Atomic Physics Group - Prof. Raymond O'Neill

The main line of research is applications of near-infrared (NIR) light for biomedical diagnostics. The interrogation of biological tissue with NIR light (600-1000 nm) allows non-invasive monitoring of biochemical processes. Optical techniques are based on measuring intrinsic activity-related changes in tissue reflectance and scattering which arise from functional physiological changes; for example, changes in the absorption of compounds such as oxy- and deoxyhaemoglobin and cytochrome oxidase allow measures of metabolic activity to be made. This is the basis of in vivo near-infrared spectroscopy (ivNIRS). We are currently working on techniques to recover image information from diffusely scattered light. We are also investigating techniques to measure optical analogues of electrical signals that are commonly used in brain imaging and nerve conduction studies. Interest in these techniques has rapidly expanded over the last decade as increasingly non-invasive, non-ionising, safe techniques have been sought for clinical applications.

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Dr. Raymond O'Neill