High-Resolution THz Spectroscopy To Measure Strong THz Absorption Signatures of Si-RNA in Solution

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2011

Identifier/URL

40253391 (Pure); 79952579933 (QABO)

Abstract

Molecular spectroscopy of aqueous solutions has been more challenging in the THz region than at near-infrared wavelengths for several reasons, such as the strong absorption by liquid water. We have measured high-absorbance ( ≈ 0.8) and high-Q ( ≈ 90) resonant signatures around 1.0 THz from linear small-interfering double-stranded RNA molecules suspended in buffer solution in nanofluidic channels. The measurement instrument is a coherent photomixing transceiver. A physical model is developed to explain the measurements based on high-order flexural resonances of the entire double-strand with polar coupling to the THz radiation via the ionized phosphate groups. The predicted resonant frequencies are within 2% of experiment for the three double-strands studied (15, 19, and 23 base pairs), supporting the conclusion that each si-RNA molecule has a unique THz resonant frequency.

DOI

10.1007/978-94-007-0769-6_3

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