Synchrotron-based biological microspectroscopy: From the mid-infrared through the far-infrared regimes

Infrared radiation from synchrotron storage rings serves as a high-brightness source for diffraction-limited microspectroscopy in both the mid- and far-infrared spectral ranges. Mid-infrared absorption, due to local vibrational modes within complex molecules, is shown to be sensitive to small chemical changes associated with certain diseases. Farinfrared modes are believed to result from the folding or twisting of larger, more complex molecules. The ability for the synchrotron source to perform microscopy at a frequency of 1 THz is demonstrated.