Mentor: Paul Urayama, Ph.D.

What is fluorescence? Fluorescence is the process of using light as a source of excitement, the electrons in the given sample will jump from their typical ground state to a higher, excited energy state. Then, once the excitement wears off and the electrons reach ground state again, they release a photon, thus giving off fluorescence. What is spectroscopy? Spectroscopy is the study of how certain substances interact with light to measure composition, concentration, structure, and other physical properties.

Fluorescent spectroscopy is the analysis of the measurement of light emitted by a sample being tested upon using either a spectrometer or spectrophotometer. In my lab, I will be using the latter, since it can clearly identify color after absorption. Using light as a source of excitement, the electrons in the given sample will jump from their typical ground state to a higher, excited energy state. Then, once the excitement wears off and the electrons reach ground state again, they release a photon, thus giving off what we call fluorescence. Calcium ions act as intracellular messengers, making them crucial for multiple processes throughout the body, and when using an ion sensitive fluorescent probe dye such as indo-1, a dual emission calcium indicator, the presence of calcium ions can be easily detected.

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