Numerical study on refractive index sensor based on hybrid-plasmonic mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yun, Jeong-Geun; Kim, Joonsoo; Lee, Kyookeun; Lee, Yohan; Lee, Byoungho

2017-04-01

We propose a highly sensitive hybrid-plasmonic sensor based on thin-gold nanoslit arrays. The transmission characteristics of gold nanoslit arrays are analyzed as changing the thickness of gold layer. The surface plasmon polariton mode excited on the sensing medium, which is sensitive to refractive index change of the sensing medium, is strengthened by reducing the thickness of the gold layer. A design rule is suggested that steeper dispersion curve of the surface plasmon polariton mode leads to higher sensitivity. For the dispersion engineering, hybrid-plasmonic structure, which consists of thin-gold nanoslit arrays, sensing region and high refractive index dielectric space is introduced. The proposed sensor structure with period of 700 nm shows the improved sensitivity up to 1080 nm/RIU (refractive index unit), and the surface sensitivity is extremely enhanced.

Refractive index sensor based on plastic optical fiber with tapered structure.

PubMed

De-Jun, Feng; Guan-Xiu, Liu; Xi-Lu, Liu; Ming-Shun, Jiang; Qing-Mei, Sui

2014-04-01

This work reports a refractive index sensor made of plastic optical fiber (POF) with tapered structure. Transmission loss is measured when the external environment's refractive index changes from 1.33 to 1.41. Three wavelengths (532, 633, and 780 nm) are used to evaluate the sensitivity of the sensor, and results indicate that 633 nm is the best sensing wavelength due to the increased levels of sensitivity achieved at this wavelength. A biconical sensing structure is designed to enhance the sensitivity of the sensor. A sensitivity of 950 μW/RIU at 633 nm is obtained for a biconical sensing structure when launched power is 1 mW. Due to its sensitivity to the refractive index and simple construction, POF with tapered structure has potential applications in the biosensing field.

Refractive index sensing by Brillouin scattering in side-polished optical fibers.

PubMed

Bernini, Romeo; Persichetti, Gianluca; Catalano, Ester; Zeni, Luigi; Minardo, Aldo

2018-05-15

In this Letter, we demonstrate the possibility to measure the refractive index of a liquid, using the stimulating Brillouin scattering in a 3-cm-long side-polished optical fiber. In addition, we show that by depositing a high-refractive index layer on the polished surface the sensitivity of the Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) can be increased due to a higher penetration of the evanescent field in the outer medium. Experiments show a maximum BFS change of about 11 MHz when varying the refractive index of the external medium from 1 (air) to 1.402, and a BFS sensitivity to refractive index of about 293 MHz/RIU around 1.40.

TiO2 surface functionalization of COC based planar waveguide Bragg gratings for refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenberger, M.; Girschikofsky, M.; Förthner, M.; Belle, S.; Rommel, M.; Frey, L.; Schmauss, B.; Hellmann, R.

2018-01-01

We demonstrate the applicability of a planar waveguide Bragg grating in cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC) for refractive index sensing. The polymer planar waveguide Bragg grating fabricated using a single writing step technique is coated with a high-index layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) leading to a distinct birefringence. This in turn results in the splitting of the Bragg reflection into two distinct Bragg wavelengths, which strongly differ regarding their refractive index sensitivities. Where one wavelength is only slightly affected by the ambient refractive index, the second Bragg peak shows a strong sensitivity. Furthermore, we investigate the temperature behaviour of the functionalized sensor and discuss it with respect to applications in refractive index sensing.

Real-Time and In-Flow Sensing Using a High Sensitivity Porous Silicon Microcavity-Based Sensor.

PubMed

Caroselli, Raffaele; Martín Sánchez, David; Ponce Alcántara, Salvador; Prats Quilez, Francisco; Torrijos Morán, Luis; García-Rupérez, Jaime

2017-12-05

Porous silicon seems to be an appropriate material platform for the development of high-sensitivity and low-cost optical sensors, as their porous nature increases the interaction with the target substances, and their fabrication process is very simple and inexpensive. In this paper, we present the experimental development of a porous silicon microcavity sensor and its use for real-time in-flow sensing application. A high-sensitivity configuration was designed and then fabricated, by electrochemically etching a silicon wafer. Refractive index sensing experiments were realized by flowing several dilutions with decreasing refractive indices, and measuring the spectral shift in real-time. The porous silicon microcavity sensor showed a very linear response over a wide refractive index range, with a sensitivity around 1000 nm/refractive index unit (RIU), which allowed us to directly detect refractive index variations in the 10 -7 RIU range.

Pressure Sensing in High-Refractive-Index Liquids Using Long-Period Gratings Nanocoated with Silicon Nitride

PubMed Central

Smietana, Mateusz; Bock, Wojtek J.; Mikulic, Predrag; Chen, Jiahua

2010-01-01

The paper presents a novel pressure sensor based on a silicon nitride (SiNx) nanocoated long-period grating (LPG). The high-temperature, radio-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor-deposited (RF PECVD) SiNx nanocoating was applied to tune the sensitivity of the LPG to the external refractive index. The technique allows for deposition of good quality, hard and wear-resistant nanofilms as required for optical sensors. Thanks to the SiNx nanocoating it is possible to overcome a limitation of working in the external-refractive-index range, which for a bare fiber cannot be close to that of the cladding. The nanocoated LPG-based sensing structure we developed is functional in high-refractive-index liquids (nd > 1.46) such as oil or gasoline, with pressure sensitivity as high as when water is used as a working liquid. The nanocoating developed for this experiment not only has the highest refractive index ever achieved in LPGs (n > 2.2 at λ = 1,550 nm), but is also the thinnest (<100 nm) able to tune the external-refractive-index sensitivity of the gratings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a nanocoating has been applied on LPGs that is able to simultaneously tune the refractive-index sensitivity and to enable measurements of other parameters. PMID:22163527

Refractive index sensor based on a polymer fiber directional coupler for low index sensing.

PubMed

Lee, Kwang Jo; Liu, Xiaoqi; Vuillemin, Nelly; Lwin, Richard; Leon-Saval, Sergio G; Argyros, Alexander; Kuhlmey, Boris T

2014-07-14

We propose, numerically analyze and experimentally demonstrate a novel refractive index sensor specialized for low index sensing. The device is based on a directional coupler architecture implemented in a single microstructured polymer optical fiber incorporating two waveguides within it: a single-mode core and a satellite waveguide consisting of a hollow high-index ring. This hollow channel is filled with fluid and the refractive index of the fluid is detected through changes to the wavelength at which resonant coupling occurs between the two waveguides. The sensor design was optimized for both higher sensitivity and lower detection limit, with simulations and experiments demonstrating a sensitivity exceeding 1.4 × 10(3) nm per refractive index unit. Simulations indicate a detection limit of ~2 × 10(-6) refractive index units is achievable. We also numerically investigate the performance for refractive index changes localized at the surface of the holes, a case of particular importance for biosensing.

Fiber-integrated refractive index sensor based on a diced Fabry-Perot micro-resonator.

PubMed

Suntsov, Sergiy; Rüter, Christian E; Schipkowski, Tom; Kip, Detlef

2017-11-20

We report on a fiber-integrated refractive index sensor based on a Fabry-Perot micro-resonator fabricated using simple diamond blade dicing of a single-mode step-index fiber. The performance of the device has been tested for the refractive index measurements of sucrose solutions as well as in air. The device shows a sensitivity of 1160 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) at a wavelength of 1.55 μm and a temperature cross-sensitivity of less than 10 -7   RIU/°C. Based on evaluation of the broadband reflection spectra, refractive index steps of 10 -5 of the solutions were accurately measured. The conducted coating of the resonator sidewalls with layers of a high-index material with real-time reflection spectrum monitoring could help to significantly improve the sensor performance.

Refractive index and viscosity: dual sensing with plastic fibre gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, Ricardo; Bilro, Lúcia; Marques, Carlos; Oliveira, Ricardo; Nogueira, Rogério

2014-05-01

A refractive index and viscosity sensor based on FBGs in mPOF is reported for the first time. The refractive index was measured with a sensitivity of -10:98nm=RIU and a resolution of 1 - 10-4RIU. Viscosity measurements were performed with acousto-optic modulation, obtaining a sensitivity of -94:42%=mPa • s and a resolution of 0:06mPa • s.

Modeling of a Single-Notch Microfiber Coupler for High-Sensitivity and Low Detection-Limit Refractive Index Sensing.

PubMed

Zhang, Jiali; Shi, Lei; Zhu, Song; Xu, Xinbiao; Zhang, Xinliang

2016-05-11

A highly sensitive refractive index sensor with low detection limit based on an asymmetric optical microfiber coupler is proposed. It is composed of a silica optical microfiber and an As₂Se₃ optical microfiber. Due to the asymmetry of the microfiber materials, a single-notch transmission spectrum is demonstrated by the large refractive index difference between the two optical microfibers. Compared with the symmetric coupler, the bandwidth of the asymmetric structure is over one order of magnitude narrower than that of the former. Therefore, the asymmetric optical microfiber coupler based sensor can reach over one order of magnitude smaller detection limit, which is defined as the minimal detectable refractive index change caused by the surrounding analyte. With the advantage of large evanescent field, the results also show that a sensitivity of up to 3212 nm per refractive index unit with a bandwidth of 12 nm is achieved with the asymmetric optical microfiber coupler. Furthermore, a maximum sensitivity of 4549 nm per refractive index unit can be reached while the radii of the silica optical microfiber and As₂Se₃ optical microfiber are 0.5 μm and a 0.128 μm, respectively. This sensor component may have important potential for low detection-limit physical and biochemical sensing applications.

High Sensitivity Refractometer Based on Reflective Smf-Small Diameter No Core Fiber Structure.

PubMed

Zhou, Guorui; Wu, Qiang; Kumar, Rahul; Ng, Wai Pang; Liu, Hao; Niu, Longfei; Lalam, Nageswara; Yuan, Xiaodong; Semenova, Yuliya; Farrell, Gerald; Yuan, Jinhui; Yu, Chongxiu; Zeng, Jie; Tian, Gui Yun; Fu, Yong Qing

2017-06-16

A high sensitivity refractive index sensor based on a single mode-small diameter no core fiber structure is proposed. In this structure, a small diameter no core fiber (SDNCF) used as a sensor probe, was fusion spliced to the end face of a traditional single mode fiber (SMF) and the end face of the SDNCF was coated with a thin film of gold to provide reflective light. The influence of SDNCF diameter and length on the refractive index sensitivity of the sensor has been investigated by both simulations and experiments, where results show that the diameter of SDNCF has significant influence. However, SDNCF length has limited influence on the sensitivity. Experimental results show that a sensitivity of 327 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) has been achieved for refractive indices ranging from 1.33 to 1.38, which agrees well with the simulated results with a sensitivity of 349.5 nm/RIU at refractive indices ranging from 1.33 to 1.38.

Determining thickness and refractive index from free-standing ultra-thin polymer films with spectroscopic ellipsometry

DOE PAGES

Hilfiker, James N.; Stadermann, Michael; Sun, Jianing; ...

