Journal of Physical Chemistry & Biophysics
Open Access

Archaeophotonics

International Conference and Trade fair on Laser Technology

July 20-22, 2015 Orlando, Florida, USA

Surya Harikrishnan

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Phys Chem Biophys

Abstract :

Photonics-the science of generation, manipulation and detection of light- has already established itself as the science of the 21st century, with a multitude of applications in a wide range of fields. One very important and relatively less-heard-of application is to use light-based techniques for the analysis of archaeological samples. The year 2015 being the International Year of Light, this illuminating application of photonics is highly relevant especially when light throws light on one�??s past and heritage. While there are several scientific methods available for archaeological dating, very few techniques are known and applied for studies beyond dating. Photonics takes archaeological analysis one step further ahead of mere dating in it that it facilitates the compositional analysis of archaeological samples. There are spectroscopic techniques available to understand the chemical structure and bonds in the molecular species present in the sample, the fluorophores present if any and even the elemental composition up to the trace elemental level. All these aspect, clubbed with dating, will provide useful information like the mineral wealth, resources used, scientific expertise, technological advancement etc that prevailed at that time of the past. These light-based methods of analysis are extremely useful in studying artwork as well. The information on the chemical composition of old paintings is extremely useful in adopting appropriate methods of preparation and also to check forgery. A few pottery and stone and samples have been analysed here using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Raman Spectroscopy, Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) seeking information about their origin and provenance and possible the method of making. The results of these studies will be presented.

Biography :

Surya Harikrishnan, M.Sc., B.Ed. has been involved in teaching Physics at Masters Level for the last ten years. She completed a Summer Research Fellowship Programme at University of Mumbai-Department of Atomic Energy-Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE-CEBS) and worked there for a year as a Fellow. From 2010 November she has been working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Manipal University. Her research interest is in the field of Archaeophotonics. She has already given a National and an International talk related to this topic and had presented a poster at the National Laser Symposium-22. A monograph authored by her on this topic is currently under review.