The main task of LSI Department is scientific optical spectral instrument-making i.e. developing and designing new optical spectral and optical electronic instruments, apparatus and setups including such ones which were invented and designed as laboratory models in other research laboratories of the Institute, creation of new apparatus on the basis of these developments and modernization of available experimental setups, production of small series of instruments and setups for laboratories of the Institute and other organizations.

Originally LSI Laboratory (without personnel of EPD) consisted of 16 researchers. Now after a growth period (till 1992) and subsequent stuff reductions and regulations (1992-98) LSI Department has 23 persons including 5 specialists of EPD. When LSI Department has enough orders from research laboratories, agreements and contracts with other organizations inside the country and abroad, its stuff can reach 30 persons due to coaxing specialists into temporal collectives. First re­searchers of the Department were: Dr. E.LMikhailov, I.N.Nesteruk and V.M.Gusev. Dr.O.N.Kompanets who worked as a senior researcher and a research group head in Prof. Letokhov's Laboratory has been in charge of the Department since 1979.

The first LSI Department developments were connected with creation (in cooperation with the Laser Spectroscopy Laboratory, Dr. V.I.Mishin) of two automated laser spectrometers for experiments on laser photoionization spectroscopy of atoms with stable (Inst.of Spectroscopy) and short-lived nuclei (Leningrad Inst. of Nucl. Phys.). For those works pulse tunable dye lasers with a narrow irradiation bandwidth, instruments for measure­ment of their wavelength and output power, a photodetecting system, various optical and mechanical units (“optical designer”) were developed.

The development (in cooperation with High Resolution Spectroscopy and Analytical Spectroscopy Laboratory, Dr. M.A.Bol'shov) of an experimental model of automated laser atomic fluorescence analytical spectrometer handed over to State Inst.of Rare Metals in 1984 according to the agreement was the next great step of development and formation of LSI Department.

Further developing laser research and analytical spectrometers became one of main directions of LSI Department activities. The Specialized Design Department of the USSR Ac.Sci.Central Bureau of Unique Instruments Design (SDD CBUID) headed by Dr.E.L.Mikhailov was set up in 1985 to support these works and existed till 1990. Experimental prototypes of automated laser atomic fluorescence (1987) and atomic photoionization (1989) analytical spectrometers for ultrasensitive detecting of element traces and microimpurities in various objects with the detecting limit of elements (more than 60) 10^-10 weight % and lower were designed in cooperation with SDD SBUID under supervision by the researchers of Departments of Molecular Spectroscopy (Dr. M.A.Bol'shov) and of Laser Spectroscopy (Dr. G.I.Bekov).

About 10 of such analytical spectrometers used in the Institute and other institutions (including abroad – in Finland, Korea, China) for research works, for control of the technology of obtaining high purity materials, for detecting element traces in natural samples, for control of pollution of the environment were manufactured by LSI Department in cooperation with researchers of both MS and LS Departments. During the realization of these large-scale works the staff of LSI Department was formed. Dr. V. M.Apatin, B.V.Arkhangelsky, A.M.Alexandrov, V.A.Veselov, Dr.A.A.Kachanov, I.V.Kolpakov, M.A.Pavlov, V.S.Shishkovsky, Dr.E.G.Silkis, B.N.Borisov, V.V.Godnev, G.Yu.Lopatovsky, A.S.Stankevich, S.F.Kolyakov and the mentioned above researchers were the backbone of it. An important development of last ten years is the creation of the atomated chemically selective resonant ionization laser ion source (RILIS) on the base of CVL pumped tunable pulsed dye lasers that is destined for high selective photoionization and sensitive detection of rare isotopes with short-lived nuclei in the “on-line” mode at the exit of an accelerator and a mass-separator of particles (under supervision by Dr.V.I.Mishin). The first such installation successfully works during many years in composition of the mass-separator ensemble ISOLDE on the Proton Buster Accelerator in CERN ( Switzerland ). Ion beams of 20 elements of the Periodic Law were received on this installation for solving many problems of nuclear physics, astrophysics, physics of solid states, new materials studying, medicine applications. Due to unique performances RILIS has become one of the most required type of ISOLDE ion sources and drawn attention of specialists in nuclear physics and material research from different countries who are going to use the same laser ion source. Last years LSI Department efforts are shifting to the direction of developing of wider class of small-dimensions spectral research and analytical instruments which use various principles and differ in objects of investigation, in spectral range, sensitivity, complication level, application scale.

