I need to simulate the optical properties of a biomaterial, namely DNA, in COMSOL. Basically I need to simulate the IR absorption spectrum of a cylinder filled with a 'concentration' of DNA. I am not sure the best way to do this and what data I would need about the biomaterial.
I know the basics of simulating optical spectra in COMSOL. I've got ports for the light and I know how to build the model and get results. My question is in how I would simulate a biomaterial's optical properties specifically.
Any advice is very much appreciated, thank you!
What you need is the dielectric function or complex index of refraction function for DNA. If you have to model a mixture of DNA with something else, you certainly also need the corresponding dielectric function of this something. Depending on the something, you need to apply mixing formulas. See e.g. Article Beyond Beer's Law: Spectral Mixing Rules
and references therein.
Dr. Thomas Mayerhöfer, thank you ver much for your reply. I will not be mixing the DNA with anything, just changing its concentration. Do you know if there is a "database" for the the index of refraction or other optical properties for DNA? I just do not know where to get this type of information.
Alternatively, if I know what the absorption/transmission/CD spectrum looks like, is there any way to work backwards and calculate the optical properties to put in the simulation?
Carol Mikheal my pleasure! When you decrease the concentration then you have to mix DNA with something (or dissolve it) - even if you use vacuum as second medium (the larger the difference in terms of dielectric function, the larger the mixing effect). Unfortunately I cannot help you with optical data with regard to DNA. But from a transmission or ATR spectrum you can obtain the dielectric / index of refraction function via a Dispersion or Kramers-Kronig analysis.
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