Projects / Programmes
New imaging and analytic methods
January 1, 2022
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.21.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Technology driven physics |
|
| 1.02.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.03 |
Natural Sciences |
Physical sciences |
THz spectroscopy, magnetism, nuclear quadrupolar resonance, imaging, optically pumped magnetometers
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
April 19, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
511 |
8,505 |
7,196 |
14.08 |
| Scopus |
526 |
9,261 |
7,921 |
15.06 |
Researchers (8)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Imaging and analytic methods are the basis of the experimental part of material science and can be used for the detection and identification of substances and the determination of their physical, chemical, and structural properties. In the continuation of the research programme, we plan: 1) To continue with the THz spectroscopic and imaging studies on pharmaceuticals and building materials ensuring their quality and safety for humans and the environment. THz spectroscopy and imaging will be used to study changes in the chemical structure of drugs, anomalies, and deficiencies in pharmaceutical packaging, and the homogeneity of the tablets or capsules of drugs that will be exposed to various environmental conditions. THz waves will be used for the characterization of traditional and alternative building materials as well as construction and demolition waste. The refractive index and absorption coefficient of various common building materials in the frequency range between 600 GHz and 6 THz will be studied, as accurate knowledge of these material parameters is essential for modelling THz wave propagation in media for future wireless communication systems at higher frequencies beyond the 5G telecommunications. 2) To research the physical properties of materials and to develop experimental techniques that are required for such investigations. The material research will be focused on high entropy alloys, multiferroics, and molecular magnets, while nuclear quadrupolar resonance (NQR) will be used for the detection of selected counterfeit medicines. For the detection of NQR signals at larger distances much larger coils system will be designed. 3) To develop numerical algorithms in the field of imaging in biophysics, NQR, and civil engineering. The optically pumped magnetometers that operate at room temperature are proposed to replace SQUID-based magnetometers that required cooling down to 4 K for the imaging magnetic fields originating from the brain. The suitability of building straw bale houses in a cold climate will be evaluated experimentally and theoretically.
Significance for science
One of the proposed programme aims is to optimize the THz spectroscopic and imaging system for certain pharmaceutical and building materials investigations and the enhancement of algorithms and numerical methods for the THz spectra and image interpretation. By achieving this aim, we will contribute to the acquisition of new basic and specially applied knowledge in several scientific fields: materials characterization, civil engineering, pharmacy, and telecommunication. The results we will get in the programme will enable new economical approaches in science and industry, which will be based on advanced technology for generating and detecting THz waves with organic crystals. The proposed measurement approaches are original in their implementation and practical design and will allow the development and adaptation of further THz systems for use in potential industrial and other environments. The introduction of optically pumped magnetometers for imaging magnetic fields originating from the brain can potentially reveal some new information about the underlying brain activity since these magnetometers can be placed closer to the scalp in comparison to conventional SQUID sensors. The research of new materials, determination of their physical properties, and work in international networks will have an important effect in the field of materials technology. The new materials in the field of magnetic refrigeration and ferroelectrics in spintronics can lead in the future to new technological products.
Significance for the country
With the proposed research tasks performed, we will touch on the following social, economic, and environmental issues: - Ensure quality control and safety of the content of pharmaceutical products. This has been recognised to be extremely important in ensuring the quality of vaccines, especially now at the epidemic time of the Covid-19. - Ensure quality control of building materials in the development and production phase, as well as later in the life cycle of use. - Rehabilitation of old buildings with an emphasis on cultural heritage buildings. - Reduction of energy consumption and cost for heating and cooling of buildings. This will directly contribute to CO2 emission reduction and has a long-term effect in the field of ecology. - Promotion of the straw bale houses or at least a recommendation in which climate region these houses are suitable to be built. - The results on transmission of THz waves through building materials are expected to accelerate research and development activities for the realization of Beyond 5G and eventually 6G. Such wireless transmission technology will enhance the quality of many applications such as smart traffic, environment monitoring, virtual reality, telemedicine, digital sensing, full HD video transmission, which are directly related to social issues. - The improved sensitivity of the NQR system for the detection of prohibited and dangerous substances will have important relevance for the safety of the population. - Possible new materials for magnetic refrigeration made of low-cost transition metals can replace compounds based on expensive and scarce gadolinium. - Optically pumped magnetometers for imaging magnetic fields originating from the brain operate at room temperature. The absence of cryogenics that is required when using the old SQUID magnetometers reduces operating costs and, additionally, the sensors can be placed closer to the scalp. This might be a step forward in the application of magnetoencephalography in clinical practice.