2016-08-27

It is a well-known challenge to determine refractive index (n) from ultra-thin films where the thickness is less than about 10 nm. In this paper, we discovered an interesting exception to this issue while characterizing spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) data from isotropic, free-standing polymer films. Ellipsometry analysis shows that both thickness and refractive index can be independently determined for free-standing films as thin as 5 nm. Simulations further confirm an orthogonal separation between thickness and index effects on the experimental SE data. Effects of angle of incidence and wavelength on the data and sensitivity are discussed. Finally, while others have demonstratedmore » methods to determine refractive index from ultra-thin films, our analysis provides the first results to demonstrate high-sensitivity to the refractive index from ultra-thin layers.« less

Optical fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer cavity fabricated by femtosecond laser micromachining and fusion splicing for refractive index sensing.

PubMed

Liao, C R; Hu, T Y; Wang, D N

2012-09-24

We demonstrate a fiber in-line Fabry-Perot interferometer cavity sensor for refractive index measurement. The interferometer cavity is formed by drilling a micro-hole at the cleaved fiber end facet, followed by fusion splicing. A micro-channel is inscribed by femtosecond laser micromachining to vertically cross the cavity to allow liquid to flow in. The refractive index sensitivity obtained is ~994 nm/RIU (refractive index unit). Such a device is simple in configuration, easy for fabrication and reliable in operation due to extremely low temperature cross sensitivity of ~4.8 × 10(-6) RIU/°C.

Influence of surrounding media refractive index on the thermal and strain sensitivities of long-period gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canute Kamikawachi, Ricardo; Rafael Collere Possetti, Gustavo; Falate, Rosane; Muller, Marcia; Luís Fabris, José

2007-05-01

A detailed study of the thermal and strain sensitivities of a long-period grating when the device is immersed in different external media is presented. The range of refractive indices analyzed are within 1.000 to 1.447, corresponding to samples of air, water, ethanol, naphtha, thinner, turpentine, and kerosene. Within the same range of refractive indices, the strain sensitivity is between (-0.24 ± 0.03) and (-0.94 ± 0.11) pm/μɛ. For the grating immersed in these fluids, the refractive index sensitivity ranges from -3 to -1035.6 nm per refractive index units. The coupling thermo-optic coefficients and the strain-optic coefficients are also measured, resulting in the range from (2.45 ± 0.04)×10-5 to (15.89 ± 0.82)×10-5 deg C-1 and (-1.15 ± 0.04) to (-1.61 ± 0.04) μɛ-1, respectively. A noticeable nonlinear behavior of the thermal sensitivity is found for external media with refractive indices higher than 1.430.

Temperature independent refractive index measurement using a fiber Bragg grating on abrupt tapered tip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomes, André D.; Silveira, Beatriz; Warren-Smith, Stephen C.; Becker, Martin; Rothhardt, Manfred; Frazão, Orlando

2018-05-01

A fiber Bragg grating was inscribed in an abrupt fiber taper using a femtosecond laser and phase-mask interferometer. The abrupt taper transition allows to excite a broad range of guided modes with different effective refractive indices that are reflected at different wavelengths according to Bragg's law. The multimode-Bragg reflection expands over 30 nm in the telecom-C-band. This corresponds to a mode-field overlap of up to 30% outside of the fiber, making the device suitable for evanescent field sensing. Refractive index and temperature measurements are performed for different reflection peaks. Temperature independent refractive index measurements are achieved by considering the difference between the wavelength shifts of two measured reflection peaks. A minimum refractive index sensitivity of 16 ± 1 nm/RIU was obtained in a low refractive index regime (1.3475-1.3720) with low influence of temperature (-0.32 ± 0.06 pm/°C). The cross sensitivity for this structure is 2.0 × 10-5 RIU/°C. The potential for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature is also studied.

Refractive-index profiling of embedded microstructures in optical materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dave, Digant P.; Milner, Thomas E.

2002-04-01

We describe use of a phase-sensitive low-coherence reflectometer to measure spatial variation of refractive index in optical materials. The described interferometric technique is demonstrated to be a valuable tool to profile the refractive index of optical elements such as integrated waveguides and photowritten optical microstructures. As an example, a refractive-index profile is mapped of a microstructure written in a microscope glass slide with an ultrashort-pulse laser.

Long period grating refractive-index sensor: optimal design for single wavelength interrogation.

PubMed

Kapoor, Amita; Sharma, Enakshi K

2009-11-01

We report the design criteria for the use of long period gratings (LPGs) as refractive-index sensors with output power at a single interrogating wavelength as the measurement parameter. The design gives maximum sensitivity in a given refractive-index range when the interrogating wavelength is fixed. Use of the design criteria is illustrated by the design of refractive-index sensors for specific application to refractive-index variation of a sugar solution with a concentration and detection of mole fraction of xylene in heptane (paraffin).

Impact of substrate etching on plasmonic elements and metamaterials: preventing red shift and improving refractive index sensitivity.

PubMed

Moritake, Yuto; Tanaka, Takuo

2018-02-05

We propose and demonstrate the elimination of substrate influence on plasmon resonance by using selective and isotropic etching of substrates. Preventing the red shift of the resonance due to substrates and improving refractive index sensitivity were experimentally demonstrated by using plasmonic nanostructures fabricated on silicon substrates. Applying substrate etching decreases the effective refractive index around the metal nanostructures, resulting in elimination of the red shift. Improvement of sensitivity to the refractive index environment was demonstrated by using plasmonic metamaterials with Fano resonance based on far field interference. Change in quality factors (Q-factors) of the Fano resonance by substrate etching was also investigated in detail. The presence of a closely positioned substrate distorts the electric field distribution and degrades the Q-factors. Substrate etching dramatically increased the refractive index sensitivity reaching to 1532 nm/RIU since the electric fields under the nanostructures became accessible through substrate etching. The FOM was improved compared to the case without the substrate etching. The method presented in this paper is applicable to a variety of plasmonic structures to eliminate the influence of substrates for realizing high performance plasmonic devices.

On-fiber plasmonic interferometer for multi-parameter sensing

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Zhijian; Chen, Yongyao; Liu, Haijun; ...

2015-01-01

We demonstrate a novel miniature multi-parameter sensing device based on a plasmonic interferometer fabricated on a fiber facet in the optical communication wavelength range. This device enables the coupling between surface plasmon resonance and plasmonic interference in the structure, which are the two essential mechanisms for multi-parameter sensing. We experimentally show that these two mechanisms have distinctive responses to temperature and refractive index, rendering the device the capability of simultaneous temperature and refractive index measurement on an ultra-miniature form factor. A high refractive index sensitivity of 220 nm per refractive index unit (RIU) and a high temperature sensitivity of –60more » pm/ °C is achieved with our device.« less

A Refractive Index Sensor Based on the Resonant Coupling to Cladding Modes in a Fiber Loop

PubMed Central

Reyes, Mauricio; Monzón-Hernández, David; Martínez-Ríos, Alejandro; Silvestre, Enrique; Díez, Antonio; Cruz, José Luis; Andrés, Miguel V.

2013-01-01

We report an easy-to-build, compact, and low-cost optical fiber refractive index sensor. It consists of a single fiber loop whose transmission spectra exhibit a series of notches produced by the resonant coupling between the fundamental mode and the cladding modes in a uniformly bent fiber. The wavelength of the notches, distributed in a wavelength span from 1,400 to 1,700 nm, can be tuned by adjusting the diameter of the fiber loop and are sensitive to refractive index changes of the external medium. Sensitivities of 170 and 800 nm per refractive index unit for water solutions and for the refractive index interval 1.40–1.442, respectively, are demonstrated. We estimate a long range resolution of 3 × 10−4 and a short range resolution of 2 × 10−5 for water solutions. PMID:23979478

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hilfiker, James N.; Stadermann, Michael; Sun, Jianing

It is a well-known challenge to determine refractive index (n) from ultra-thin films where the thickness is less than about 10 nm. In this paper, we discovered an interesting exception to this issue while characterizing spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) data from isotropic, free-standing polymer films. Ellipsometry analysis shows that both thickness and refractive index can be independently determined for free-standing films as thin as 5 nm. Simulations further confirm an orthogonal separation between thickness and index effects on the experimental SE data. Effects of angle of incidence and wavelength on the data and sensitivity are discussed. Finally, while others have demonstratedmore » methods to determine refractive index from ultra-thin films, our analysis provides the first results to demonstrate high-sensitivity to the refractive index from ultra-thin layers.« less

Chemical Sensing Sensitivity of Long-Period Grating Sensor Enhanced by Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Tang, Jaw-Luen; Wang, Jien-Neng

2008-01-01

A simple and effective method is proposed to improve spectral sensitivity and detection limit of long period gratings for refractive index or chemical sensing, where the grating surface is modified by a monolayer of colloidal gold nanoparticles. The transmission spectra and optical properties of gold nanospheres vary with the different refractive index of the environment near the surface of gold nanospheres. The sensor response of gold colloids increases linearly with solvents of increasing refractive index. The results for the measurement of sucrose and sodium chloride solutions are reported, which show that this type of sensor can provide a limiting resolution of ∼10-3 to ∼10-4 for refractive indices in the range of 1.34 to 1.39 and a noticeable increase in detection limit of refractive index to external medium. PMID:27879701

Monitoring of high refractive index edible oils using coated long period fiber grating sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coelho, Luís.; Viegas, Diana; Santos, José Luís.; de Almeida, Jose Manuel M. M.

2015-05-01

Monitoring the quality of high refractive index edible oils is of great importance for the human health. Uncooked edible oils in general are healthy foodstuff, olive oil in particular, however, they are frequently used for baking and cooking. High quality edible oils are made from seeds, nuts or fruits by mechanical processes. Nevertheless, once the mechanical extraction is complete, up to 15% of the oil remains in oil pomace and in the mill wastewater, which can be extracted using organic solvents, often hexane. Optical fiber sensors based on long period fiber gratings (LPFG) have very low wavelength sensitivity when the surround refractive index is higher than the refractive index of the cladding. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated LPFG could lead to the realization of high sensitivity chemical sensor for the food industry. In this work LPFG coated with a TiO2 thin film were successfully used for to detect small levels of hexane diluted in edible oils and for real time monitoring the thermal deterioration of edible oils. For a TiO2 coating of 30 nm a wavelength sensitivity of 1361.7 nm/RIU (or 0.97 nm / % V/V) in the 1.4610-1.4670 refractive index range was achieved, corresponding to 0 to 12 % V/V of hexane in olive oil. A sensitivity higher than 638 nm/RIU at 225 ºC was calculated, in the 1.4670-1.4735 refractive index range with a detection limit of thermal deterioration of about 1 minute.

Slow-light enhanced subwavelength plasmonic waveguide refractive index sensors.

PubMed

Huang, Yin; Min, Changjun; Dastmalchi, Pouya; Veronis, Georgios

2015-06-01

We introduce slow-light enhanced subwavelength scale refractive index sensors which consist of a plasmonic metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) waveguide based slow-light system sandwiched between two conventional MDM waveguides. We first consider a MDM waveguide with small width structrue for comparison, and then consider two MDM waveguide based slow light systems: a MDM waveguide side-coupled to arrays of stub resonators system and a MDM waveguide side-coupled to arrays of double-stub resonators system. We find that, as the group velocity decreases, the sensitivity of the effective index of the waveguide mode to variations of the refractive index of the fluid filling the sensors as well as the sensitivities of the reflection and transmission coefficients of the waveguide mode increase. The sensing characteristics of the slow-light waveguide based sensor structures are systematically analyzed. We show that the slow-light enhanced sensors lead to not only 3.9 and 3.5 times enhancements in the refractive index sensitivity, and therefore in the minimum detectable refractive index change, but also to 2 and 3 times reductions in the required sensing length, respectively, compared to a sensor using a MDM waveguide with small width structure.

