Silicon-Nanowire-Type Polarization-Diversified CWDM Demultiplexer for Low Polarization Crosstalk.

Coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM)-targeted novel silicon (Si)-nanowire-type polarization-diversified optical demultiplexers were numerically analyzed and experimentally verified. The optical demultiplexer comprised a hybrid mode conversion-type polarization splitter rotator (PSR) and a delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometric demultiplexer. Si-nanowire-based devices were fabricated using a commercially available Si photonics foundry process, exhibiting nearly identical spectral responses regardless of the polarization states of the input signals under the PSR. The experiment demonstrated a low insertion loss of 1.0 dB and a polarization-dependent loss of 1.0 dB, effectively suppressing spectral crosstalk from other channels by less than -15 dB. Furthermore, a TM-mode rejection-filter-integrated optical demultiplexer was designed and experimentally validated to mitigate unwanted TM-mode-related polarization crosstalk that arose from the PSR. It exhibited an improved polarization crosstalk rejection efficiency of -25 dB to -50 dB within the whole CWDM spectral range.

Theoretical verification of a silicon-wire flat-spectral-band wavelength filter based on multimode interference couplers with symmetric and asymmetric splitting ratios for the broadband operating range.

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, device scheme for a silicon-nanowire flat-spectral-band wavelength optical filter is proposed and theoretically demonstrated. The proposed wavelength filter is composed of cascade-connected multiple delayed interference optical delay lines, together with several multimode interference couplers with symmetric and asymmetric splitting ratios. Theoretical calculations based on analytic and numerical simulations exhibit flatband spectra over a wavelength range of >80 nm with potentially better production yield for arbitrary channel spacing.

MoS2 Field-Effect Transistor-Amyloid-ß1-42 Hybrid Device for Signal Amplified Detection of MMP-9.

The detection of circulating protein (CP) is very important for the diagnosis and therapeutics of cancer. Conventional techniques based on a specific antibody-antigen interaction are still lacking because of a shortage of cost effectiveness, complicated sandwich structure and tagging process, and inconsistent detection of CP due to the inherent instability of antibodies. Herein, we demonstrate a hybrid device consisting of two-dimensional (2D) nanoscale molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) field-effect transistor (FET) with an amyloid-ß1-42 (Aß1-42) functionalized surface, which amplifies electric signals of the FET in order to detect matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which is a certain type of CP that degrades Aß1-42. With the hybrid device, we detected the concentrations of MMP-9 in the range from 1 pM to 10 nM. Moreover, using tapping-mode atomic force microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy, we verified that the signal amplification corresponding to the MMP-9 concentrations was caused by the reduced length and the decreased surface potential of degraded Aß1-42 due to MMP-9. The hybrid device studied in this paper can be very useful for monitoring MMP-9 activity, as well as serving as a sensing platform for the electrical signal amplification of 2D MoS2 FET-biosensors.

Silicon-wire optical demultiplexers based on multistage delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometers for higher production yield.

We report better spectral uniformity in Si-wire-based multistage delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometer (DMZI) type optical multiplexers/demultiplexers (MUX/DeMUX). Based on a 300 mm silicon-on-insulator wafer-scale ArF-immersion lithography process that guarantees higher phase controllability for low insertion loss, spectral flatness, and low crosstalk, we were able to further improve spectral uniformity across the wafer by optimizing the waveguide width within the optical path of each DMZI region. Irrespective of channel spacing in the wavelength domain, it was experimentally demonstrated that the filter spectral center wavelength deviation of the proposed DeMUXs was three times smaller than that of conventional ones. The proposed device scheme would also be attractive for arbitrary channel spacing and channel count, which makes the proposed scheme more practical in high-performance wavelength division multiplexing optical transceivers.

Enhanced Moisture-Reactive Hydrophilic-PTFE-Based Flexible Humidity Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring.

Flexible sensors connected to cell phones are a promising technology that can aid in continuously monitoring signals in our daily lives, such as an individual's health status and information from buildings, farms, and industry. Among such signals, real-time humidity monitoring is crucial to a comfortable life, as human bodies, plants, and industrial environments require appropriate humidity to be maintained. We propose a hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (H-PTFE)-based flexible humidity sensor integrated with readout circuitry, wireless communication, and a mobile battery. To enhance its sensitivity, linearity, and reliability, treatment with sodium hydroxide implements additional hydroxyl (OH) groups, which further enhance the sensitivity, create a strong linearity with respect to variations in relative humidity, and produce a relatively free hysteresis. Furthermore, to create robust mechanical stability, cyclic upward bending was performed for up to 3000 cycles. The overall electrical and mechanical results demonstrate that the flexible real-time H-PTFE humidity sensor system is suitable for applications such as wearable smart devices.

