Light Intensity Fluctuations Research Articles

Mamyshev oscillation self-starting mode-locked fiber laser based on a self-feedback amplifying sub-cavity

The Mamyshev oscillator (MO) boasts unparalleled modulation depth advantages in establishing mode-locking. However, this also significantly inhibits the self-starting of mode-locking. This Letter addresses the issue by constructing a self-feedback mechanism for regenerative oscillation. By amplifying noise cycles during the initial pumping phase to introduce periodic fluctuations in light intensity, we successfully achieve self-starting mode-locking at 1550 nm in an MO with a single gain arm structure at the pump power threshold of 76 mW. This self-starting mode-locking mechanism based on self-feedback sub-cavity amplification demonstrates excellent stability and repeatability in a single-arm MO structure. It provides what we believe to be a new approach for developing simple, reliable, and high repetition rate mode-locked lasers.

Fast stomatal kinetics in sorghum enables tight coordination with photosynthetic responses to dynamic light intensity and safeguards high water use efficiency.

In this study, we assessed 43 accessions of Sorghum from 16 countries across three continents. Our objective was to identify stomatal and photosynthetic traits that could be exploited in breeding programs to increase photosynthesis without increasing water use under dynamic light environments. Under field conditions, Sorghum crops often have limited water availability and are exposed to rapidly fluctuating light intensity, which influences both photosynthesis and stomatal behaviour. Our results highlight a tight coupling between photosynthetic rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) even under dynamic light conditions that results in steady Wi. This was due mainly to rapid stomatal responses, with the majority of Sorghum accessions responding within 5min or less. The maintenance of Ci:Ca over a large range of accessions suggests high stomatal sensitivity to changes in Ci, that could underlie the rapid gs responses and extremely close relationship between A and gs under both dynamic and steady-state conditions. Therefore, Sorghum represents a prime candidate for uncovering the elusive mechanisms that coordinate A and gs, and such information could be used to design crops with high A without incurring significant water losses and eroding Wi.

Fast photodiode arrays for high frequency fluctuation measurements of reconnecting flux ropes.

An array of compact, high-bandwidth (>200MHz) and low-cost optical photodiodes has been developed and implemented on the PHASe MApping (PHASMA) experiment. Using purpose-built electronics, an array of 16 photodetectors was constructed and used to monitor broadband (1-5MHz) fluctuations in light intensity emitted by flux ropes undergoing electron-only magnetic reconnection. These measurements reveal a swath of oscillatory behavior, including wave propagation inward toward the diffusion region at approximately the local electron Alfvén speed. Custom 3D-printed collection optics and mounting hardware allow quick reconfiguration of the array for radial or axial measurements. The electronics design is flexible enough to be used with other current-sourcing transducers, such as avalanche photodiodes; silicon photomultipliers; and infrared, x-ray, and UV photodiodes. A noise-rejecting electrical layout allows for low-noise operation close to pulsed plasma discharges. A 16-channel, 64-pixel tomographic array was constructed and initial reconstructions are presented.

Grape detection in natural environment based on improved YOLOv8 network

In the pursuit of intelligent and efficient grape picking, rapid and precise detection of grape locations serves as the fundamental cornerstone. However, amidst the natural environment, grape detection encounters various interference factors, such as fluctuating light intensity, grape leaf obstructions, and grape overlap, all of which can undermine detection accuracy. To address these challenges, this study proposes a grape detection method leveraging an enhanced YOLOv8 network, wherein the conventional CIoU is replaced with Wise-IoU to augment network precision. Additionally, an efficient multi-scale attention module is introduced to heighten the network's focus on grapes. To expedite detection, the original network backbone is substituted with the CloFormer_xxs network. The collected grape images undergo preprocessing to ensure image quality, forming the basis of the dataset. Furthermore, the dataset is augmented using disadvantages-enhance, a novel data enhancement mode, thereby enhancing the robustness and generalization of network. The comprehensive comparison and ablation experiments are conducted to demonstrate the advantageous effects of the proposed modules on the network. Subsequently, the improved network's superiority in grape detection is validated through comparative analyses with other networks, showcasing superior accuracy and faster detection speeds. The network achieves a remarkable accuracy of 92.1%, average accuracy of 94.7%, with preprocessing and post-processing times of 15ms and 0.8ms, respectively. Consequently, the enhanced network presented in this study offers a viable solution for facilitating intelligent and efficient grape picking operations.