Fig. 01 Experimental laser set-up for laser resonant multistep photoionization of atoms

Last years LSI Department efforts are shifting to the direction of developing of wider class of small-dimensions spectral research and analytical instruments which use various principles and differ in objects of investigation, in spectral range, sensitivity, complication level, application scale.

In particular LSI Department has begun (1997) to develop a number of high sensitive portable dichrometers for biochemistry and medicine with using biosensing units on the base of DNA liquid-crystalline dispersions (developed by Prof. Yu.Yevdokimov, Institute of Molecular Biology , Moscow ). Measuring with this dichrometer an abnormal circular dichroism generated at interaction of biologically active compounds with the liquid-crystalline biosensing unit one can determine (with high sensitivity and for short periods - minutes) a presence and concentrations of various genotoxicants, antibiotics and other pharmapreparations, heavy metals, proteins and so on in physiological liquids (blood, urine, etc.). Other merits of the method and the device are a low cost of one analysis, determination of a big number of various compounds with one type of biosensing units, low exploitation expenditures due to an absence of necessity of the personnel special qualification and of applying technical water and gaseous nitrogen. The action principle of the optical biosensor developed has no analogues. Novelty of the joint development of both Rus.Ac.Sci. Institutes (with participation of Biochemistry Institute, University of Muenster, FRG) is confirmed with patents of the Russian Federation, the United States, the European Community, Germany, with gold medals of the 50 th Exhibition of Innovations “Eureka-Brussels-2001” and of the Rus.Ac.Sci.Presidium (2002) as well as with Grand-Prix of the II Competition of Russian Innovations (2003).

LSI Department has gotten down as well to development of new modifications of an emission spectrometer for multielemental analysis of rare metal ores, environmental objects, legal evaluation subjects, etc. Both the automated small dimension spectrometers with multichannel optical registration systems on cooled linear CCDs and the techniques of emission analysis for geological samples and metal matrices with using various sources of spectra excitation are developed.

Other directions of LSI Department activities: developing of tunable lasers for spectra investigations, development of instruments for laser wavelength control, working out spectral instruments of high and superhigh resolution, making high sensitive systems for registration of weak spectra lines including multichannel ones; electronic, microprocessor and program means of instru­ments designed, qualified support of instrument developing and works on modernization and auto­mation of experimental setups in other laboratories of the Institute.

Briefly the main results of the LSI Department activity are:

— A series of tunable pulse lasers with automatic (including microprocessor) control of wavelength pumped by radiation of nitrogen, copper vapour, excimer and solid state lasers with a narrow (including tuning inside the bandwidth) radiation line (25-3 pm) was developed. More than 50 such lasers were made, the half of them works outside the Institute, for example in CERN ( Switzerland ), NIST (USA), KAERI ( Korea ), NINT ( China ) and other scientific centers. The authors of the projects are: Dr. V.M.Apatin, Dr. V.I.Mishin, V.M.Gusev, I.N.Nesteruk, M.A.Pavlov, V.S.Shishkovsky.

Fig. 02

CVL pumped narrow bandwidth tunable dye laser (1) with a microprocessor control unit (2)

- A series of original electromechanic (galvanometric) scanners-positioners with fast (10-1000 ms) high precision (0.2-10'') wide angle (up to 360 ° ) positioning of optical elements (mirrors, diffraction gratings and so on) was worked out which were used for precise and fast automatic wavelength tuning of lasers and monochromators, nonlinear crystal turn, laser beam control in problems of optical information transmission, material cutting, in guiding systems, etc.. The authors of the projects are: Ig.N.Nesteruk, V.V.Kolosov, Ir.N.Nesteruk, V.A.Pakutnev, A.S.Stankevich. More than 50 such devices were made for lasers, monochromators, light beam position control and other purposes.

a)	b)	c)

Fig. 0 3

Precise fast-acting electromechanical actuators for positioning optical elements:

a, b – one- and dual-coordinate mirror positioners;

c – angle positioner of the diffraction grating (50x50 mm) of a portable dichrometer

- Simple compact calibrators of laser wavelength (in combination with scanners and the simplest program control) allowing to set wavelength of tunable lasers with the precision of 5 pm were worked out by V.M.Gusev, M.A.Pavlov, I.N.Nesteruk. Precise and compact (200x100x100 mm³) automatic wavelength meters were developed for pulse and CW lasers in the range of 400÷1100 nm on the base of a Fizeau interferometer and a photodiode arrow with resolution 2*10^-7 and 10^-5 respectively and measurement threshold 0,3 μJ in one pulse (Dr. A.A.Kachanov, A.M.Alexandrov, I.V.Kolpakov). More than 25 calibrators and 10 wavelength meters were made as well.