Label-Free and Recalibrated Multilayer MoS2 Biosensor for Point-of-Care Diagnostics.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) field-effect transistor (FET)-based biosensors have attracted significant attention as promising candidates for highly sensitive, label-free biomolecule detection devices. In this paper, toward practical applications of biosensors, we demonstrate reliable and quantitative detection of a prostate cancer biomarker using the MoS2 FET biosensor in a nonaqueous environment by reducing nonspecific molecular binding events and realizing uniform chemisorption of anti-PSA onto the MoS2 surface. A systematic and statistical study on the capability of the proposed device is presented, and the biological binding events are directly confirmed and characterized through intensive structural and electrical analysis. Our proposed biosensor can reliably detect various PSA concentrations with a limit of 100 fg/mL. Moreover, rigorous theoretical simulations provide a comprehensive understanding of the operating mechanism of the MoS2 FET biosensors, and further suggests the enhancement of the sensitivity through engineering device design parameters.

Simultaneous Multi-surface Anodizations and Stair-like Reverse Biases Detachment of Anodic Aluminum Oxides in Sulfuric and Oxalic Acid Electrolyte.

After reporting on the two-step anodization, nanoporous anodic aluminum oxides (AAOs) have been widely utilized in the versatile fields of fundamental sciences and industrial applications owing to their periodic arrangement of nanopores with relatively high aspect ratio. However, the techniques reported so far, which could be only valid for mono-surface anodization, show critical disadvantages, i.e., time-consuming as well as complicated procedures, requiring toxic chemicals, and wasting valuable natural resources. In this paper, we demonstrate a facile, efficient, and environmentally clean method to fabricate nanoporous AAOs in sulfuric and oxalic acid electrolytes, which can overcome the limitations that result from conventional AAO fabricating methods. First, plural AAOs are produced at one time through simultaneous multi-surfaces anodization (SMSA), indicating mass-producibility of the AAOs with comparable qualities. Second, those AAOs can be separated from the aluminum (Al) substrate by applying stair-like reverse biases (SRBs) in the same electrolyte used for the SMSAs, implying simplicity and green technological characteristics. Finally, a unit sequence consisting of the SMSAs sequentially combined with SRBs-based detachment can be applied repeatedly to the same Al substrate, which reinforces the advantages of this strategy and also guarantees the efficient usage of natural resources.

Si-nanowire-based multistage delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometer optical MUX/DeMUX fabricated by an ArF-immersion lithography process on a 300 mm SOI wafer.

We report good phase controllability and high production yield in Si-nanowire-based multistage delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type optical multiplexers/demultiplexers (MUX/DeMUX) fabricated by an ArF-immersion lithography process on a 300 mm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. Three kinds of devices fabricated in this work exhibit clear 1×4 Ch wavelength filtering operations for various optical frequency spacing. These results are promising for their applications in high-density wavelength division multiplexing-based optical interconnects.

Low-loss, flat-topped and spectrally uniform silicon-nanowire-based 5th-order CROW fabricated by ArF-immersion lithography process on a 300-mm SOI wafer.

We report superior spectral characteristics of silicon-nanowire-based 5th-order coupled resonator optical waveguides (CROW) fabricated by 193-nm ArF-immersion lithography process on a 300-mm silicon-on-insulator wafer. We theoretically analyze spectral characteristics, considering random phase errors caused by micro fabrication process. It will be experimentally demonstrated that the fabricated devices exhibit a low excess loss of 0.4 ± 0.2 dB, a high out-of-band rejection ratio of >40dB, and a wide flatband width of ~2 nm. Furthermore, we evaluate manufacturing tolerances for intra-dies and inter-dies, comparing with the cases for 248-nm KrF-dry lithography process. It will be shown that the 193-nm ArF-immersion lithography process can provide much less excess phase errors of Si-nanowire waveguides, thus enabling to give better filter spectral characteristics. Finally, spectral superiorities will be reconfirmed by measuring 25 Gbps modulated signals launched into the fabricated device. Clear eye diagrams are observed when the wavelengths of modulated signals are stayed within almost passband of the 5th-order CROW.

High-output-power, single-wavelength silicon hybrid laser using precise flip-chip bonding technology.

An Si/III-V hybrid laser oscillating at a single wavelength was developed for use in a large-scale Si optical I/O chip. The laser had an InP-based reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) chip integrated with an Si wavelength-selection-mirror chip in a flip-chip configuration. A low coupling loss of 1.55 dB at the Si-SOA interface was accomplished by both mode-field-matching between Si-SOA waveguides and accurately controlling the bonding position. The fabricated Si hybrid laser exhibited a very low threshold current of 9.4 mA, a high output power of 15.0 mW, and a high wall-plug efficiency of 7.6% at 20 °C. Moreover, the device maintained a high output power of >10 mW up to 60°C due to the high thermal conductance between the SOA chip and Si substrate. The short cavity length of the flip-chip bonded laser expanded the longitudinal mode spacing. This resulted in temperature-stable single longitudinal mode lasing and a low RIN level of <-130 dB/Hz.

Flat-topped and low loss silicon-nanowire-type optical MUX/DeMUX employing multi-stage microring resonator assisted delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometers.