Temperature and refractive index measurement based on a coating-enhanced dual-microspheric fiber sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ju, Yao; Ning, Shougui; Sun, Huijin; Mo, Jun; Yang, Chao; Feng, Guoying; Zhou, Hao; Zhou, Shouhuan

2018-07-01

We propose and demonstrate a coating-enhanced dual-microspheric structure fiber sensor that measures temperature and refractive index simultaneously. The claddings of the two microspheric structured fibers are spliced together and the ends of the fibers are coated with a layer of gold film to increase reflection, thereby forming a dual-microspheric structure sensor head. Our experimental results show that the temperature sensitivity and the refractive index can reach 65.77 pm °C‑1 and  ‑19.7879 nm RIU‑1, respectively. Compared with the uncoated sensor, the refractive index sensitivity is significantly improved by the gold film. This work suggests a low-cost, high-resolution and convenient fiber-based method to achieve multifunctional sensing applications.

Ambience-sensitive optical refraction in ferroelectric nanofilms of NaNbO3.

PubMed

Tyunina, Marina; Chvostova, Dagmar; Pacherova, Oliva; Kocourek, Tomas; Jelinek, Miroslav; Jastrabik, Lubomir; Dejneka, Alexander

2014-08-01

Optical index of refraction n is studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry in epitaxial nanofilms of NaNbO 3 with thickness ∼10 nm grown on different single-crystal substrates. The index n in the transparency spectral range ( n  ≈ 2.1 - 2.2) exhibits a strong sensitivity to atmospheric-pressure gas ambience. The index n in air exceeds that in an oxygen ambience by δn  ≈ 0.05 - 0.2. The thermo-optical behaviour n ( T ) indicates ferroelectric state in the nanofilms. The ambience-sensitive optical refraction is discussed in terms of fundamental connection between refraction and ferroelectric polarization in perovskites, screening of depolarizing field on surfaces of the nanofilms, and thermodynamically stable surface reconstructions of NaNbO 3 .

A refractive index sensor based on taper Michelson interferometer in multimode fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Xinghu; Zhang, Jiangpeng; Wang, Siwen; Fu, Guangwei; Liu, Qiang; Jin, Wa; Bi, Weihong

2016-11-01

A refractive index sensor based on taper Michelson interferometer in multimode fiber is proposed. The Hydrofluoric acid corrosion processing is studied in the preparation of single cone multimode optical fiber sensor. The taper Michelson interferometer is fabricated by changing corrosion time. The relationship between fiber sensor feature and corrosion time is analyzed. The experimental results show that the interference spectrum shift in the direction of short wave with the increase of the refractive index. The refractive index sensitivity can reach 115.8008 nm/RIU. Thereby, it can be used in detecting the refractive index in different areas including the environmental protection, health care and food production.

The refractive index of human hemoglobin in the visible range.

PubMed

Zhernovaya, O; Sydoruk, O; Tuchin, V; Douplik, A

2011-07-07

Because the refractive index of hemoglobin in the visible range is sensitive to the hemoglobin concentration, optical investigations of hemoglobin are important for medical diagnostics and treatment. Direct measurements of the refractive index are, however, challenging; few such measurements have previously been reported, especially in a wide wavelength range. We directly measured the refractive index of human deoxygenated and oxygenated hemoglobin for nine wavelengths between 400 and 700 nm for the hemoglobin concentrations up to 140 g l(-1). This paper analyzes the results and suggests a set of model functions to calculate the refractive index depending on the concentration. At all wavelengths, the measured values of the refractive index depended on the concentration linearly. Analyzing the slope of the lines, we determined the specific refraction increments, derived a set of model functions for the refractive index depending on the concentration, and compared our results with those available in the literature. Based on the model functions, we further calculated the refractive index at the physiological concentration within the erythrocytes of 320 g l(-1). The results can be used to calculate the refractive index in the visible range for arbitrary concentrations provided that the refractive indices depend on the concentration linearly.

Plasmonic Waveguide Coupled Ring Cavity for a Non-Resonant Type Refractive Index Sensor.

PubMed

Kwon, Soon-Hong

2017-11-03

Sensitive refractive index sensors with small footprints have been studied to allow the integration of a large number of sensors into a tiny chip for bio/chemical applications. In particular, resonant-type index sensors based on various micro/nanocavities, which use a resonant wavelength dependence on the refractive index of the analyte, have been developed. However, the spectral linewidth of the resonance, which becomes the resolution limit, is considerably large in plasmonic cavities due to the large absorption loss of metals. Therefore, there is demand for a new type of plasmonic refractive index sensor that is not limited by the linewidth of the cavity. We propose a new type of plasmonic index sensors consisting of a channel waveguide and a ring cavity. Two emissions from the ring cavity in both directions of the waveguide couple with a reflection phase difference depending on the length of a closed right arm with a reflecting boundary. Therefore, the output power dramatically and sensitively changes as a function of the refractive index of the analyte filling the waveguide.

Plasmonic Waveguide Coupled Ring Cavity for a Non-Resonant Type Refractive Index Sensor

PubMed Central

Kwon, Soon-Hong

2017-01-01

Sensitive refractive index sensors with small footprints have been studied to allow the integration of a large number of sensors into a tiny chip for bio/chemical applications. In particular, resonant-type index sensors based on various micro/nanocavities, which use a resonant wavelength dependence on the refractive index of the analyte, have been developed. However, the spectral linewidth of the resonance, which becomes the resolution limit, is considerably large in plasmonic cavities due to the large absorption loss of metals. Therefore, there is demand for a new type of plasmonic refractive index sensor that is not limited by the linewidth of the cavity. We propose a new type of plasmonic index sensors consisting of a channel waveguide and a ring cavity. Two emissions from the ring cavity in both directions of the waveguide couple with a reflection phase difference depending on the length of a closed right arm with a reflecting boundary. Therefore, the output power dramatically and sensitively changes as a function of the refractive index of the analyte filling the waveguide. PMID:29099740

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature based on all-dielectric metasurface.

PubMed

Hu, Jie; Lang, Tingting; Shi, Guo-Hua

2017-06-26

In this paper, a novel kind of sensors for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature based on all-dielectric metasurfaces is proposed. The metasurfaces are constructed by an array of silicon nanoblocks on top of the bulk fused silica substrate. We used three-dimensional full wave electromagnetic field simulation by finite integral method to accurately calculate the transmission spectrum of the metasurfaces. Two transmission dips corresponding to the electric and magnetic resonances are observed. Both dips shift as the ambient refractive index or the temperature changes. Simulation results show that the sensing sensitivities of two dips to the refractive index are 243.44 nm/RIU and 159.43 nm/RIU, respectively, while the sensitivities to the temperature are 50.47 pm/°C and 75.20 pm/°C, respectively. After introducing four holes into each silicon nanoblock, the electromagnetic field overlap in the surrounding medium can be further promoted, and the sensitivities to the refractive index increase to 306.71 nm/RIU and 204.27 nm/RIU, respectively. Our proposed sensors have advantages of polarization insensitive, small size, and low loss, which offer them high potential applications in physical, biological and chemical sensing fields.

Smart design of a long-period fiber grating refractive index sensor based on dual-peak resonance near the phase-matching turning point.

PubMed

Ling, Qiang; Gu, Zhengtian; Gao, Kan

2018-04-01

This paper presents a smart design way for the long-period fiber grating (LPFG) refractive index sensor, which is based on high sensitivity of LPFG near phase-matching turning point (PMTP) to the surrounding refractive index (SRI). On the basis of the coupled mode theory of LPFG, cladding etching and film coating have opposite effects on the shift of the dual peaks. Therefore, an LPFG can be controlled by the cladding etching and film coating successively, until it operates near PMTP. Experimentally, an LPFG operating near PMTP was fabricated, and the glycerol solution concentration monitoring test was performed. The results show that the sensitivity of this LPFG to the SRI is as high as 5602 nm/refractive index unit.

Ambience-sensitive optical refraction in ferroelectric nanofilms of NaNbO3

PubMed Central

Tyunina, Marina; Chvostova, Dagmar; Pacherova, Oliva; Kocourek, Tomas; Jelinek, Miroslav; Jastrabik, Lubomir; Dejneka, Alexander

2014-01-01

Optical index of refraction n is studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry in epitaxial nanofilms of NaNbO3 with thickness ∼10 nm grown on different single-crystal substrates. The index n in the transparency spectral range (n ≈ 2.1 – 2.2) exhibits a strong sensitivity to atmospheric-pressure gas ambience. The index n in air exceeds that in an oxygen ambience by δn ≈ 0.05 – 0.2. The thermo-optical behaviour n(T) indicates ferroelectric state in the nanofilms. The ambience-sensitive optical refraction is discussed in terms of fundamental connection between refraction and ferroelectric polarization in perovskites, screening of depolarizing field on surfaces of the nanofilms, and thermodynamically stable surface reconstructions of NaNbO3. PMID:27877702

Coexistence of positive and negative refractive index sensitivity in the liquid-core photonic crystal fiber based plasmonic sensor.

PubMed

Shuai, Binbin; Xia, Li; Liu, Deming

2012-11-05

We present and numerically characterize a liquid-core photonic crystal fiber based plasmonic sensor. The coupling properties and sensing performance are investigated by the finite element method. It is found that not only the plasmonic mode dispersion relation but also the fundamental mode dispersion relation is rather sensitive to the analyte refractive index (RI). The positive and negative RI sensitivity coexist in the proposed design. It features a positive RI sensitivity when the increment of the SPP mode effective index is larger than that of the fundamental mode, but the sensor shows a negative RI sensitivity once the increment of the fundamental mode gets larger. A maximum negative RI sensitivity of -5500nm/RIU (Refractive Index Unit) is achieved in the sensing range of 1.50-1.53. The effects of the structural parameters on the plasmonic excitations are also studied, with a view of tuning and optimizing the resonant spectrum.

Ultrahigh sensitivity refractive index sensor of a D-shaped PCF based on surface plasmon resonance.

PubMed

Wu, JunJun; Li, Shuguang; Wang, Xinyu; Shi, Min; Feng, Xinxing; Liu, Yundong

2018-05-20

We propose a D-shaped photonic crystal fiber (PCF) refractive index sensor with ultrahigh sensitivity and a wide detection range. The gold layer is deposited on the polished surface, avoiding filling or coating inside the air holes of the PCF. The influences of the gold layer thickness and the diameter of the larger air holes are investigated. The sensing characteristics of the proposed sensor are analyzed by the finite element method. The maximum sensitivity can reach 31,000  nm/RIU, and the refractive index detection range is from 1.32 to 1.40. Our proposed PCF has excellent sensing characteristics and is competitive in sensing devices.

Enhancing intensity and refractive index sensing capability with infrared plasmonic perfect absorbers.

