ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Biopolymers/analysis , Lab-On-A-Chip Devices , Microscopy, Fluorescence/instrumentation , Molecular Probe Techniques/instrumentation , Optics and Photonics/instrumentation , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/instrumentation , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Microchip Analytical Procedures/methods , Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methods , Systems IntegrationABSTRACT
We present the characterization of the optical properties of integrated antiresonant reflecting optical (ARROW) waveguides with arch-shaped liquid cores. Optical mode shapes and coupling, waveguide loss, and polarization dependence are investigated. Waveguide loss as low as 0.26/cm with near-single-mode coupling and mode areas as small as 4.5microm2 are demonstrated. A detailed comparison to ARROW waveguides with rectangular cores is presented, and shows that arch-shaped cores are superior for many applications.
ABSTRACT
We present a method for fabricating an in-fiber electro-optic polymer waveguide within a D-shaped optical fiber. A combined process of selective chemical etching and spin coating creates a 2-cm in-fiber poly(methyl methacrylate)-DR1 dye polymer waveguide section with an overall insertion loss of micro 1.6 dB at 1550 nm. Numerical simulations show that, for in-fiber polymer waveguides to have low loss, the polymer layer's thickness must be kept below a certain value so that it will not support slab waveguide modes. Long transition regions between the unetched fiber and the polymer waveguide section also reduce loss. We analyze the efficiency of an in-fiber polymer waveguide by simulating its theoretical performance as an electro-optic modulator.
