Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique

Observing objects hidden behind scattering layers is a problem of general interest for biomedical applications, or in aerial, terrestrial and naval transport control and security. In optics, an opaque layer is such that each source point of the object of interest gives rise to a speckle figure, which spreads out over the entire field of view, making the source points non-localizable. We have shown, theoretically and experimentally, that it is possible to measure the diffusion coefficient of micrometric fluorescent beads hidden behind a totally scattering layer.

Visualizing bone tissue at the nanoscale could provide new cues to better better understand diseases such as osteoporosis and arthritis. It is precisely at that scale that the most fundamental mechanisms take place, which ultimately determine the mechanical properties of bone (elasticity, fragility, toughness) and calcium homeostasis, crucial for numerous physiological processes.

Leukocytes have a ubiquitous capacity to migrate on or in solid matrices and with or without adhesion, which is instrumental to fight infections. The precise mechanisms sustaining migration remain, however, arguable. It is for instance widely accepted that leukocytes cannot crawl on two-dimensional substrates without adhesion. In contrast, we showed that human lymphocytes swim on nonadherent two-dimensional substrates and in suspension.