Mild osmotic stress offers photoprotection in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under high light

The exposure of autotrophs to high light intensities significantly impacts their photosynthetic performance. When combined with unpredictable climate changes, the lethality of these effects is exacerbated and, often surpassing the organisms' threshold for tolerance. In this regard, our study centres on examining the mitigating effects of mild osmotic stress induced by 2% Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) in conjunction with high-light conditions, using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model system. Cells were cultivated under low PEG-induced osmotic stress at various light intensities, and their responses were analyzed through biochemical and biophysical approaches. Remarkably, cells grown under lower PEG concentrations exhibited superior growth, increased biomass, and enhanced photosynthetic efficiency under high light compared to non-PEG-treated cells. Surprisingly, their non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) levels were lower, indicating the operation of a distinct photoprotective mechanism in PEG-grown samples. The PEG-grown cells demonstrated higher chlorophyll content but lower carotenoid content, supporting the NPQ data. Circular dichroism analysis suggested that the macro-organization of super-complexes was minimally disrupted in PEG-grown samples, even under high light. This was further supported by Blue native PAGE, which showed greater stability of the super-complexes in PEG-grown cells, implying heightened stability in pigment-protein interactions. Immunoblot analysis revealed minimal differences in core reaction center proteins between PEG-grown and non-PEG cells. Notably, this protective mechanism was absent in the cell wall-deficient mutant CC503. We propose that the partial photoprotection observed is attributed to the PEG shielding the cell wall. This result holds promise for enhancing algal biomass production under natural environmental conditions influenced by fluctuating light intensity.

Nonphotochemical quenching kinetics GWAS in sorghum identifies genes that may play conserved roles in maize and Arabidopsis thaliana photoprotection.

Photosynthetic organisms must cope with rapid fluctuations in light intensity. Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) enables the dissipation of excess light energy as heat under high light conditions, whereas its relaxation under low light maximizes photosynthetic productivity. We quantified variation in NPQ kinetics across a large sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) association panel in four environments, uncovering significant genetic control for NPQ. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) confidently identified three unique regions in the sorghum genome associated with NPQ and suggestive associations in an additional 61 regions. We detected strong signals from the sorghum ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana Suppressor Of Variegation 3 (SVR3) involved in plastid-nucleus signaling. By integrating GWAS results for NPQ across maize (Zea mays) and sorghum-association panels, we identified a second gene, Non-yellowing 1 (NYE1), originally studied by Gregor Mendel in pea (Pisum sativum) and involved in the degradation of photosynthetic pigments in light-harvesting complexes. Analysis of nye1 insertion alleles in A. thaliana confirmed the effect of this gene on NPQ kinetics in eudicots. We extended our comparative genomics GWAS framework across the entire maize and sorghum genomes, identifying four additional loci involved in NPQ kinetics. These results provide a baseline for increasing the accuracy and speed of candidate gene identification for GWAS in species with high linkage disequilibrium.

Pilot study on optimizing pressure for standardized capillary refill time measurement

PurposeCapillary Refill Time (CRT) measurement has gained increasing attention in the field of sepsis and septic shock. Recognizing pressure as a fundamental determinant in CRT measurement is crucial for establishing a standardized CRT measurement procedure. In this preliminary study, we elucidated the optimal pressing strength for CRT measurement by analyzing the CRTs measured under varying pressures. MethodSeventeen healthy individuals were enlisted to undergo CRT tests on their fingertips at various pressure levels. The applied force was initiated at 0.5N and incrementally increased by 0.5N until it reached 10.5N. An integrated Photoplethysmography (PPG) device was employed to capture fluctuations in light intensity. The CRT was automatically derived from the PPG signals via a specialized algorithm. The study included correlation assessment and reliability evaluation. Box plot and Bland-Altman plot were used to visualize the impact of pressure levels on CRTs. ResultsA dataset of 1414 CRTs across 21 pressures showed significant differences (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.0001), highlighting the impact of pressure on CRT. CRT values between 4.5N and 10.5N pressures varied less, with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.499 indicating moderate consistency. Notably, CRTs at 10N and 10.5N pressures revealed a high ICC of 0.790, suggesting strong agreement. ConclusionA pressure range of 4.5N–10.5N is recommended for stable CRT measurements, with 10.0N–10.5N providing optimal consistency and reliability.