PubMed

Cheng, Fei; Yang, Xiaodong; Gao, Jie

2014-06-01

An infrared refractive index sensor based on plasmonic perfect absorbers for glucose concentration sensing is experimentally demonstrated. Utilizing substantial absorption contrast between a perfect absorber (∼98% at normal incidence) and a non-perfect absorber upon the refractive index change, a maximum value of figure of merit (FOM^*) about 55 and a bulk wavelength sensitivity about 590  nm/RIU are achieved. The demonstrated sensing platform provides great potential in improving the performance of plasmonic refractive index sensors and developing future surface enhanced infrared spectroscopy.

On-chip integrated optofluidic complex refractive index sensing using silicon photonic crystal nanobeam cavities.

PubMed

Zhang, Xingwang; Zhou, Guangya; Shi, Peng; Du, Han; Lin, Tong; Teng, Jinghua; Chau, Fook Siong

2016-03-15

Complex refractive index sensing is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in optofluidic sensors based on silicon photonic crystal nanobeam cavities. The sensitivities are 58 and 139 nm/RIU, respectively, for the real part (n) and the imaginary part (κ) of the complex refractive index, and the corresponding detection limits are 1.8×10(-5) RIU for n and 4.1×10(-6) RIU for κ. Moreover, the capability of the complex refractive index sensing method to detect the concentration composition of the ternary mixture is demonstrated without the surface immobilization of functional groups, which is impossible to realize with the conventional refractive index sensing scheme.

Temperature-insensitive refractive index sensing by use of micro Fabry-Pérot cavity based on simplified hollow-core photonic crystal fiber.

PubMed

Wang, Ying; Wang, D N; Liao, C R; Hu, Tianyi; Guo, Jiangtao; Wei, Huifeng

2013-02-01

A temperature-insensitive micro Fabry-Pérot (FP) cavity based on simplified hollow-core (SHC) photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is demonstrated. Such a device is fabricated by splicing a section of SHC PCF with single mode fibers at both cleaved ends. An extremely low temperature sensitivity of ~0.273 pm/°C is obtained between room temperature and 900°C. By drilling vertical micro-channels using a femtosecond laser, the micro FP cavity can be filled with liquids and functions as a sensitive refractometer and the refractive index sensitivity obtained is ~851.3 nm/RIU (refractive index unit), which indicates an ultra low temperature cross-sensitivity of ~3.2×10(-7) RIU/°C.

Self-Reference Refractive Index Sensor Based on Independently Controlled Double Resonances in Side-Coupled U-Shaped Resonators.

PubMed

Ren, Xiaobin; Ren, Kun; Ming, Chengguo

2018-04-28

A plasmonic, refractive, index nanosensor is investigated theoretically and numerically in two U-shaped cavities side-coupled to a metal⁻dielectric⁻metal (MDM) waveguide. A transparency window between two transmission dips is observed. The physical origin of the transmission phenomenon is revealed by mapping the magnetic field distribution. Independent double resonances are realized through the proposed design. Double resonances showed diverse responses to the variations of the structural dimensions. In particular, they presented different dependences on a refraction index of the medium in an individual resonator. One resonance exhibited a remarkable shift with the increase of the refraction index; however, the other resonance remained unchanged. On the basis of this unique characteristic of differing sensitivities, self-reference sensing is discussed. The nanosensor yielded a high sensitivity of 917 nm/RIU and a figure of merit of 180 RIU −1 . This work is helpful in terms of the design of on-chip optical sensors with high sensitivity and improved detection accuracy in complicated environments.

Fiber-optic refractometer based on an etched high-Q π-phase-shifted fiber-Bragg-grating.

PubMed

Zhang, Qi; Ianno, Natale J; Han, Ming

2013-07-10

We present a compact and highly-sensitive fiber-optic refractometer based on a high-Q π-phase-shifted fiber-Bragg-grating (πFBG) that is chemically etched to the core of the fiber. Due to the p phase-shift, a strong πFBG forms a high-Q optical resonator and the reflection spectrum features an extremely narrow notch that can be used for highly sensitivity refractive index measurement. The etched πFBG demonstrated here has a diameter of ~9.3 μm and a length of only 7 mm, leading to a refractive index responsivity of 2.9 nm/RIU (RIU: refractive index unit) at an ambient refractive index of 1.318. The reflection spectrum of the etched πFBG features an extremely narrow notch with a linewidth of only 2.1 pm in water centered at ~1,550 nm, corresponding to a Q-factor of 7.4 × 10(5), which allows for potentially significantly improved sensitivity over refractometers based on regular fiber Bragg gratings.

In-fiber refractive index sensor based on single eccentric hole-assisted dual-core fiber.

PubMed

Yang, Jing; Guan, Chunying; Tian, Peixuan; Yuan, Tingting; Zhu, Zheng; Li, Ping; Shi, Jinhui; Yang, Jun; Yuan, Libo

2017-11-01

We propose a novel and simple in-fiber refractive index sensor based on resonant coupling, constructed by a short section of single eccentric hole-assisted dual-core fiber (SEHADCF) spliced between two single-mode fibers. The coupling characteristics of the SEHADCF are calculated numerically. The strong resonant coupling occurs when the fundamental mode of the center core phase-matches to that of the suspended core in the air hole. The effective refractive index of the fundamental mode of the suspended core can be obviously changed by injecting solution into the air hole. The responses of the proposed devices to the refractive index and temperature are experimentally measured. The refractive index sensitivity is 627.5 nm/refractive index unit in the refractive index range of 1.335-1.385. The sensor without solution filling is insensitive to temperature in the range of 30-90°C. The proposed refractive index sensor has outstanding advantages, such as simple fabrication, good mechanical strength, and excellent microfluidic channel, and will be of importance in biological detection, chemical analysis, and environment monitoring.

Effect of Surface Coverage of Gold Nanoparticles on the Refractive Index Sensitivity in Fiber-Optic Nanoplasmonic Sensing.

PubMed

Wu, Wei-Te; Chen, Chien-Hsing; Chiang, Chang-Yue; Chau, Lai-Kwan

2018-05-31

A simple theoretical model was developed to analyze the extinction spectrum of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the fiber core and glass surfaces in order to aid the determination of the surface coverage and surface distribution of the AuNPs on the fiber core surface for sensitivity optimization of the fiber optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR) sensor. The extinction spectrum of AuNPs comprises of the interband absorption of AuNPs, non-interacting plasmon resonance (PR) band due to isolated AuNPs, and coupled PR band of interacting AuNPs. When the surface coverage is smaller than 12.2%, the plasmon coupling effect can almost be ignored. This method is also applied to understand the refractive index sensitivity of the FOPPR sensor with respect to the non-interacting PR band and the coupled PR band. In terms of wavelength sensitivity at a surface coverage of 18.6%, the refractive index sensitivity of the coupled PR band (205.5 nm/RIU) is greater than that of the non-interacting PR band (349.1 nm/RIU). In terms of extinction sensitivity, refractive index sensitivity of the coupled PR band (-3.86/RIU) is similar to that of the non-interacting PR band (-3.93/RIU). Both maximum wavelength and extinction sensitivities were found at a surface coverage of 15.2%.

Demonstration of versatile whispering-gallery micro-lasers for remote refractive index sensing.

PubMed

Wan, Lei; Chandrahalim, Hengky; Zhou, Jian; Li, Zhaohui; Chen, Cong; Cho, Sangha; Zhang, Hui; Mei, Ting; Tian, Huiping; Oki, Yuji; Nishimura, Naoya; Fan, Xudong; Guo, L Jay

2018-03-05

We developed chip-scale remote refractive index sensors based on Rhodamine 6G (R6G)-doped polymer micro-ring lasers. The chemical, temperature, and mechanical sturdiness of the fused-silica host guaranteed a flexible deployment of dye-doped polymers for refractive index sensing. The introduction of the dye as gain medium demonstrated the feasibility of remote sensing based on the free-space optics measurement setup. Compared to the R6G-doped TZ-001, the lasing behavior of R6G-doped SU-8 polymer micro-ring laser under an aqueous environment had a narrower spectrum linewidth, producing the minimum detectable refractive index change of 4 × 10 -4 RIU. The maximum bulk refractive index sensitivity (BRIS) of 75 nm/RIU was obtained for SU-8 laser-based refractive index sensors. The economical, rapid, and simple realization of polymeric micro-scale whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) laser-based refractive index sensors will further expand pathways of static and dynamic remote environmental, chemical, biological, and bio-chemical sensing.

Fiber optic refractive index monitor

DOEpatents

Weiss, Jonathan David

2002-01-01

A sensor for measuring the change in refractive index of a liquid uses the lowest critical angle of a normal fiber optic to achieve sensitivity when the index of the liquid is significantly less than the index of the fiber core. Another embodiment uses a liquid filled core to ensure that its index is approximately the same as the liquid being measured.

Low cost fiber optic sensing of sugar solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muthuraju, M. E.; Patlolla, Anurag Reddy; Vadakkapattu Canthadai, Badrinath; Pachava, Vengalrao

2015-03-01

The demand for highly sensitive and reliable sensors to assess the refractive index of liquid get many applications in chemical and biomedical areas. Indeed, the physical parameters such as concentration, pressure and density, etc., can be found using the refractive index of liquid. In contrast to the conventional refractometer for measurement, optical fiber sensor has several advantages like remote sensing, small in size, low cost, immune to EMI etc., In this paper we have discussed determination of refractive index of sugar solution using optical fiber. An intensity modulated low cost plastic fiber optic refractive index sensor has been designed for the study. The sensor is based on principle of change in angle of reflected light caused by refractive index change of the medium surrounding the fiber. The experimental results obtained for the sugar solution of different refractive indices prove that the fiber optic sensor is cable of measuring the refractive indices as well as the concentrations.

Balloon-like singlemode-tapered multimode-singlemode fiber structure for refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Biyao; Niu, Yanxiong; Yang, Bowen; Dai, Lingling; Hu, Yanhui; Yin, Yiheng; Ding, Ming

2017-10-01

A novel high sensitivity refractive index sensor based on balloon-like singlemode-tapered multimode-singlemode (STMS) fiber structure has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Combining the tapering and bending endows the proposed sensor with large evanescent field, resulting in high sensitivity. Experimental results show that the proposed sensor has an average sensitivity of 1104.75 nm/RIU (RI Unit) in the range of 1.33-1.41 and a maximum sensitivity of 3374.50 nm/RIU at RI of 1.41.

Effect of substrate baking temperature on zinc sulfide and germanium thin films optical parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Fang; Gao, Jiaobo; Yang, Chongmin; Zhang, Jianfu; Liu, Yongqiang; Liu, Qinglong; Wang, Songlin; Mi, Gaoyuan; Wang, Huina

2016-10-01

ZnS and Ge are very normal optical thin film materials in Infrared wave. Studying the influence of different substrate baking temperature to refractive index and actual deposition rates is very important to promote optical thin film quality. In the same vacuum level, monitoring thickness and evaporation rate, we use hot evaporation to deposit ZnS thin film materials and use ion-assisted electron beam to deposit Ge thin film materials with different baking temperature. We measure the spectral transmittance with the spectrophotometer and calculate the actual deposition rates and the refractive index in different temperature. With the higher and higher temperature in a particular range, ZnS and Ge refractive index become higher and actual deposition rates become smaller. The refractive index of Ge film material change with baking temperature is more sensitive than ZnS. However, ZnS film actual deposition rates change with baking temperature is more sensitive than Ge.

