A shape-anisotropic reflective polarizer in a stomatopod crustacean.

Scientific Reports
Thomas M JordanN W Roberts

Abstract

Many biophotonic structures have their spectral properties of reflection 'tuned' using the (zeroth-order) Bragg criteria for phase constructive interference. This is associated with a periodicity, or distribution of periodicities, parallel to the direction of illumination. The polarization properties of these reflections are, however, typically constrained by the dimensional symmetry and intrinsic dielectric properties of the biological materials. Here we report a linearly polarizing reflector in a stomatopod crustacean that consists of 6-8 layers of hollow, ovoid vesicles with principal axes of ~550 nm, ~250 nm and ~150 nm. The reflection of unpolarized normally incident light is blue/green in colour with maximum reflectance wavelength of 520 nm and a degree of polarization greater than 0.6 over most of the visible spectrum. We demonstrate that the polarizing reflection can be explained by a resonant coupling with the first-order, in-plane, Bragg harmonics. These harmonics are associated with a distribution of periodicities perpendicular to the direction of illumination, and, due to the shape-anisotropy of the vesicles, are different for each linear polarization mode. This control and tuning of the polarization of the reflecti...Continue Reading

References

Jun 15, 1971·Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Containing Papers of a Biological Character·E J Denton, M F Land
Jan 1, 1972·Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology·M F Land
Aug 15, 2003·Nature·Pete Vukusic, J Roy Sambles
Dec 20, 2003·Nature·Andrew R ParkerNatalia Martini
Oct 10, 2006·Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics·Alessandra BalestreriMario Agio
Apr 6, 2007·Optics Letters·Asma Al-QasimiEmil Wolf
Nov 5, 2008·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Leon PoladianMaryanne C J Large
Apr 19, 2004·Optics Express·Virginie LousseShanhui Fan
Aug 1, 2003·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Richard O Prum, Rodolfo H Torres
Aug 27, 2011·Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics·B Q DongJ Zi
Apr 12, 2012·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Chad M Eliason, Matthew D Shawkey
May 23, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Haiwei YinEli Yablonovitch
Nov 20, 2012·Nature Photonics·T M JordanN W Roberts
Oct 4, 2013·Advanced Materials·Lei ShiJian Zi
Oct 24, 2014·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·T M JordanN W Roberts

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 6, 2017·Optics Express·Xiao HuangXianjing Zhang
Dec 1, 2017·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·A B TibbsN W Roberts
Aug 5, 2017·Science·Innes C CuthillTim Caro
Aug 16, 2018·Current Zoology·Thomas W Cronin, UNKNOWN Handling editor: Becky Fuller
Feb 9, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·N Justin MarshallMartin J How
May 24, 2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Kathryn D FellerNicholas W Roberts
Mar 29, 2018·Die Naturwissenschaften·James J FosterNicholas W Roberts

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
dissection
coherent Bragg scattering

Software Mentioned

Image J
MATLAB

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.