We propose a novel silicon-nanowire-type multiplexer (MUX) / demultiplexer (DeMUX) based on multi-stage microring resonator assisted delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometers. It is theoretically shown that spectral flatness of DeMUX spectra can be accomplished by incorporating nonlinear phase behaviors of microring resonators into the multi-stage delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometers. We experimentally demonstrate flat-topped 400GHz-spacing 1 × 4Ch demultiplexing operation in the fabricated device with silicon-nanowire waveguides. Furthermore, by integrating the micro-heaters on the top cladding layer of the fabricated device, the DeMUX performance is upgraded in terms of excess loss (<0.8dB) and crosstalk (<-10dB) without any degradation of filter spectral flatness at each channel grid.

Renal venous doppler ultrasonography in normal subjects and patients with diabetic nephropathy: value of venous impedance index measurements.

OBJECTIVES: To provide reference values of intrarenal venous impedance index (VII) measured with duplex Doppler ultrasonography in a healthy adult population and to assess the usefulness this index for evaluating the functional status of kidney in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS: Between May 2005 and December 2009, Doppler ultrasonography of both kidneys was performed in 164 healthy volunteers (controls) and 58 patients with DN. Renal interlobar and segmental vein Doppler waveforms and VII were obtained and compared between groups using the Student's t test. Correlation between VII and serum creatinine concentration (SCC) was calculated. RESULTS: In controls, the mean VII was lower in interlobar than in segmental renal veins (p < 0.01), without difference between the right and left kidneys. Waveform modulation was dampened in DN patients whose mean VII (0.32 ± 0.18) was lower than in controls (0.38 ± 0.18) (p < 0.01). SCC showed moderate correlations (r = 0.65) with intrarenal VII in the patient group. CONCLUSIONS: Renal VII is typically lower in DN than in controls and moderately correlated with SCC, which reflects renal function in DN, but does not offer a significant advantage over arterial resistance index.

Optical 60° hybrid for demodulating six-level DPSK signal.

We propose and demonstrate an optical 60° hybrid for demodulating optical signals with six-level DPSK modulation format. The proposed device consisting of a paired-interference 2∶6MMI coupler, phase shifters, and 2∶2MMI couplers with an asymmetric splitting ratio of 72∶28 exhibited hexagonal phase response over a C-band range.

Optical 45 degrees hybrid for demodulating 8-ary DPSK signal.

We propose a novel optical 45 degrees hybrid employing a 2 x 8 paired interference based multimode interference (MMI) coupler, three phase shifters and three 2 x 2 optical couplers. Since the proposed 45 degrees hybrid can demodulate an 8-ary differential phase shift keyed (8-DPSK) signal with only one delayed Mach-Zehnder interferometer (DMZI), the demodulator has simpler configuration and much smaller device dimensions than conventional 8-DPSK demodulators consisting of four pairs of DMZIs and 2 x 2 optical couplers. We calculate and experimentally demonstrate octagonal phase response of the proposed 45 degrees hybrid with a relative phase deviation of < +/- 5 degrees over 32-nm-wide spectral range.

Compact optical 90 degrees hybrid employing a tapered 2x4 MMI coupler serially connected by a 2x2 MMI coupler.

We propose a novel optical 90 degrees hybrid employing a paired-interference-based tapered 2x4 multimode interference coupler and a 2x2 multimode interference coupler. It was experimentally shown that the proposed 90 degrees hybrid has very short device length of less than 227 mum and is never accompanied by any waveguide intersections for coupling to balanced photodiodes. The proposed device exhibited quadrature phase response with a common-mode rejection ratio of more than 20dB and a phase deviation of less than 5 degrees over C-band spectral range.

Optical 90 degree hybrid with broad operating bandwidth of 94 nm.

We propose an optical 90 degree hybrid where no waveguide intersection in coupling to balanced photodiodes is required for coherent detection. The proposed device consisting of a paired-interference 2x4 multimode interference (MMI) coupler, a phase shifter, and a 2x2 MMI coupler exhibited quadrature phase response over a 94-nm-wide spectral range.

Analysis and demonstration of single-passband response and tuning characteristics in a chirped ladder interferometric filter for a widely tunable laser diode.

We have designed and demonstrated a chirped ladder-type tunable filter and discussed its potential application for a tunable diode laser. A ladder interferometric filter normally has a periodic passband, which makes it impossible to stabilize laser oscillation frequency. To overcome this drawback, we have designed, fabricated, and characterized a novel chirped tunable ladder filter. We have successfully demonstrated a single-passband response in the fabricated device. Furthermore, a tuning operation of more than 30 nm was achieved by introducing a current injection structure and optimizing electrode lengths at each single-stage ladder interferometer.

All-optical wavelength conversion in a GaInAsP/InP optical gate loaded with a Bragg reflector.

All-optical wavelength conversion employing a GaInAsP/InP nonlinear distributed-feedback waveguide switch is investigated. The device has the advantages of simple structure, compactness, polarity-noninverted operation, and feasibility of integration with other photonic devices such as semiconductor optical amplifier and modulators. We show that the device exhibits constant conversion efficiency around -9.2 dB in a signal-wavelength range of 1530-1560 nm. Furthermore, this device can potentially be made polarization independent.