Optofluidic refractive-index sensor in step-index fiber with parallel hollow micro-channel.

PubMed

Lee, H W; Schmidt, M A; Uebel, P; Tyagi, H; Joly, N Y; Scharrer, M; Russell, P St J

2011-04-25

We present a simple refractive index sensor based on a step-index fiber with a hollow micro-channel running parallel to its core. This channel becomes waveguiding when filled with a liquid of index greater than silica, causing sharp dips to appear in the transmission spectrum at wavelengths where the glass-core mode phase-matches to a mode of the liquid-core. The sensitivity of the dip-wavelengths to changes in liquid refractive index is quantified and the results used to study the dynamic flow characteristics of fluids in narrow channels. Potential applications of this fiber microstructure include measuring the optical properties of liquids, refractive index sensing, biophotonics and studies of fluid dynamics on the nanoscale.

Guided-Mode-Leaky-Mode-Guided-Mode Fiber Interferometer and Its High Sensitivity Refractive Index Sensing Technology.

PubMed

Wang, Qi; Li, Chunyue; Zhao, Chengwu; Li, Weizheng

2016-06-01

A cascaded symmetrical dual-taper Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure based on guided-mode and leaky-mode interference is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the interference spectrum characteristics of interferometer has been analyzed by the Finite Difference-Beam Propagation Method (FD-BPM). When the diameter of taper waist is 20 μm-30 μm, dual-taper length is 1 mm and taper distance is 4 cm-6 cm, the spectral contrast is higher, which is suitable for sensing. Secondly, experimental research on refractive index sensitivity is carried out. A refractive index sensitivity of 62.78 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) can achieved in the RI range of 1.3333-1.3792 (0%~25% NaCl solution), when the sensor structure parameters meet the following conditions: diameter of taper waist is 24 μm, dual-taper length is 837 μm and taper distance is 5.5 cm. The spectrum contrast is 0.8 and measurement resolution is 1.6 × 10(-5) RIU. The simulation analysis is highly consistent with experimental results. Research shows that the sensor has promising application in low RI fields where high-precision measurement is required due to its high sensitivity and stability.

All-optical on-chip sensor for high refractive index sensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Yazhao; Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ, Delft; Salemink, H. W. M., E-mail: H.Salemink@science.ru.nl

2015-01-19

A highly sensitive sensor design based on two-dimensional photonic crystal cavity is demonstrated. The geometric structure of the cavity is modified to gain a high quality factor, which enables a sensitive refractive index sensing. A group of slots with optimized parameters is created in the cavity. The existence of the slots enhances the light-matter interactions between confined photons and analytes. The interactions result in large wavelength shifts in the transmission spectra and are denoted by high sensitivities. Experiments show that a change in refractive index of Δn ∼ 0.12 between water and oil sample 1 causes a spectral shift of 23.5 nm, andmore » the spectral shift between two oil samples is 5.1 nm for Δn ∼ 0.039. These results are in good agreement with simulations, which are 21.3 and 7.39 nm for the same index changes.« less

Fiber-Optic Refractometer Based on an Etched High-Q π-Phase-Shifted Fiber-Bragg-Grating

PubMed Central

Zhang, Qi; Ianno, Natale J.; Han, Ming

2013-01-01

We present a compact and highly-sensitive fiber-optic refractometer based on a high-Q π-phase-shifted fiber-Bragg-grating (πFBG) that is chemically etched to the core of the fiber. Due to the π phase-shift, a strong πFBG forms a high-Q optical resonator and the reflection spectrum features an extremely narrow notch that can be used for highly sensitivity refractive index measurement. The etched πFBG demonstrated here has a diameter of ∼9.3 μm and a length of only 7 mm, leading to a refractive index responsivity of 2.9 nm/RIU (RIU: refractive index unit) at an ambient refractive index of 1.318. The reflection spectrum of the etched πFBG features an extremely narrow notch with a linewidth of only 2.1 pm in water centered at ∼1,550 nm, corresponding to a Q-factor of 7.4 × 105, which allows for potentially significantly improved sensitivity over refractometers based on regular fiber Bragg gratings. PMID:23845932

Laser interferometry of the hydrolytic changes in protein solutions: the refractive index and hydration shells.

PubMed

Sarimov, R M; Matveyeva, T A; Binhi, V N

2018-05-11

Using an original laser interferometer of enhanced sensitivity, an increase in the refractive index of a protein solution was observed during the reaction of proteolysis catalyzed by pepsin. The increase in the refractive index of the protein solution at a concentration of 4 mg/ml was [Formula: see text] for bovine serum albumin and [Formula: see text] for lysozyme. The observed effect disproves the existing idea that the refractive index of protein solutions is determined only by their amino acid composition and concentration. It is shown that the refractive index also depends on the state of protein fragmentation. A mathematical model of proteolysis and a real-time method for estimating the state of protein hydration based on the measurement of refractive index during the reaction are proposed. A good agreement between the experimental and calculated time dependences of the refractive index shows that the growth of the surface of protein fragments and the change in the number of hydration cavities during proteolysis can be responsible for the observed effect.

Tapered-fiber-based refractive index sensor at an air/solution interface.

PubMed

Lu, Ping; Harris, Jeremie; Wang, Xiaozhen; Lin, Ganbin; Chen, Liang; Bao, Xiaoyi

2012-10-20

An approach to achieve refractive index sensing at an air and aqueous glycerol solution interface is proposed using a tapered-fiber-based microfiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MFMZI). Compared to a surrounding uniform medium of air or solutions, the spectral interference visibility of the MFMZI at the air/solution interface is significantly reduced due to a weak coupling between the fundamental cladding mode and high-order asymmetric cladding modes, which are extremely sensitive to the external refractive index. The MFMZI is experimentally demonstrated as an evanescent wave refractive index sensor to measure concentrations of glycerol solutions by monitoring average power attenuation of the tapered fiber.

Refractive Index Sensing Using Visible Electromagnetic Resonances of Supported Cu2O Particles.

PubMed

Susman, Mariano D; Vaskevich, Alexander; Rubinstein, Israel

2017-03-08

Plasmonic metal nanostructures, in colloidal or surface-supported forms, have been extensively studied in the context of metamaterials design and applications, in particular as refractometric sensing platforms. Recently, high refractive index (high-n) dielectric subwavelength structures have been experimentally shown to support strong Mie scattering resonances, predicted to exhibit analogous refractive index sensing capabilities. Here we present the first experimental demonstration of the use of supported high-n dielectric nano/microparticle ensembles as refractive index sensing platforms, using cuprous oxide as a model high-n material. Single-crystalline Cu 2 O particles were deposited on transparent substrates using a chemical deposition scheme, showing well-defined electric and magnetic dipolar resonances (EDR and MDR, respectively) in the visible range, which change in intensity and wavelength upon changing the medium refractive index (n m ). The significant modulation of the MDR intensity when n m is modified appears to be the most valuable empirical sensing parameter. The Mie scattering properties of Cu 2 O particles, particularly the spectral dependence of the MDR on n m , are theoretically modeled to support the experimental observations. MDR extinction changes (i.e., refractive index sensitivity) per particle are >100 times higher compared to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) changes in supported Au nanoislands, encouraging the evaluation of Cu 2 O and other high-n dielectric particles and sensing modes in order to improve the sensitivity in optical (bio)sensing applications.

Nano-imprint gold grating as refractive index sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumari, Sudha; Mohapatra, Saswat; Moirangthem, Rakesh S.

Large scale of fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures has been a challenging task due to time consuming process and requirement of expensive nanofabrication tools such as electron beam lithography system, focused ion beam system, and extreme UV photolithography system. Here, we present a cost-effective fabrication technique so called soft nanoimprinting to fabricate nanostructures on the larger sample area. In our fabrication process, a commercially available optical DVD disc was used as a template which was imprinted on a polymer glass substrate to prepare 1D polymer nano-grating. A homemade nanoimprinting setup was used in this fabrication process. Further, a label-free refractive indexmore » sensor was developed by utilizing the properties of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of a gold coated 1D polymer nano-grating. Refractive index sensing was tested by exposing different solutions of glycerol-water mixture on the surface of gold nano-grating. The calculated bulk refractive index sensitivity was found to be 751nm/RIU. We believed that our proposed SPR sensor could be a promising candidate for developing low-cost refractive index sensor with high sensitivity on a large scale.« less

Estimation of photonic band gap in the hollow core cylindrical multilayer structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chourasia, Ritesh Kumar; Singh, Vivek

2018-04-01

The propagation characteristic of two hollow core cylindrical multilayer structures having high and low refractive index contrast of cladding regions have been studied and compared at two design wavelengths i.e. 1550 nm and 632.8 nm. With the help of transfer matrix method a relation between the incoming light wave and outgoing light wave has been developed using the boundary matching technique. In high refractive index contrast, small numbers of layers are sufficient to provide perfect band gap in both design wavelengths. The spectral position and width of band gap is highly depending on the optical path of incident light in all considered cases. For sensing application, the sensitivity of waveguide can be obtained either by monitoring the width of photonic band gap or by monitoring the spectral shift of photonic band gap. Change in the width of photonic band gap with the core refractive index is larger in high refractive index contrast of cladding materials. However, in the case of monitoring the spectral shift of band gap, the obtained sensitivity is large for low refractive index contrast of cladding materials and further it increases with increase of design wavelength.

High-sensitivity refractive index sensor based on large-angle tilted fiber grating with carbon nanotube deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badmos, Abdulyezir A.; Sun, Qizhen; Yan, Zhijun; Arif, Raz N.; Zhang, Junxi; Rozhin, Alex; Zhang, Lin

2016-04-01

This paper presents a highly sensitive ambient refractive index (RI) sensor based on 81° tilted fiber grating (81°-TFG) structure UV-inscribed in standard telecom fiber (62.5μm cladding radius) with carbon nanotube (CNT) overlay deposition. The sensing mechanism is based on the ability of CNT to induce change in transmitted optical power and the high sensitivity of 81°-TFG to ambient refractive index. The thin CNT film with high refractive index enhances the cladding modes of the TFG, resulting in the significant interaction between the propagating light and the surrounding medium. Consequently, the surrounding RI change will induce not only the resonant wavelength shift but also the power intensity change of the attenuation band in the transmission spectrum. Result shows that the change in transmitted optical power produces a corresponding linear reduction in intensity with increment in RI values. The sample shows high sensitivities of 207.38nm/RIU, 241.79nm/RIU at RI range 1.344-1.374 and 113.09nm/RIU, 144.40nm/RIU at RI range 1.374-1.392 (for X-pol and Y-pol respectively). It also shows power intensity sensitivity of 65.728dBm/RIU and 45.898 (for X-pol and Y-pol respectively). The low thermal sensitivity property of the 81°-TFG offers reduction in thermal cross-sensitivity and enhances specificity of the sensor.