Load Frequency Control Strategy of Interconnected Power System Based on Tube DMPC

Solar thermal power generation shares technical characteristics with traditional thermal power generation. This enables rapid adjustment of turbine generator output to meet the demands of the power grid load for frequency modulation. However, fluctuations in light intensity lead to variations in interconnected power system parameters, posing challenges for load frequency control (LFC). In this study, we propose a Robust Distributed Model Predictive Control (RDMPC) method. This method achieves system trajectory tracking by solving the nominal system optimization problem. It also flexibly adjusts the weights of different Tube models to determine the optimal control law using the standard Tube online combination with various gain values. Additionally, we incorporate the states of adjacent areas into the feedback control law to achieve effective coordination between these areas. Using MATLAB/Simulink, we simulated the power system in two areas. Compared to standard Tube DMPC, our proposed algorithm effectively mitigates the impact of light intensity, enhances adjustment speed, reduces frequency fluctuation, and demonstrates superior control effectiveness.

A rapid aureochrome opto-switch enables diatom acclimation to dynamic light

Diatoms often outnumber other eukaryotic algae in the oceans, especially in coastal environments characterized by frequent fluctuations in light intensity. The identities and operational mechanisms of regulatory factors governing diatom acclimation to high light stress remain largely elusive. Here, we identified the AUREO1c protein from the coastal diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum as a crucial regulator of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), a photoprotective mechanism that dissipates excess energy as heat. AUREO1c detects light stress using a light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) domain and directly activates the expression of target genes, including LI818 genes that encode NPQ effector proteins, via its bZIP DNA-binding domain. In comparison to a kinase-mediated pathway reported in the freshwater green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the AUREO1c pathway exhibits a faster response and enables accumulation of LI818 transcript and protein levels to comparable degrees between continuous high-light and fluctuating-light treatments. We propose that the AUREO1c-LI818 pathway contributes to the resilience of diatoms under dynamic light conditions.

Cyclic Electron Flow Alleviates the Stress of Light Fluctuation on Soybean Photosynthesis

Crops often face light intensity fluctuations in natural settings. Intercropping is widely used to improve crop yield and resource utilization worldwide, but crops suffer from high-frequency and high-intensity light fluctuations due to mutual crop influence. Soybean is an important legume crop and is often intercropped with other crops, but little is known about soybean’s response to light fluctuation environments. Herein, three fluctuation frequencies (1, 10, and 20 min/cycle) were used to analyze soybean photosynthesis responses by measuring leaf growth, chlorophyll content, gas exchange, and electron transfer. Our data revealed that faster fluctuation frequencies led to the stronger suppression of soybean morphology and photosynthesis, with significant reductions of 31.31% and 21.58%, respectively. Damage to photosystems II (PSII) and I (PSI) also intensified, with significant decreases of 18.52% and 18.38% in their effective quantum yields Y(II) and Y(I). Additionally, increased fluctuation frequency exacerbated the consumption of the plastoquinone pool and linear electron flow but enhanced the cyclic electron flow across the thylakoid membrane and, thus, increased heat dissipation in PSII. Our findings indicate that an increased fluctuation frequency inflicted more severe damage on the soybean photosynthesis system. However, PSI-enhanced CEF improved NPQ and coordinated photoprotection to some extent.

Inverse fitting direct absorption spectroscopy Technology: Simplified implementation and enhanced performance

The conventional direct absorption spectroscopy (DAS) technique has been plagued by the difficulty of obtaining accurate baseline, which is caused by photoelectric drift and the absence of non-absorbing regions in the transmitted light intensity signal. An inverse fitting direct absorption spectroscopy (IF-DAS) technique has been proposed to address this difficulty. The technique leverages the intrinsic nonlinear intensity response of tunable lasers to achieve baseline-free concentration measurements. It offers the advantages of being straightforward to implement, baseline-free, calibration-free, and resistant to photoelectric signal drift. Its efficacy was validated using an example under ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions. The performance of the IF-DAS technique was compared with that of the conventional DAS technique through standard experimental tests. The results demonstrate that the IF-DAS technique is less susceptible to fluctuations in light intensity, exhibits superior linearity and accuracy, with an R2 value of 0.99986 and an overall error of less than 2%. This technique shows potential for application in harsh scenarios such as reactive flow fields and long-term engineering applications.

