Modulation of light localization in the iridophores of the deep-sea highlight hatchetfish Sternoptyx pseudobscura under magnetic field

Efficient light control by certain tissue in bioluminescent fish offers potential for new optical devices. In the world’s deep-seas, there are numerous fish species with such bioluminescence yet to be discovered. One such species, the deep-sea highlight hatchetfish Sternoptyx pseudobscura, which was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIP advances 2017-05, Vol.7 (5), p.056710-056710-6
Main Authors: Iwasaka, M., Ohtsuka, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioluminescence
Deep sea
Deep sea environments
Diamagnetism
Fish
Incident light
Light
Light reflection
Localization
Magnetic fields
Multilayers
Platelets
Skin
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Summary:Efficient light control by certain tissue in bioluminescent fish offers potential for new optical devices. In the world’s deep-seas, there are numerous fish species with such bioluminescence yet to be discovered. One such species, the deep-sea highlight hatchetfish Sternoptyx pseudobscura, which was found at depths of ca. 800–900 m in the neighboring waters off the Amami Islands, Japan, exhibits a new form of light-reflection produced in guanine crystal platelets present in the skin Strongly reflecting platelets in the dorsal and anterior-ventral region enhance its reflection in the presence of magnetic fields either in parallel or perpendicular to the incident light. A diamagnetic ordering of the platelet alignment is suggested in producing a small angular rotation of the platelets when placed in a magnetic field. The synchronized ordering of these platelets in parallel possibly modulates the localization of light in a multilayer structure inside the iridophore. The developed method should be useful for investigating the bio-ethological meaning of guanine crystal platelet arrangements in the deep sea fish reflecting light.
ISSN:2158-3226
2158-3226
DOI:10.1063/1.4974977