Temperature and refractive index measurements using long-period fiber gratings fabricated by femtosecond laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Yongqin; Zheng, Jiarong; Yi, Kai; Ruan, Shuangchen; Du, Chenlin; Huang, Jianhui; Zhong, Wansheng

2011-12-01

Long period fiber gratings (LPFGs) with different periods in the standard single mode fiber were fabricated, using laser direct writing method, by femtosecond laser pulses with pulse width of 200 fs and the repetition rate of 250 kHz at a center wavelength of 800 nm in air. Comparative with bare LPFG in temperature sensor, LPFG had been encapsulated using large coefficient of thermal expansion of epoxy polymer and Aluminum to enhance the temperature sensitivity. The results showed that the temperature sensitivity of encapsulated LPFG was 2 times than that of bare LPFG. In addition, we also researched the relationship between resonant wavelength and surrounding refractive index (SRI) when LPFG immersed in refractive index of solution of different index at 20 degree Celsius.

Highly Sensitive Refractive Index Sensor Based on Adiabatically Tapered Microfiber Long Period Gratings

PubMed Central

Ji, Wen Bin; Tjin, Swee Chuan; Lin, Bo; Ng, Choong Leng

2013-01-01

We demonstrate a refractive index sensor based on a long period grating (LPG) inscribed in a special photosensitive microfiber with double-clad profile. The fiber is tapered gradually enough to ensure the adiabaticity of the fiber taper. In other words, the resulting insertion loss is sufficiently small. The boron and germanium co-doped inner cladding makes it suitable for inscribing gratings into its tapered form. The manner of wavelength shift for refractive indices (RIs) differs from conventional LPG, and the refractive index detection limit is 1.67 × 10−5. PMID:24141267

Highly sensitive refractive index sensor based on adiabatically tapered microfiber long period gratings.

PubMed

Ji, Wen Bin; Tjin, Swee Chuan; Lin, Bo; Ng, Choong Leng

2013-10-17

We demonstrate a refractive index sensor based on a long period grating (LPG) inscribed in a special photosensitive microfiber with double-clad profile. The fiber is tapered gradually enough to ensure the adiabaticity of the fiber taper. In other words, the resulting insertion loss is sufficiently small. The boron and germanium co-doped inner cladding makes it suitable for inscribing gratings into its tapered form. The manner of wavelength shift for refractive indices (RIs) differs from conventional LPG, and the refractive index detection limit is 1.67 × 10⁻⁵.

Control of Fano resonances in photonic crystal nanobeams side-coupled with nanobeam cavities and their applications to refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Zi-Ming; Li, Zhi-Yuan

2018-03-01

We study the control of Fano resonances in a 2D photonic crystal nanobeam (PCN) side-coupled with a photonic crystal nanobeam cavity (PCNC) by choosing different cavity modes, the position of the photonic bandgap of PCNs and the displacement between PCNs and PCNCs. By increasing the refractive index of the holes and the surrounding medium, it is found that the air mode cavity with even mirror-reflection symmetry holds the highest sensitivity (538 nm/RIU RIU, refractive index unit) and maximal figure of merit (FOM  =  516). Our results can be extended to a practical 3D configuration, where an air-suspended silicon PCN is side-coupled with a PCNC. Although the sensitivity is only 192 nm/RIU for our 3D structures, the maximal FOM is as large as 2095 due to the deep transmission valley. The sensitivity of our PCN-PCNC structures can be further improved by designing PCNCs with electric field concentrated in the air region as much as possible. Our PCN-PCNC structures do not require ultrahigh Q and can be fabricated on the silicon-on-insulator platform, which is compatible with CMOS processing. Therefore, our proposed PCN-PCNC structures provide feasible solutions for realizing label-free sensitive integrated refractive index sensors.

Guided-Mode-Leaky-Mode-Guided-Mode Fiber Interferometer and Its High Sensitivity Refractive Index Sensing Technology

PubMed Central

Wang, Qi; Li, Chunyue; Zhao, Chengwu; Li, Weizheng

2016-01-01

A cascaded symmetrical dual-taper Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure based on guided-mode and leaky-mode interference is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the interference spectrum characteristics of interferometer has been analyzed by the Finite Difference-Beam Propagation Method (FD-BPM). When the diameter of taper waist is 20 μm–30 μm, dual-taper length is 1 mm and taper distance is 4 cm–6 cm, the spectral contrast is higher, which is suitable for sensing. Secondly, experimental research on refractive index sensitivity is carried out. A refractive index sensitivity of 62.78 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) can achieved in the RI range of 1.3333–1.3792 (0%~25% NaCl solution), when the sensor structure parameters meet the following conditions: diameter of taper waist is 24 μm, dual-taper length is 837 μm and taper distance is 5.5 cm. The spectrum contrast is 0.8 and measurement resolution is 1.6 × 10−5 RIU. The simulation analysis is highly consistent with experimental results. Research shows that the sensor has promising application in low RI fields where high-precision measurement is required due to its high sensitivity and stability. PMID:27258281

Tunable fiber laser based on the refractive index characteristic of MMI effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Lin; Qi, Yanhui; Kang, Zexin; Bai, Yunlong; Jian, Shuisheng

2014-04-01

A tunable erbium-doped all-fiber laser has been demonstrated. This tunable laser is based on a tunable fiber filter using the refractive index characteristics of multimode interference effects. A thinner no-core fiber with a diameter of 104 μm is used to fabricate the tunable fiber filter. The joint point of the thinner no-core fiber with SMF is a taper, which improves its sensitivity for refractive index changes. The filter exhibits a very sensitive response to the change of the environmental refractive index, which is about 1000 nm/RIU in the RI range from 1.418 to 1.427. The tunable fiber laser based on the filter achieved a tunability of 32 nm, with the wavelength tuned from 1532 nm to 1564 nm covering the full C-band. The 3 dB bandwidth of the tunable laser is less than 0.02 nm with the signal-to-noise ratio of about 40 dB.

A naked eye refractive index sensor with a visible multiple peak metamaterial absorber.

PubMed

Ma, Heli; Song, Kun; Zhou, Liang; Zhao, Xiaopeng

2015-03-26

We report a naked eye refractive index sensor with a visible metamaterial absorber. The visible metamaterial absorber consisting of a silver dendritic/dielectric/metal structure shows multiple absorption peaks. By incorporating a gain material (rhodamine B) into the dielectric layer, the maximal magnitude of the absorption peak can be improved by about 30%. As the metamaterial absorber is sensitive to the refractive index of glucose solutions, it can function as a sensor that quickly responds to variations of the refractive index of the liquid. Meanwhile, since the response is presented via color changes, it can be clearly observed by the naked eyes. Further experiments have confirmed that the sensor can be used repeatedly.

Dual-peak long-period fiber gratings with enhanced refractive index sensitivity by finely tailored mode dispersion that uses the light cladding etching technique.

PubMed

Chen, Xianfeng; Zhou, Kaiming; Zhang, Lin; Bennion, Ian

2007-02-01

We have experimentally investigated the mode dispersion property and refractive index sensitivity of dual-peak long-period fiber gratings (LPGs) that were sensitized by hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching. The nature of the coupled cladding modes close to the dispersion turning point makes the dual-peak LPGs ultrasensitive to cladding property, permitting a fine tailoring of the mode dispersion and index sensitivity by the light cladding etching method using HF acid of only 1% concentration. As an implementation of an optical biosensor, the etched device was used to detect the concentration of hemoglobin protein in a sugar solution, showing a sensitivity as high as 20 nm/1%.

Modeling of Slot Waveguide Sensors Based on Polymeric Materials

PubMed Central

Bettotti, Paolo; Pitanti, Alessandro; Rigo, Eveline; De Leonardis, Francesco; Passaro, Vittorio M. N.; Pavesi, Lorenzo

2011-01-01

Slot waveguides are very promising for optical sensing applications because of their peculiar spatial mode profile. In this paper we have carried out a detailed analysis of mode confinement properties in slot waveguides realized in very low refractive index materials. We show that the sensitivity of a slot waveguide is not directly related to the refractive index contrast of high and low materials forming the waveguide. Thus, a careful design of the structures allows the realization of high sensitivity devices even in very low refractive index materials (e.g., polymers) to be achieved. Advantages of low index dielectrics in terms of cost, functionalization and ease of fabrication are discussed while keeping both CMOS compatibility and integrable design schemes. Finally, applications of low index slot waveguides as substitute of bulky fiber capillary sensors or in ring resonator architectures are addressed. Theoretical results of this work are relevant to well established polymer technologies. PMID:22164020

Effect of MMF stub on the sensitivity of a photonic crystal fiber interferometer sensor at 1550 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhara, P.; Singh, Vinod K.

2015-01-01

A simple photonic crystal fiber (PCF) based Mach-Zehnder interferometric sensor is reported for sensing the refractive index and level of liquid. The sensing head is formed by all-fiber in-line single mode-multi mode-photonic crystal-single mode fiber structure using the fusion splicing method. The interferometric pattern, observed in the PCF interferometer using monochromatic source and temperature sensing arrangement, is novel and reported for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The refractive index sensitivity of the interferometric device is increased by using multimode fiber. The output intensity at the end of lead-out single mode fiber decreases with increase in refractive index of surrounding. The index sensitivities of the interferometric devices are 440.32 μw/RIU, 267.48 μw/RIU and 195.36 μw/RIU with sensing length 2.10 cm, 5.50 cm and 7.20 cm respectively. A 7.20 cm longed PCF sensor exhibits liquid level sensitivities -1.032 μw/cm, -1.197 μw/cm, and -1.489 μw/cm for three different liquid respectively.

Uncladded sensing fiber for refractive index measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhardwaj, V.; Gangwar, R. K.; Pathak, A. K.; Singh, V. K.

2016-05-01

The formation of chemically etched optical fiber for use in refractive index sensor is addressed. This presented design of a refractive index (RI) sensor is based on recording the power loss exhibited by radiation propagating through an etched multimode fiber (MMF) immersed in the liquid under study. The decreasing diameters of fibers are found to be strongly dependent on the temperature and etchant composition. This experiment was performed for different unclad etched fibers for same sensing length and the RI changes from 1.33 RIU to 1.38 RIU. When the multimode fiber (MMF) is etched for 12 hours the sensitivity of the sensor is approximately 204.25dBm/RIU, which is larger than without etched fiber having sensitivity 127.2dBm/RIU.

Refractive index sensor based on total scattering of plasmonic nanotube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Kaiqiang; Zeng, Qingbing; Hu, Zengrong; Zhan, Yaohui

2018-03-01

Plasmonic nanostructures can couple free space light into anultrafine space; therefore,they are employed extensively in the refractive index sensors to minimize the device size or further improve the detection sensitivity. In this work, the optical response of the plasmonic nanotube are investigated comprehensively by using full wave finite element method. With a subwavelength scale, the silver nanotube have prominent scattering peaks in the visible range, which is very suitable for observing through the dark field microscope. The geometric dependence of the scattering spectra and the sensing performance are evaluated carefully. Results show that the scattering peaks are in linear relationship to the circumstance refractive index and a sensitivity of 337 nm/RIUcan be achieved easily by such a plasmonicnanotube with an optimized size.

Single mode tapered fiber-optic interferometer based refractive index sensor and its application to protein sensing.

PubMed

Yadav, T K; Narayanaswamy, R; Abu Bakar, M H; Kamil, Y Mustapha; Mahdi, M A

2014-09-22

We demonstrate refractive index sensors based on single mode tapered fiber and its application as a biosensor. We utilize this tapered fiber optic biosensor, operating at 1550 nm, for the detection of protein (gelatin) concentration in water. The sensor is based on the spectroscopy of mode coupling based on core modes-fiber cladding modes excited by the fundamental core mode of an optical fiber when it transitions into tapered regions from untapered regions. The changes are determined from the wavelength shift of the transmission spectrum. The proposed fiber sensor has sensitivity of refractive index around 1500 nm/RIU and for protein concentration detection, its highest sensitivity is 2.42141 nm/%W/V.

