A step towards the electrophotonic nose: integrating 1D photonic crystals with organic light‐emitting diodes and photodetectors

An innovative integrated sensing platform for the detection of various chemical analytes via translating the photonic stop‐band shift of a one‐dimensional photonic crystal (PC) into an electrical current change is proposed. The miniaturized sensing platform features an organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) as a light source and an organic photodetector (OPD) as a light sensor and allows for the detection of ethanol vapor concentrations down to ≈ 10 parts per million (ppm) in nitrogen, which corresponds to a stop‐band shift of ≈ 27 pm. The resolution of the proposed platform exceeds the capabilities of most commercial spectrometers and by far the human eye, while, at the same time, such a sensor is less expensive and less power consuming than a spectrometer. The presented setup is generic and can detect optical changes in the transmission of PCs, which can be induced by both vapor adsorption or by a liquid analyte, as demonstrated with a microfluidic setup.     

Integrated fluorescence sensor based on ring‐shaped organic photodiodes

We demonstrate a novel sensor type, which is based on the monolithic integration of luminescent optical sensor spots together with ring‐shaped thin‐film organic photodiodes on one substrate. The organic photodiodes serve as integrated fluorescence detectors, simplifying the detection system by minimizing the number of required optical components. The proposed concept enables filter‐less discrimination between excitation light and generated fluorescence light. The functionality of the concept is demonstrated by an integrated oxygen sensor, exhibiting excellent performance. The sensor spots are excited by an assembled organic light emitting diode. The integrated optical sensor platform is suitable for the parallel detection of multiple parameters. Sensor schemes for the analytical parameters carbon dioxide, temperature and ammonia, are proposed.

     

Integrated Si‐based nanoplasmonic sensor with phase‐sensitive angular interrogation

This work is related to the development of an integrated Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor on silicon platform. The optical properties of metallic nanogratings fabricated on the semiconductor structure allow direct plasmonic detection in transmission mode. Specially designed angular interrogation method provides a periodic signal with phase dependent on the conditions of surface plasmon excitation. Proposed technique leads to sensitivity better than 10^?6 RIU for conventional SPR Kretschmann configuration and was tested on the integrated Si‐based nanoplasmonic chip. Developed concept is promising for low‐cost mono and multi ‐sensing applications by portable or stationary platforms.     

Integrated optics ring-resonator sensors for protein detection

Using an integrated optics ring-resonator biosensor, we have demonstrated the detection of protein in low concentrations. We detected 0.3 nM of avidin in a buffered saline solution; the calculated detection limit is 0.1 nM (6.8 ng/ml) for avidin, which compares favorably with those of other optical protein detection techniques. Further improvement is possible. Our ring resonator utilizes Si(x)N(y)/SiO2 waveguides, which, owing to evanescent field interaction, change the effective refractive index when target molecules are immobilized on their surfaces. The selectivity of the sensor depends on the biotin surface coating, which causes the specific binding and immobilization of avidin.     

Glass‐embedded silver nanoparticle patterns by masked ion‐exchange process for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering

Glass‐embedded silver nanoparticle patterns were fabricated by masked silver–sodium ion‐exchange process followed by etching to reveal the particles for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The intensity of the enhanced Raman signal is comparable to that of the fluorescence, and the detection limit of 1 nM for Rhodamine 6G has been achieved. Raman images at different etching depths and corresponding morphological images are compared to find optimal SERS signal. Our results demonstrate that silver nanoparticle patterns embedded in glass can be used as SERS‐active substrates. Nanoparticles can be formed in a glass of high optical quality and have potential to be integrated with optical waveguides for a sensor chip. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hollow-core photonic crystal fiber based multifunctional optical system for trapping, position sensing, and detection of fluorescent particles

We demonstrate a novel multifunctional optical system that is capable of trapping, imaging, position sensing, and fluorescence detection of micrometer-sized fluorescent test particles using hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF). This multifunctional optical system for trapping, position sensing, and fluorescent detection is designed such that a near-IR laser light is used to create an optical trap across a liquid-filled HC-PCF, and a 473 nm laser is employed as a source for fluorescence excitation. This proposed system and the obtained results are expected to significantly enable an efficient integrated trapping platform employing HC-PCF for diagnostic biomedical applications.     

Polarization management for silicon photonic integrated circuits

Polarization management is very important for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and their applications. Due to geometrical anisotropy and fabrication inaccuracies, the characteristics of the guided transverse‐electrical (TE) and transverse‐magnetic (TM) modes are generally different. Polarization‐dependent dispersion and polarization‐dependent loss are such manifestations in PICs. These issues become more severe in high index contrast structures such as nanophotonic waveguides made of silicon‐on‐insulator (SOI), which has been regarded as a good platform for optical interconnects because of the compatibility with CMOS processing. Recently, polarization division multiplexing (PDM) with coherent detection using silicon photonics has also attracted much attention. This trend further highlights the importance of polarization management in silicon PICs. The authors review their work on polarization management for silicon PICs using the polarization independence and polarization diversity methods. Polarization issues and solutions in PICs made of SOI nanowires and ridge waveguides are discussed.     