- The series of compact monochromators, polychromators and spectrographs of different complication level on the basis of universal diffraction gratings with a wide range of variation of reciprocal linear dispersion (40÷0.04 nm/mm) and spectral resolution were worked out (Dr. D.A.Zhuravlyov, Dr.V.P.Zhuravleva).

- High sensitive systems of registration on the base of photoelectronic and secondary electronic multipliers (B.V.Arkhangelsky, B.N.Borisov, I.V.Kolpakov) and the whole series of multichannel optical registrators of spectrum MORS (Dr. E.G.Silkis, A.V.Pelesnev, V.D.Titov, together with the small company “MORS”) which use as multichannel detectors various types of linear couple charge devices (CCD) or their optical fibercombination with image intensifiers controlled by personal computers were designed. The use of such multichannel registration systems together with compact diffraction polychromators allowed to design very compact spectrometers (mass is less 3 kg) of extremely wide range of application. Since 1989 more than 500 spectrum registration systems were produced that are used in research works, analytical instruments, in astronomy, geology, criminology and other fields.

Specialized models of photoelectron registration cassettes (PEC) were developed by Dr.E.G.Silkis that contain several linear CCDs and are used in traditional emission spectrometers as spectra registrators instead of photoplates. Such modifying is a simple and cheap way to have a contemporary device for the elemental analysis of rocks and soils. In this case an user gets the multiple shortening of the analysis time, much higher accuracy and objectivity of the analysis, and does not need special photographic processing conditions.

a	b

Fig. 0 4

a - photoheads of the multichannel optical spectra registrators MORS ,

b – small segment of the emission spectrum of H in Ti registered with MORS .

Since 1996 about 60 PEC on the base of linear CCDs of Japan firms were produced, and 25 PEC were used for supplying the portable alloy analysers of the “Papuas” type.

- New designs of atomizers and vacuum chambers, power supplies, great number of electronic units and software for automated spectrometers were made (Dr. E.L.Mikhailov , V.A.Veselov, V.S.Shishkovsky, M.A.Pavlov, I.V.Kolpakov, B.N.Borisov, V.V.Godnev, G.Yu.Lopatovsky).

- The researchers of LSI Department took part in developing and design of the automatic portable analyser for metals and alloys (Dr. A.M.Livshits, Laboratory of High Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy) and of the low temperature luminescence spectrometer for detection of 3,4-benzpyrene in natural objects (Dr. B.M.Kharlamov, Laboratory of Electronic Spectra of Molecules), in modernization and automation of a number of experimental laboratory setups of the Institute.

- Prototypes of portable polyfunctional spectrometers of circular dichroism (dichrometers CDS-2) with using biosensing units (Prof.Yu.M.Evdokimov's development, IMB) were developed for high sensitive (10^-7 M and lower) determination of biologically active and toxic compounds (BATC) in blood and other physiological liquids (Dr. E.L.Mikhailov, S.F.Kolyakov, M.A.Pavlov, V.V.Kolosov, V.V.Godnev, A.M.Alexandrov, D.A.Alexandrov, G.Yu.Lopatovsky, V.M.Gusev).

Fig. 0 5

Portable dichrometer for solving bioanalytical problems with using biosensing units

on the base of DNA liquid-crystalline dispersions

Between the two centures (2000-2001) the new biotechnology and the device have drawn a serious attention of the Russian investment bank company “Leading”. Negotiations resulted in the strategic partnership of two Rus.Ac.Sci. Institutes (IMB and ISAN) and the company and in the long-term investments of money by the company to the development commercialization program via the small enterprise “Bioanalytical Technologies (BAT)”. At present 5 dichrometers manufactured in ISAN are used in the Rus.Ac.Sci. laboratories (4) and in the Research Center of Biomedical Technologies (1) for developing new types of biosensing units and techniques for BATC determination to broaden their application areas. A small series production of the dichrometers CDS-2 has been begun by the Experimental Plant of Scientific Instrumentation, Rus.Ac.Sci. (Chernogolovka, Moscow Region), and the first series of 10 devices to be made in 2003 is destined for the same research problems.