Experimental and numerical study on refractive index sensors based on fibre Bragg gratings inscribed in multimode fibre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filipe Kuhne, Jean; Rocha, Ana Maria; de Oliveira, Valmir; José Kalinowski, Hypolito; Canute Kamikawachi, Ricardo

2018-02-01

In this work is reported the experimental and numerical results of the refractive index response of etched fibre Bragg gratings written in a graded index multimode fibre. The responses of the modes coupled by the grating inscribed in a multimode fibre are compared with the mode coupled by a grating inscribed in single mode fibre. The results of this study show that the refractive index sensitivity and the dynamical range of etched fibre Bragg gratings written in multimode fibres are higher than the ones verified in single-mode fibres. The determination of oil-biodiesel blend concentrations are also compared as an example of practical applications. It is shown that a greater core diameter of the multimode fibre enables the Bragg gratings to exhibit enhanced sensitivity without requiring further fibre diameter reduction.

Optofluidic refractive index sensor based on partial reflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Zhang, Zhang; Wang, Yichuan; Ye, Meiying; Fang, Wei; Tong, Limin

2017-06-01

We demonstrate a novel optofluidic refractive index (RI) sensor with high sensitivity and wide dynamic range based on partial reflection. Benefited from the divergent incident light and the output fibers with different tilting angles, we have achieved highly sensitive RI sensing in a wide range from 1.33 to 1.37. To investigate the effectiveness of this sensor, we perform a measurement of RI with a resolution of ca. 5.0×10-5 refractive index unit (RIU) for ethylene glycol solutions. Also, we have measured a series of liquid solutions by using different output fibers, achieving a resolution of ca. 0.52 mg/mL for cane surge. The optofluidic RI sensor takes advantage of the high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, small footprint, and low sample consumption, as well as the efficient fluidic sample delivery, making it useful for applications in the food industry.

Performance analysis of higher mode spoof surface plasmon polariton for terahertz sensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yao, Haizi; Tu, Wanli; Zhong, Shuncong, E-mail: zhongshuncong@hotmail.com

2015-04-07

We investigated the spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) on 1D grooved metal surface for terahertz sensing of refractive index of the filling analyte through a prism-coupling attenuated total reflection setup. From the dispersion relation analysis and the finite element method-based simulation, we revealed that the dispersion curve of SSPP got suppressed as the filling refractive index increased, which cause the coupling resonance frequency redshifting in the reflection spectrum. The simulated results for testing various refractive indexes demonstrated that the incident angle of terahertz radiation has a great effect on the performance of sensing. Smaller incident angle will result in amore » higher sensitive sensing with a narrower detection range. In the meanwhile, the higher order mode SSPP-based sensing has a higher sensitivity with a narrower detection range. The maximum sensitivity is 2.57 THz/RIU for the second-order mode sensing at 45° internal incident angle. The proposed SSPP-based method has great potential for high sensitive terahertz sensing.« less

Refractive Index Sensing with D-Shaped Plastic Optical Fibers for Chemical and Biochemical Applications

PubMed Central

Sequeira, Filipa; Duarte, Daniel; Bilro, Lúcia; Rudnitskaya, Alisa; Pesavento, Maria; Zeni, Luigi; Cennamo, Nunzio

2016-01-01

We report the optimization of the length of a D-shaped plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor for refractive index (RI) sensing from a numerical and experimental point of view. The sensing principle is based on total internal reflection (TIR). POFs with 1 mm in diameter were embedded in grooves, realized in planar supports with different lengths, and polished to remove the cladding and part of the core. All D-shaped POF sensors were tested using aqueous medium with different refractive indices (from 1.332 to 1.471) through intensity-based configuration. Results showed two different responses. Considering the refractive index (RI) range (1.33–1.39), the sensitivity and the resolution of the sensor were strongly dependent on the sensing region length. The highest sensitivity (resolution of 6.48 × 10−3 refractive index units, RIU) was obtained with 6 cm sensing length. In the RI range (1.41–1.47), the length of the sensing region was not a critical aspect to obtain the best resolution. These results enable the application of this optical platform for chemical and biochemical evanescent field sensing. The sensor production procedure is very simple, fast, and low-cost. PMID:27983608

Refractive Index Sensing with D-Shaped Plastic Optical Fibers for Chemical and Biochemical Applications.

PubMed

Sequeira, Filipa; Duarte, Daniel; Bilro, Lúcia; Rudnitskaya, Alisa; Pesavento, Maria; Zeni, Luigi; Cennamo, Nunzio

2016-12-13

We report the optimization of the length of a D-shaped plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor for refractive index (RI) sensing from a numerical and experimental point of view. The sensing principle is based on total internal reflection (TIR). POFs with 1 mm in diameter were embedded in grooves, realized in planar supports with different lengths, and polished to remove the cladding and part of the core. All D-shaped POF sensors were tested using aqueous medium with different refractive indices (from 1.332 to 1.471) through intensity-based configuration. Results showed two different responses. Considering the refractive index (RI) range (1.33-1.39), the sensitivity and the resolution of the sensor were strongly dependent on the sensing region length. The highest sensitivity (resolution of 6.48 × 10 -3 refractive index units, RIU) was obtained with 6 cm sensing length. In the RI range (1.41-1.47), the length of the sensing region was not a critical aspect to obtain the best resolution. These results enable the application of this optical platform for chemical and biochemical evanescent field sensing. The sensor production procedure is very simple, fast, and low-cost.

A Highly Sensitive Fiber Optic Sensor Based on Two-Core Fiber for Refractive Index Measurement

PubMed Central

Guzmán-Sepúlveda, José Rafael; Guzmán-Cabrera, Rafael; Torres-Cisneros, Miguel; Sánchez-Mondragón, José Javier; May-Arrioja, Daniel Alberto

2013-01-01

A simple and compact fiber optic sensor based on a two-core fiber is demonstrated for high-performance measurements of refractive indices (RI) of liquids. In order to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed sensor to perform high-sensitivity sensing in a variety of applications, the sensor has been used to measure the RI of binary liquid mixtures. Such measurements can accurately determine the salinity of salt water solutions, and detect the water content of adulterated alcoholic beverages. The largest sensitivity of the RI sensor that has been experimentally demonstrated is 3,119 nm per Refractive Index Units (RIU) for the RI range from 1.3160 to 1.3943. On the other hand, our results suggest that the sensitivity can be enhanced up to 3485.67 nm/RIU approximately for the same RI range. PMID:24152878

Refractive index sensing with Fano resonances in silicon oligomers

PubMed Central

Chong, Katie E.; Orton, Henry W.; Decker, Manuel; Miroshnichenko, Andrey E.; Brener, Igal; Kivshar, Yuri S.

2017-01-01

We demonstrate experimentally refractive index sensing with localized Fano resonances in silicon oligomers, consisting of six disks surrounding a central one of slightly different diameter. Owing to the low absorption and narrow Fano-resonant spectral features appearing as a result of the interference of the modes of the outer and the central disks, we demonstrate refractive index sensitivity of more than 150 nm RIU−1 with a figure of merit of 3.8. This article is part of the themed issue ‘New horizons for nanophotonics’. PMID:28220001

Plasmonic crystal enhanced refractive index sensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stein, Benedikt; Devaux, Eloïse; Genet, Cyriaque, E-mail: genet@unistra.fr

2014-06-23

We demonstrate experimentally how the local anisotropy of the dispersion relation of surface plasmon modes propagating over periodic metal gratings can lead to an enhancement of the figure of merit of refractive index sensors. Exploiting the possibility to acquire defocused images of the Fourier space of a highly stable leakage radiation microscope, we report a twofold increase in sensing sensitivity close to the band gap of a one-dimensional plasmonic crystal where the anisotropy of the band structure is the most important. A practical sensing resolution of O(10{sup −6}) refractive index units is demonstrated.

Mid-infrared refractive index sensing using optimized slotted photonic crystal waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kassa-Baghdouche, Lazhar; Cassan, Eric

2018-02-01

Slotted photonic crystal waveguides (SPCWs) were designed to act as refractive index sensing devices at mid-infrared (IR) wavelengths around λ = 3.6 μm. In particular, effort was made to engineer the input and output slot waveguide interfaces in order to increase the effective sensitivity through resonant tapering. A slotted PhC waveguide immersed in air and liquid cladding layers was considered. To determine the performance of the sensor, the sensitivity of the device was estimated by calculating the shift in the upper band edge of the output transmission spectrum. The results showed that the sensitivity of a conventionally designed SPCW followed by modifications in the structure parameter yielded a 510 nm shift in the wavelength position of the upper band edge, indicating a sensitivity of more than 1150 nm per refractive index unit (RIU) with an insertion loss level of -0.3 dB. This work demonstrates the viability of photonic crystal waveguide high sensitivity devices in the Mid-IR, following a transposition of the concepts inherited from the telecom band and an optimization of the design, in particular a minimization of photonic device insertion losses.

A sensitivity-enhanced refractive index sensor using a single-mode thin-core fiber incorporating an abrupt taper.

PubMed

Shi, Jie; Xiao, Shilin; Yi, Lilin; Bi, Meihua

2012-01-01

A sensitivity-enhanced fiber-optic refractive index (RI) sensor based on a tapered single-mode thin-core diameter fiber is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor head is formed by splicing a section of tapered thin-core diameter fiber (TCF) between two sections of single-mode fibers (SMFs). The cladding modes are excited at the first SMF-TCF interface, and then interfere with the core mode at the second interface, thus forming an inter-modal interferometer (IMI). An abrupt taper (tens of micrometers long) made by the electric-arc-heating method is utilized, and plays an important role in improving sensing sensitivity. The whole manufacture process only involves fiber splicing and tapering, and all the fabrication process can be achieved by a commercial fiber fusion splicer. Using glycerol and water mixture solution as an example, the experimental results show that the refractive index sensitivity is measured to be 0.591 nm for 1% change of surrounding RI. The proposed sensor structure features simple structure, low cost, easy fabrication, and high sensitivity.

High Sensitivity Refractometer Based on TiO₂-Coated Adiabatic Tapered Optical Fiber via ALD Technology.

PubMed

Zhu, Shan; Pang, Fufei; Huang, Sujuan; Zou, Fang; Guo, Qiang; Wen, Jianxiang; Wang, Tingyun

2016-08-15

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology is introduced to fabricate a high sensitivity refractometer based on an adiabatic tapered optical fiber. Different thicknesses of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanofilm were coated around the tapered fiber precisely and uniformly under different deposition cycles. Attributed to the higher refractive index of the TiO₂ nanofilm compared to that of silica, an asymmetric Fabry-Perot (F-P) resonator could be constructed along the fiber taper. The central wavelength of the F-P resonator could be controlled by adjusting the thickness of the TiO₂ nanofilm. Such a F-P resonator is sensitive to changes in the surrounding refractive index (SRI), which is utilized to realize a high sensitivity refractometer. The refractometer developed by depositing 50.9-nm-thickness TiO₂ on the tapered fiber shows SRI sensitivity as high as 7096 nm/RIU in the SRI range of 1.3373-1.3500. Due to TiO₂'s advantages of high refractive index, lack of toxicity, and good biocompatibility, this refractometer is expected to have wide applications in the biochemical sensing field.

