Marcos Dantus
MarcosDantus Adjunct Professor (Physics) / Professor

Office: 58 Chemistry

Phone: 517-355-9715 314 /

Websites: Research Group - Area

Awards & Honors

Novel Applications of Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy

(Research Description PDF - 1650 kb)

The scientific goal of our group is to understand and control laser-molecule interactions. We use this fundamental understanding to control molecular reactivity, and develop a number of novel applications for lasers that include biomedical imaging, molecular detection and identification and plasmonics. Five state-of-the-art femtosecond laser systems with MIIPS pulse shaping technology are used for our research.

Some of our fun and challenging projects include:

* Development of multidimensional spectroscopic methods for remote identification of chemicals;

* Exploring novel biomedical applications of nonlinear photonic control for selective two-photon microscopy and imaging through tissue;

* Developing methods for selective cleavage of chemical bonds using shaped laser pulses;

* Developing a system for single molecule microscopy and spectroscopy;

* Exploring and controlling the nonlinear optical properties of nanomaterials.

Ultrafast Lasers and Imaging. The laser pulses in our laboratory are short enough to "freeze" the motion of atoms and allow us to see chemical reactions as they take place. Using a pulse shaper, we are able to tailor the phase of the individual wavelength components. These shaped pulses can be used to control the quantum-mechanical aspects of laser-molecule interactions. For example, we can control which molecules absorb energy and which do not, an aspect we have used to achieve selective two-photon microscopy.

One of our labs is dedicated to the interaction of highly energetic lasers and molecules; the other is dedicated to imaging samples from single molecules, to single cells, to tissue. The application of "smart laser pulses" to nonlinear optical methods opens some very interesting possibilities. Among the possibilities are seeing through scattering materials such as skin, paper, and clouds.

We are also exploring the biomedical and homeland security applications of some of these laser developments. Our projects range from fundamental research to applied technology, leading to commercialization.

Selected Publications

MIIPS Characterizes and Corrects Femtosecond Pulses, M. Dantus, V.V. Lozovoy, and I. Pastirk, Laser Focus World 2007, 43, 101-104.

Polarization and Phase Control of Remote Surface-plasmon-mediated Two-photon Induced Emission and Waveguiding, J. M. Gunn, M. Ewald, M. Dantus. Nano Letters 2006, 6, 2804-2809.

Advantages of Ultrashort Phase-shaped Pulses for Selective Two-photon Activation and Biomedical Imaging, L. Schelhas, J. C. Shane, M. Dantus, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine 2006, 2, 177-181.

Use of Coherent Control Methods Through Scattering Biological Tissue to Achieve Functional Imaging, J. M. Dela Cruz, I. Pastirk, M. Comstock, V.V. Lozovoy & M. Dantus, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2004, 101, 16996-17001.

Laser Control of Physicochemical Processes; Experiments and Applications, Annu. Rep. Prog. Chem, V. Lozovoy and M. Dantus, Annu. Rep. Prog. 2006, 102, 227-258