Every year LSI Department has contracts for R&D and making of optical spectral instruments with many institutes and companies including foreign ones. Stable partner relations are formed of the Department with scientific centers of Korea , China , India , with universities of the USA , Germany . The Department takes part in realization of many academic, federal and international projects together with other departments and laboratories of the Institute.

LSI Department always is one of the main participants (from the Inst. of Spectroscopy) of many international exhibitions in Moscow and abroad. The main purpose of these arrangements is studying instruments development trends, the search for new using ranges and buyers for our instruments and methods, and also attraction of foreign partners for joint promising cooperation in the field of commerce.

The most important awards, patents and articles for last 5 years

Awards

Gold medal and Diploma of the 50th World Exhibition of Innovation, Research and New Technology ( Brussels , „ Eureka “, 2001).

Grand-Prix and Diploma for the victory in the 2nd Competition of Russian Innovations (Moscow , 2003).

Patents

Yu.M.Evdokimov, S.G.Skuridin, B.A.Chernukha, E.L.Mikhailov, O.N.Kompanets, S.N.Romanov, V.V.Kolosov. “Process determining a biologically active substance in analyzed liquid and device for its implementation”. Russian Federation Patent RU2107280C1, issued March 20, 1998, filed Nov. 15, 1996.

Yu.M.Evdokimov, S.G.Skuridin, B.A.Chernukha, E.L.Mikhailov, O.N.Kompanets, S.N.Romanov, V.V.Kolosov. “Method for detecting a biologically active substance in a liquid to be analyzed and device for realizing the same”. European Patent EP881485A1, issued Dec.2, 1998, filed Nov.14, 1997.

Ju. M.Evdokimov, S.G.Skuridin, B.A.Chernukha, E.L.Mikhailov, O.N.Kompanets, S.N.Romanov, V.V.Kolosov. “Method for determination of a biologically active substance in an analyzed liquid and device for its realization”. US Patent US 6,246,470 B1, issued June 12, 2001, filed Nov. 14, 1997.

Kompanets O.N., Evdokimov Io.M., Spener F.. “Bezeichnung: Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Erfassung und Bestimmung von biologisch aktiven Substanzen”. BRD Patent Nr. 100 35 709 С2, Tag der Anmeldung: 21.07.2000 г., Deutsches Patent- Markenamt (Muenchen, den 23.05.2002).

Nesteruk I.N.. «Quartz generator stabilized on its amplitude». Russian Federation Patent RU2212091, issued September 10, 2003, filed Sept. 14, 2001.

Articles

O.N.Kompanets. New developments of optical spectral instruments in the Institute of Spectroscopy , RAS. Physics-Uspekhi, 42 (3), р. 290-292 (1999).

Lettry J., Catherall R., Focker G.J., Jonsson O.C., Kugler E., Ravn H., Tamburella C., Fedoseyev V., Mishin V.I., Huber G., Sebastian V., Koizumi M., Koster U. Recent developments of the ISOLDE laser ion source. - Rev.Sci. Instrum., v.69, No.2, p.761-763 (1998).

I.N.Nesteruk. Galvanometric scanners in optical instruments. Laser-inform, No.7, p.190 (2000).

V.N. Fedoseyev, G. Hubert, U. Koster, J. Lettry, V.I. Mishin, H. Ravn, V. Sebastian and the ISOLDE Collaboration. The ISOLDE laser ion source for exotic nuclei. Hyperfine interactions, 127, p. 409 (2000).

S.F.Kolyakov, L.V.Pyatibrat, E.L.Mikhailov, O.N.Kompanets T.I.Karu. c hanges in circular dichroism spectra of suspension of live cells exposed low intensity laser irradiation ( l =820 nm)". Rus.Ac.Sci.Doklady: Biochemistry and Biophysics ( Moscow ), 377, p.128-131 (2001).

I.N.Nesteruk . Galvanometric scanners for laser technological complexes. Laser-inform , No.15-16, p.222-223 (2001).

Yu.M.Evdokimov , O.N.Kompanets . Biosensors – break into future. Industrialist of Russia , No. 6-7/2002 (July), p.28-31.