host for external users from various disciplines.

Expertise in recyclable materials

remade-logo.pngRaman spectroscopy and Raman imaging techniques are powerful methods for material characterization, including polymers. LaserLaB Amsterdam is currently involved in the detection and identification of micro- and nanoplastics. Automated data analysis was developed for Raman maps (R.W.Schmidt et al., 2022) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy was developed for fast microplastic identification in environmental samples (L. Zada et al., 2018) and for polymer nanoparticles in flow (M. Huber et al., subm. 2023). Deep-UV Raman spectroscopy is particularly suitable for strongly colored and fluorescent materials, such as black plastic. The rapid identification of black waste objects on a conveyor belt was recently demonstrated (L. Zada et al., manuscript in prep.).

 

Fluorescence microscopy of microplastic particles from the river Rhine, stained with Nie Red dye. The yellow sphere was identified as polystyrene, based on its Raman spectrum. (Merel Konings & Freek Ariese)

Fluorescence microscopy of microplastic particles from the river Rhine, stained with Nie Red dye.
The yellow sphere was identified as polystyrene, based on its Raman spectrum. (Merel Konings & Freek Ariese)

Equipment offered to external users

LLAMS offers a wide variety of equipment to users, including:

  • ultrafast and ultra-high resolution spectroscopy for molecular physics studies,
  • optical tweezers,
  • Raman facilities (deep-UV Raman microscopy at 248 nm, Raman global imaging, stimulated Raman, and cryogenic (77°K) Raman),
  • direct laser writing for fast and simple fabrication of photonic microchips (such as optical biosensors or on-chip OCT),
  • dark-field scattering microscopy
  • spectroscopy of single nanoparticles, heterogeneous photocatalysis under controlled gas flow and in-line mass spectrometry,
  • diffusion-ordered IR spectroscopy (IR-DOSY) and Raman-DOSY
  • molecular beam spectrometry.