Adaptive light intensity aided wavelength tuning for phase‐shifting interferometric measurement system

AbstractIn phase‐shifting interferometric measurement system, using wavelength‐tuned phase‐shifting technology to measure optical surface can improve vibration errors. However, the wavelength‐tuned phase‐shifting interferometry is greatly challenged by nonlinear distortion between wavelength‐tuned light intensity and voltage modulation, which has a certain impact on phase calculation accuracy. To address this issue, an adaptive light intensity‐aided interferometric measurement scheme is proposed in this study. To improve the adjustment time of voltage response, an improved fuzzy single‐neuron adaptive proportional differential integral constant amplitude control algorithm is built. By exploiting the online detection and feedback control of light intensity, the stable output of light intensity is integrated into phase‐shifting measurement system. Experiment results verify that the improvement of light intensity fluctuation range, root mean square, and peak‐to‐valley measurement repeatability can be achieved with the proposed scheme.

Photoluminescence measurement of ruby excited by duty ratio-controlled pulse light-emitting diodes (LED) light source.

Photoluminescence (PL) spectra from ruby were obtained using a highly stable LED light source, employing pulse width modulation technique for excitation. The temporal variation in PL intensity caused by the increasing temperature of the LED used for excitation can be mitigated by adjusting the duty ratio (%) of the pulsed LED light to below 10% for cooling the LED. Stable PL spectra measurements were achieved with a duty ratio of less than 10% using a duty ratio-controlled pulsed LED light source, as temperature fluctuations in LED light intensity are minimized at duty ratios less than 10%. Furthermore, fluctuations in the measured PL intensity were diminished by setting the frequency of the pulsed LED light source to greater than 1kHz. This method enables more reliable, cost-effective, and stable PL measurements for material characterization in semiconductors, photonics, and nanotechnology.

Fluctuations in Refracted Star Signals Caused by the Stratospheric Internal Gravity Waves

The application of starlight refraction navigation to spacecraft and space weapons is a significant development. However, the irregular stratospheric atmosphere can cause fluctuations in relative light intensity and refraction angles of refracted stars, which need to be analyzed to provide guidance for system design and simulation verification. The internal gravity wave (IGW) is an important component of the irregular atmosphere. Based on the Rytov approximation, closed-form approximations were obtained, which can more intuitively reveal the relationship between the IGW parameters and the star signals’ statistical characteristics. From the GOMOS observations, the influence of the stratosphere from 25 km to 35 km on the fluctuations in relative intensity and refraction angles was analyzed in this study. As the height increased, the fluctuations in starlight signals gradually weakened. Compared with the numerical solution, the error of the closed-form approximations for relative intensity fluctuations was no more than 10%, and the error for refraction angle fluctuations was 1.0%. Compared with the measured data, the error of the closed-form approximations for relative intensity was 6.3%. The proposed approximations better reflect the relationship between IGW parameters and star signal fluctuations compared to the existing approximation. The research in this article can provide a reference for application assessment based on starlight refraction navigation.

A universal dual-channel ratiometric photoelectrochemical sensing platform with integrated ionic liquid-sensitized In2S3@BiOBr0.8I0.2/PEDOT photoanode and Cu@Cu2O photocathode

