Research

The origin project LIFEGATE introduced the prospect of multimode fibre based holographic endoscope as a unique tool for highresolution in-vivo imaging of structures residing deep inside the brain of animal models. It harnesses the power of controlled light transport through hair-thin MMFs to image and measure brain functions at single cell and sub-cellular level in virtually any brain structure, at unlimited depth and in uniquely atraumatic manner, thereby unlocking a variety of opportunities when answering urgent bio-medical questions.

Surgical removal of the epileptogenic tissue or implantation of a stimulation device represents the best chance for patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy to be seizure-free. Intracranial EEG acquisition, processing, and machine learning techniques have undergone rapid development and shown promise in the localization of epileptogenic tissue and seizure prediction. However, the transition of these methods into the clinic is slow even though the computational power of computers is sufficient.

Detailed knowledge of mechanisms of electron scattering and its practical consequences for very low energies are of prime importance for not only measurement techniques but also development of new materials for next-generation electronic devices. Determining inelastic mean free path (IMFP) of electrons in bulk materials is an ongoing topic in spectroscopy. Information on IMFP for very low electron energies, E ≤ 100 eV, is not satisfactory and it is often missing in case of 2D materials, which are promising in the semiconductor industry.

Over the last 50 years, the success rate of surgical interventions in drug-resistant epilepsy has not significantly improved, remaining at around 50-60%. During presurgical evaluation, the identification of the “epileptogenic zone” (EZ) is crucial for its subsequent removal. In the past, high frequency oscillations (HFOs, 80-500 Hz) were shown to be a promising interictal (seizure independent) marker of the EZ.

The project is oriented towards the development of microscopic thin-cells filled with absorption gases, the key part of compact and portable laser frequency standards for telecom wavelengths. The proposed technology of thin cells will allow to realize optical frequency references with unique spectral properties and it will open the possibility to study the narrowing of spectral transitions based on the Dicke effect, which allows to reach ultimate frequency stability of the laser standards while maintaing their compactness and robustness.