Characterization of a photonic strain sensor in silicon-on-insulator technology

Recently there has been growing interest in sensing by means of optical microring resonators in photonic integrated circuits that are fabricated in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. Taillaert et al. [Proc. SPIE 6619, 661914 (2007)] proposed the use of a silicon-waveguide-based ring resonator as a strain gauge. However, the strong lateral confinement of the light in SOI waveguides and its corresponding modal dispersion where not taken into account. We present a theoretical understanding, as well as experimental results, of strain applied on waveguide-based microresonators, and find that the following effects play important roles: elongation of the racetrack length, modal dispersion of the waveguide, and the strain-induced change in effective refractive index.     

Spectrally selective organic photodiodes

We report on the fabrication of spectrally selective organic photodiodes (OPDs) and present a green sensitive OPD, whose spectral response peaks in the green region between 470 nm and 560 nm, as well as a red sensitive OPD whose spectral response peaks in the red region between 610 nm to 720 nm. We show that the spectral sensitivity of OPDs can be tuned by either choosing organic semiconductors with the appropriate photoresponse or by utilizing adequate device architectures with integrated optical filters. The results demonstrate the great flexibility of organic semiconductor materials. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Sensing system with Michelson-type fiber optical interferometer based on single FBG reflector

A sensing system,with Michelson-type fiber optical interferometer based on single fiber Bragg grating (FBG) as the reflector,is demonstrated.The system used a frequency-matched ring fiber optical laser as the source.The closed Michelson-type fiber optical interferometer system will be helpful in simplifying the developed interferometric sensor by replacing the double reflectors with only one FBG reflecting the doubleside light.The basic sensing properties of the system are demonstrated,with a fiber optic piezoelectric ceramic transducer embedded in the arm of the interferometer simulating the sensing signal.     

Single-molecule detection sensitivity using planar integrated optics on a chip

We present a fully planar integrated optical approach to single-molecule detection based on microfabricated planar networks of intersecting solid and liquid-core waveguides. We study fluorescence from dye molecules in liquid-core antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides, and demonstrate subpicoliter excitation volumes, parallel excitation through multiple pump waveguides, and single-molecule detection sensitivity. Integrated silicon photonics combined with single-molecule detection in solution create a compact, robust, and sensitive platform that has applications in numerous fields ranging from atomic physics to the life sciences.     

Atomic spectroscopy and quantum optics in hollow‐core waveguides

Atomic spectroscopy is a well‐established, integral part of the physicist's toolbox with an extremely broad range of applications ranging from astronomy to single atom quantum optics. While highly desirable, miniaturization of atomic spectroscopy techniques on the chip scale was hampered by the apparent incompatibility of conventional solid‐state integrated optics and gaseous media. Here, the state of the art of atomic spectroscopy in hollow‐core optical waveguides is reviewed The two main approaches to confining light in low index atomic vapors are described: hollow‐core photonic crystal fiber (HC‐PCF) and planar antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs). Waveguide design, fabrication, and characterization are reviewed along with the current performance as compact atomic spectroscopy devices. The article specifically focuses on the realization of quantum interference effects in alkali atoms which may enable radically new optical devices based on low‐level nonlinear interactions on the single photon level for frequency standards and quantum communication systems.     

Integrated SU-8 photonic gas sensors based on PANI polymer devices: Comparison between metrological parameters

In this work, we have designed and developed three families of integrated photonic sensors for ammonia detection. These photonic sensors are integrated onto single-mode TE₀–TM₀ SU-8 polymer planar waveguides and based on a polyaniline (PANI) sensitive polymer material. The first family relies on the deposit of a PANI–polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composite sensitive layer on a given SU-8 waveguide. The second family relies on a PMMA passive layer deposited on the SU-8 waveguide before applying the PANI sensitive layer on the PMMA passive layer. The third family takes advantage of a PANI layer deposited by plasma technique directly onto the SU-8 waveguide. The working principle of such sensors is based on the optical intensity modulation induced within the single-mode waveguide owing to the interaction between the evanescent field and the sensitive layer. The sensing proprieties of these integrated photonic sensors to ammonia gas at room temperature were characterized and the comparison between these different families of photonic sensors is presented. Experimental results show that the sensor based on new plasma–PANI as sensitive layer has the better metrological parameters.     