The generation, separation and interfacial reaction of photogenerated carriers are crucial to realize efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) detection. However, fast electron-hole recombination and slow interfacial reaction dynamics remain challenges for constructing advanced PEC platforms. Herein, ionic liquids (i.e. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm]BF4) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIm]PF6)) are introduced as morphology modulator and supporting electrolyte into the synthesis of Cu@Cu2O and the heterogeneous combination of In2S3@BiOBr0.8I0.2 with electrochemically polymerized 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), for constructing a PEC sensing platform. As their unique microstructure, the formed p-n junction and the doped ionic liquids benefit the charge separation/transfer, the resulted [BMIm]BF4 − In2S3@BiOBr0.8I0.2/ [BMIm]PF6 − PEDOT/AuNPs (i.e. Au nanoparticles) photoanode material and [BMIm]PF6 − Cu@Cu2O photocathode material show enhanced interfacial reaction dynamics and photo-conversion efficiency. In order to improve the accuracy and reliability of PEC detection, the potentially responsive photocathode and photoanode materials are integrated on the same indium tin oxide electrode for potential-resolved two-channel ratiometric PEC detection. By tuning the bias voltage, the cathode and anode currents can be well distinguished, and dual signals can be obtained during a single detection run and used as reference for each other. Then, a biometric sensing platform for vascular endothelial growth factor and epithelial cell adhesion factor is constructed by combining with aptamers and it demonstrates excellent analytical performance. Compared with the traditional PEC biosensors, the platform can effectively eliminate the detection errors caused by the fluctuation of excitation light intensity and preparation conditions. In addition, the platform is universal, by changing the recognition element, it can be applied to the detection of a variety of biomarkers.

Dynamic budget analysis of multiple parameters in a lithography system based on the superposition of light intensity fluctuations.

Lithography is one of the most critical processes in the manufacturing of micro- and nano-devices. As device critical dimensions continue to shrink, variations in system parameters during the lithography process often result in heavy deviations from the intended targets, making control of these parameters crucial to ensure that lithography results meet process requirements. Gaining a thorough comprehension of how various parameters interact and contribute to lithography errors is significant, and it is equally important to offer precise suggestions for managing these parameters in extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) scanners. This paper analyzes the key physical factors in the light source, illumination system and projection system of EUVL scanners and proposes what we believe to be a new methodology of budget analysis utilizing the superposition of light intensity fluctuations. Then the corresponding characteristics of light intensity fluctuations are analyzed when these parameters have fluctuated through theoretical formula derivation. A mapping model was established between parameter fluctuations and imaging outcomes through the distribution of light intensity. The yield requirements for critical dimension and pattern shift in EUVL are used to determine the exact budget range for each parameter in the proposed methodology. By controlling the parameters according to the budget analysis method proposed in this paper, the deviation between the experimental results from the yield requirements is no more than 0.1% in average. This approach allows for dynamic updating of the control range of relevant parameters based on their distinct characteristics to accommodate the unique fingerprints of various EUVL scanners. Furthermore, based on this adaptive budget range of multiple parameters, it can offer distinct direction for the development of lithography equipment or serve as a clear indication for parameter monitoring.

Quantification and suppression of optical non-orthogonality and light intensity noise in all-optical hot atomic sensing systems

All-optical hot atomic sensing systems such as optical pumping magnetometers (OPM) and comagnetometers, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) magnetometers and gyroscopes, have the ability to sense magnetic field, anomalous field and inertial rotation, thus having a wide potential for applications in precision measurement, fundamental physics research and inertial navigation. System noise limits the minimum value of the signal that can be measured and there is coupling effect between the noises. Therefore, the quantification and suppression of various noise are challenging and should be investigated. As one of the major noises, the light intensity fluctuation of the probe light and the pump light affects the sensitivity of the all-optical hot atomic sensing systems. However, there has been no in-depth research on the quantification of the light intensity noise. In this paper, a method of measuring the light intensity noise is proposed, which can be applied to kinds of all-optical hot atomic sensing systems. For verification, the effects of probe and pump light intensity fluctuations on system noise are simulated and experimentally verified in a spin exchange relaxation free (SERF) comagnetometer. Besides, it is found that the optical non-orthogonality amplifies the probe light intensity noise by more than 3.4 times and a quantification method of optical non-orthogonality is proposed. Finally, a suppression method of the light intensity noise is presented by suppressing the optical non-orthogonality and the noise is suppressed by 59%. A universal light intensity noise quantification method is proposed for all-optical hot atomic sensing systems, and a light intensity noise suppression method is proposed for SERF comagnetometers, which can be applied to the suppression of noises coupled with atomic polarization.

