S. Daehne – författare

This text opens up new avenues in the development of highly sensitive and specific fluorometric and sensor methods based on the NIR laser techniques, allowing detection down to the single molecule level. Most important are NIR laser diodes in combination with NIR dyes, which facilitates the automation and miniaturization of reliable UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopic and immunoassay "in situ" measurements. This permits, for example, analyses of pH values, metal ions, pollutants, membranes, proteins, living cells and the DNA genetic code. Furthermore, the book describes applications of NIR dyes in high technology areas, such as photochemistry, molecular biology, clinical chemistry, tumour therapy, laser physics, nonlinear optics, laser sensitive optical recording techniques, optical discs, compact discs, laser printers, optical cards, photoengraving, transparent bar coding, forgery prevention, photoresists, spectrally-sensitized photographic materials, thermal transfer printing, and heat-shielding materials. The text represents a compilation of challenging information for scientists and engineers interested in high technology developments and applications.

This book summarizes the results of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Syntheses, Optical Properties, and Applications of Near-Infrared (NIR) Dyes in High Technology Fields" held at Trest (Czech Republic) from September 24 to 27, 1997. It was attended by 52 scientists from 16 countries, among them 18 participants from 8 Eastern-Europe. The Workshop has been stimulated by the great progress that has been made in utilizing NIR dyes in high technology areas. This has been triggered by the availability of reliable. vel)' small, and inexpensive laser diodes emitting in the NIR region which raise the analytical detection limits by several orders of magnitude, allow time-resolved measurements for temporal discrimination between spectrally similar species, and make possible miniaturization as well as remote sensing through space and by fiber optical techniques. Furthermore, NIR dyes proved to be vel)' important in other high technology fields such as laser physics, optical recording techniques, nonlinear optics, biochemistty and medicine.