基于十字连通形环形谐振腔金属-介质-金属波导的折射率传感器和滤波器

提出了由十字连通形环形谐振腔耦合两个金属-介质-金属(metal-insulator-metal, MIM)波导的结构,并用有限元法数值研究了表面等离极化激元在结构中的传输特性.通过对透射谱的研究,系统地分析了MIM结构的传感特性.结果表明,在透射光谱中有三个共振峰,即存在三种共振模式,其中透射峰与材料的折射率呈线性关系.通过对结构参数的优化,得到了折射率灵敏度(S)高达1500 nm/RIU的理论值,相应的传感分辨率为1.33×10~(-4)RIU.更重要的是,灵敏度不受结构参数变化的影响,这意味着传感器的灵敏度不受制造偏差的影响.此外,谐振波长与环形腔中心半径成线性关系,该器件在较大波长范围内实现可调谐带通滤波.透射强度随着波导与环形腔间距的增大而减小,透射带宽同时减小,因此,可以通过控制环形腔与波导的耦合距离来调谐透射强度及透射带宽.研究结果对高灵敏度纳米级折射率传感器和带通滤波器的设计以及在生物传感器方面的应用都具有一定的指导意义.     

Laser-written nanoporous silicon ridge waveguide for highly sensitive optical sensors

We report that low-loss ridge waveguides are directly written on nanoporous silicon layers by using an argon-ion laser at 514 nm up to 100 mW. Optical characterization of the waveguides indicates light propagation loss lower than 0.5 dB/cm at 1550 nm after oxidation. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer sensor is experimentally demonstrated using the waveguide in its sensing branch, and analytical results indicate that very high sensitivity can be achieved. With large internal surface area, versatile surface chemistry, and adjustable index of refraction of porous silicon, the ridge waveguides can be used to configure Mach-Zehnder interferometers, Young's interferometers, and other photonic devices for highly sensitive optical biosensors and chemical sensors as well as other applications.     

Frontispiece: Optical waveguides in crystalline dielectric materials produced by femtosecond‐laser micromachining

Femtosecond‐laser micromachining has been developed as one of the most efficient techniques for direct three‐dimensional microfabrication of transparent optical materials. In integrated photonics, by using direct writing of femtosecond/ultrafast laser pulses, optical waveguides can be produced in a wide variety of optical materials. With diverse parameters, the formed waveguides may possess different configurations. The paper by F. Chen and J.R. Vázquez de Aldana (pp. 251–275) focuses on crystalline dielectric materials, and is a review of the state‐of‐the‐art in fabrication, characterization and applications of femtosecond‐laser micromachined waveguiding structures in optical crystals and ceramics.     

Broadly tunable mid-infrared VECSEL for multiple components hydrocarbon gas sensing

A new sensing platform to simultaneously identify and quantify volatile C1 to C4 alkanes in multi-component gas mixtures is presented. This setup is based on an optically pumped, broadly tunable mid-infrared vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) developed for gas detection. The lead-chalcogenide VECSEL is the key component of the presented optical sensor. The potential of the proposed sensing setup is illustrated by experimental absorption spectra obtained from various mixtures of volatile hydrocarbons and water vapor. The sensor has a sub-ppm limit of detection for each targeted alkane in a hydrocarbon gas mixture even in the presence of a high water vapor content.     

A simple humidity sensor utilizing air-gap as sensing part of the Mach–Zehnder interferometer

A simple high-resolution refractive index (RI) and phase sensor has been demonstrated and the results numerically verified. A free space gap is employed in one arm of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) to serve as the sensing mechanism with a physical spacing of 1.4 mm. The propagation constant of transmitted light in the MZI’s gap changes due to the small variation in the ambient RI that will further shift the optical phase of the signal. A free space optical delay line is embedded within the MZI’s other arm to set the phase reference point and compensate for variations in the optical phase difference. The ambient RI is computed by measuring the phase shift in the transmission spectrum A high-resolution sensing of 0.8 pm/%RH corresponds to phase change of 0.012°/%RH has been achieved in 1520 nm.     

Observation of photoacoustic/photothermal effect with a liquid-core optical ring resonator

Photothermal/photoacoustic(PT/PA) spectroscopy provides useful knowledge about optical absorption, as well as the thermal and acoustical properties of a liquid sample. For microfluidic biosensing and bioanalysis where an extremely small volume of liquid sample is encapsulated, simultaneous PT/PA detection remains a challenge. In this work, we present a new optofluidic device based on a liquid-core optical ring resonator(LCORR) for the investigation of PT and PA effects in fluid samples. A focused 532 nm pulsed light optically heats the absorptive fluid in a capillary to locally create a transient temperature rise, as well as acoustic waves. A1550 nm CW laser light is quadrature-locked to detect the resonance spectrum shift of the LCORR and study thermal diffusion and acoustic wave propagation in the capillary. This modality provides an optofluidic investigative platform for biological/biochemical sensing and spectroscopy.