Mechanistic simulations of kelp populations in a dynamic landscape of light, temperature, and winter storms

Kelp forests are widely distributed across the coastal ocean, support high levels of biodiversity and primary productivity, and underpin a range of ecosystem services. Laminaria hyperborea is a forest-forming kelp species in the Northeast Atlantic that alters the local environment, providing biogenic structure for a diversity of associated organisms. Populations are strongly affected by light availability, temperature, and storm-related disturbance. We constructed a stage-based, two-season model of L. hyperborea populations along the coast of Great Britain and Ireland to predict biomass across a range of depths, drawing on extensive surveys and data from the literature. Population dynamics were driven by wave exposure, historic winter storm intensity, and simulated interannual variation in temperature and depth-attenuated light intensity, with density-dependent competition for light and space. High biomass was predicted in shallow depths across the domain on suitable substrate, with populations extending deeper in the north and west where light penetration was greater. Detritus production was heavily skewed across years, particularly at greater depths, with 10 % of years comprising more than 50 % of detritus on average below 10 m depth. Annual fluctuations in light and storm intensity produced opposing population oscillations with a ∼6-year period persisting for up to a decade but diminishing sharply with depth. Interannual variation in temperature had minimal impact. Biomass was most sensitive to survival and settlement rates, with negligible sensitivity to individual growth rates. This model highlights the need for an improved understanding of canopy and subcanopy mortality, particularly regarding increasingly frequent heatwaves. Estimations of kelp forest contributions to carbon sequestration should consider the high variability among years or risk underestimating the potential value of kelp forests. Process-based simulations of populations with realistic spatiotemporal environmental variability are a valuable approach to forecasting biotic responses to an increasingly extreme climate.

Photosynthetic and transcriptome responses to fluctuating light in Arabidopsis thylakoid ion transport triple mutant.

Fluctuating light intensity challenges fluent photosynthetic electron transport in plants, inducing photoprotection while diminishing carbon assimilation and growth, and also influencing photosynthetic signaling for regulation of gene expression. Here, we employed in vivo chlorophyll-a fluorescence and P700 difference absorption measurements to demonstrate the enhancement of photoprotective energy dissipation of both photosystems in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana after 6 h exposure to fluctuating light as compared with constant light conditions. This acclimation response to fluctuating light was hampered in a triple mutant lacking the thylakoid ion transport proteins KEA3, VCCN1, and CLCe, leading to photoinhibition of photosystem I. Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulation of genes involved in biotic stress and defense responses in both genotypes after exposure to fluctuating as compared with constant light, yet these responses were demonstrated to be largely upregulated in triple mutant already under constant light conditions compared with wild type. The current study illustrates the rapid acclimation of plants to fluctuating light, including photosynthetic, transcriptomic, and metabolic adjustments, and highlights the connection among thylakoid ion transport, photosynthetic energy balance, and cell signaling.

LHCF15 facilitates the absorption of longer wavelength light and promotes growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum under red light

Diatoms are important primary producers on the Earth and are widely distributed, partially because of their successful adaptation to habitats characterized by sharp fluctuations in light intensity and light quality. Monochromatic red light reportedly induces red shifts of absorption and fluorescence spectra in diatoms; however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this study, LHCF15, one of light-harvesting protein of the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, was knocked out using CRISPR-Cas9. The f15-KO strain showed different responses to monochromatic red light. Quantitatively PCR and western blot results suggested that in the wild type, LHCF15 expression was negligible under blue and control light; however, remarkably upregulated expression and accumulation of LHCF15 in large quantities was observed under monochromatic red light, accompanied by an evident red shift of the fluorescence spectrum. These phenomena were absent in the f15-KO strain but were restored in the complemented strain. Compared the amino acid sequences with other LHCf and LHCr, the His was replaced by Asn73 in the helix B of LHCF15, which may be the main cause of the red shift after the accumulation of LHCF15. Growth results showed that the knockout of LHCF15 had no significant effect on growth under blue and control light but significantly hindered growth under monochromatic red light (with a peak at 630 nm). When cultured under longer wavelength light with a peak at 682 nm, growth of f15-KO strains completely ceased; however, the wild type still could grow at low rate. Our results convincingly demonstrate that LHCF15 protein plays a key role in the adaptation of diatoms to longer wavelength light conditions.