Phase sensitive diffraction sensor for high sensitivity refractive index measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumawat, Nityanand; Varma, Manoj; Kumar, Sunil

2018-02-01

In this study a diffraction based sensor has been developed for bio molecular sensing applications and performing assays in real time. A diffraction grating fabricated on a glass substrate produced diffraction patterns both in transmission and reflection when illuminated by a laser diode. We used zeroth order I(0,0) as reference and first order I(0,1) as signal channel and conducted ratiometric measurements that reduced noise by more than 50 times. The ratiometric approach resulted in a very simple instrumentation with very high sensitivity. In the past, we have shown refractive index measurements both for bulk and surface adsorption using the diffractive self-referencing approach. In the current work we extend the same concept to higher diffraction orders. We have considered order I(0,1) and I(1,1) and performed ratiometric measurements I(0,1)/I(1,1) to eliminate the common mode fluctuations. Since orders I(0,1) and I(1,1) behaved opposite to each other, the resulting ratio signal amplitude increased more than twice compared to our previous results. As a proof of concept we used different salt concentrations in DI water. Increased signal amplitude and improved fluid injection system resulted in more than 4 times improvement in detection limit, giving limit of detection 1.3×10-7 refractive index unit (RIU) compared to our previous results. The improved refractive index sensitivity will help significantly for high sensitivity label free bio sensing application in a very cost-effective and simple experimental set-up.

A novel photonic crystal fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer for enhancing refractive index measurement sensitivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yong; Xia, Feng; Hu, Hai-feng; Chen, Mao-qing

2017-11-01

A novel refractive index (RI) sensor based on photonic crystal fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (PCF-MZI) was proposed. It was realized by cascading a section of PCF with half-taper collapse regions (HTCRs) between two single mode fibers (SMFs). The relationship between RI sensitivity and interference length of the PCF-MZI was firstly investigated. Both simulation and experimental results showed that RI sensitivity increased with the increase of interference length. Afterwards, influence of HTCR parameters on RI sensitivity was experimentally investigated to further improve the sensitivity. With intensification of arc discharge intensity in HTCR fabrication process, HTCR with larger maximum taper diameter and longer collapsed region length was obtained, which enhanced evanescent field of the PCF-MZI and then generated higher RI sensitivity. Consequently, a high RI sensitivity of 181.96 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) was achieved in the RI range of 1.3333-1.3574. Increasing arc discharge intensity in HTCR fabrication process has the capacity to improve RI sensitivity of PCF-MZI and meanwhile provides higher mechanical strength and longer sensor life compared to the traditional method of tapering the fiber, which improves the RI sensitivity at the cost of reducing mechanical strength of the sensor. This PCF-MZI was characterized by high RI sensitivity, ease of fabrication, high mechanical strength, and robustness.

Multimode interference tapered fiber refractive index sensors.

PubMed

Biazoli, Claudecir R; Silva, Susana; Franco, Marcos A R; Frazão, Orlando; Cordeiro, Cristiano M B

2012-08-20

Real-time monitoring of the fabrication process of tapering down a multimode-interference-based fiber structure is presented. The device is composed of a pure silica multimode fiber (MMF) with an initial 125 μm diameter spliced between two single-mode fibers. The process allows a thin MMF with adjustable parameters to obtain a high signal transmittance, arising from constructive interference among the guided modes at the output end of the MMF. Tapered structures with waist diameters as low as 55 μm were easily fabricated without the limitation of fragile splices or difficulty in controlling lateral fiber alignments. The sensing device is shown to be sensitive to the external environment, and a maximum sensitivity of 2946 nm/refractive index unit in the refractive index range of 1.42-1.43 was attained.

Uncladded sensing fiber for refractive index measurement

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bhardwaj, V., E-mail: bhardwajphyism@gmail.com; Gangwar, R. K.; Pathak, A. K.

2016-05-06

The formation of chemically etched optical fiber for use in refractive index sensor is addressed. This presented design of a refractive index (RI) sensor is based on recording the power loss exhibited by radiation propagating through an etched multimode fiber (MMF) immersed in the liquid under study. The decreasing diameters of fibers are found to be strongly dependent on the temperature and etchant composition. This experiment was performed for different unclad etched fibers for same sensing length and the RI changes from 1.33 RIU to 1.38 RIU. When the multimode fiber (MMF) is etched for 12 hours the sensitivity ofmore » the sensor is approximately 204.25dBm/RIU, which is larger than without etched fiber having sensitivity 127.2dBm/RIU.« less

Effect of Refractive Index of Substrate on Fabrication and Optical Properties of Hybrid Au-Ag Triangular Nanoparticle Arrays

PubMed Central

Liu, Jing; Chen, Yushan; Cai, Haoyuan; Chen, Xiaoyi; Li, Changwei; Yang, Cheng-Fu

2015-01-01

In this study, the nanosphere lithography (NSL) method was used to fabricate hybrid Au-Ag triangular periodic nanoparticle arrays. The Au-Ag triangular periodic arrays were grown on different substrates, and the effect of the refractive index of substrates on fabrication and optical properties was systematically investigated. At first, the optical spectrum was simulated by the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) numerical method as a function of refractive indexes of substrates and mediums. Simulation results showed that as the substrates had the refractive indexes of 1.43 (quartz) and 1.68 (SF5 glass), the nanoparticle arrays would have better refractive index sensitivity (RIS) and figure of merit (FOM). Simulation results also showed that the peak wavelength of the extinction spectra had a red shift when the medium’s refractive index n increased. The experimental results also demonstrated that when refractive indexes of substrates were 1.43 and 1.68, the nanoparticle arrays and substrate had better adhesive ability. Meanwhile, we found the nanoparticles formed a large-scale monolayer array with the hexagonally close-packed structure. Finally, the hybrid Au-Ag triangular nanoparticle arrays were fabricated on quartz and SF5 glass substrates and their experiment extinction spectra were compared with the simulated results.

Optical bio-chemical sensors on SNOW ring resonators.

PubMed

Khorasaninejad, Mohammadreza; Clarke, Nigel; Anantram, M P; Saini, Simarjeet Singh

2011-08-29

In this paper, we propose and analyze novel ring resonator based bio-chemical sensors on silicon nanowire optical waveguide (SNOW) and show that the sensitivity of the sensors can be increased by an order of magnitude as compared to silicon-on-insulator based ring resonators while maintaining high index contrast and compact devices. The core of the waveguide is hollow and allows for introduction of biomaterial in the center of the mode, thereby increasing the sensitivity of detection. A sensitivity of 243 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) is achieved for a change in bulk refractive index. For surface attachment, the sensor is able to detect monolayer attachments as small as 1 Å on the surface of the silicon nanowires.

Optical bio-chemical sensors on SNOW ring resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khorasaninejad, Mohammadreza; Clarke, Nigel; Anantram, M. P.; Singh Saini, Simarjeet

2011-08-01

In this paper, we propose and analyze novel ring resonator based bio-chemical sensors on silicon nanowire optical waveguide (SNOW) and show that the sensitivity of the sensors can be increased by an order of magnitude as compared to silicon-on-insulator based ring resonators while maintaining high index contrast and compact devices. The core of the waveguide is hollow and allows for introduction of biomaterial in the center of the mode, thereby increasing the sensitivity of detection. A sensitivity of 243 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) is achieved for a change in bulk refractive index. For surface attachment, the sensor is able to detect monolayer attachments as small as 1 Å on the surface of the silicon nanowires.

Rapid determination of surfactant critical micelle concentration in aqueous solutions using fiber-optic refractive index sensing.

PubMed

Tan, Chun Hua; Huang, Zhen Jian; Huang, Xu Guang

2010-06-01

We describe a simple and rapid method for determining the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants from fiber-optic measurements of refractive index. The refractive index of an aqueous surfactant solution was monitored as the surfactant concentration was increased using an automated dispensing system. On reaching the surfactant's CMC value, an abrupt change was observed in the rate of increase of the refractive index with increasing concentration. The measurement system provides rapid semiautomatic data collection and analysis, increasing the precision, sensitivity, and range of applicability of the technique while substantially decreasing the amount of manual intervention required. Measurements of CMC for sodium dodecyl sulfate (8.10mM), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (1.58mM), and Triton X-100 (0.21mM) were in excellent agreement with values previously reported in the literature. The method is applicable to cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants, and it offers a facile, in situ, and sensitive means of detecting micelle formation over a broad range of CMC values larger than 10(-1)mM. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Peptide Functionalized Gold Nanorods for the Sensitive Detection of a Cardiac Biomarker Using Plasmonic Paper Devices (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-10

valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YY) 2. REPORT TYPE 3 . DATES COVERED (From...refractive index difference on the order of 3 × 10−4 refractive index units (RIU)), probe the conformational changes of individual biomacromolecules, detect...natural antibodies and short peptides, as BREs. We demonstrate that pep - tides provide a significantly higher sensitivity and lower limit of detection

Peptide Functionalized Gold Nanorods for the Sensitive Detection of a Cardiac Biomarker Using Plasmonic Paper Devices (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-10

currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YY) 2. REPORT TYPE 3 . DATES COVERED...refractive index difference on the order of 3 × 10−4 refractive index units (RIU)), probe the conformational changes of individual biomacromolecules...natural antibodies and short peptides, as BREs. We demonstrate that pep - tides provide a significantly higher sensitivity and lower limit of detection

Fibre optic chemical sensor based on graphene oxide-coated long period grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chen; Cai, Qi; Sun, Zhongyuan; Xu, Baojian; Zhao, Jianlong; Zhang, Lin; Chen, Xianfeng

2016-05-01

In this work, a graphene oxide-coated long period fibre grating (GO-LPG) is proposed for chemical sensing application. Graphene oxide (GO) has been deposited on the surface of long period grating to form a sensing layer which significantly enhances the interaction between LPG propagating light and the surrounding-medium. The sensing mechanism of GO-LPG relies on the change of grating resonance intensity against surrounding-medium refractive index (SRI). The proposed GO-LPG has been used to measure the concentrations of sugar aqueous solutions. The refractive index sensitivities with 99.5 dB/RIU in low refractive index region (1.33-1.35) and 320.6 dB/RIU in high index region (1.42-1.44) have been achieved, showing an enhancement by a factor of 3.2 and 6.8 for low and high index regions, respectively. The proposed GO-LPG can be further extended to the development of optical biochemical sensor with advantages of high sensitivity, real-time and label-free sensing.

Fiber optic refractive index sensor using optofluidic anti-resonant reflecting guidance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Ran; Lu, Danfeng; Cheng, Jin; Qi, Zhi-mei

2017-10-01

An optofluidic anti-resonant reflecting guidance has been proposed and experimental demonstrated for the measurement of liquid refractive index. Two micro-channels were fabricated for the delivery of the liquid sample in the hollow core photonic crystal fiber by using femtosecond laser micromachining, serving as an inlet and outlet. The refractive index can be detected by using the resonant condition of the Fabry-Perot resonator, which is interrogated through the wavelength shift and of the lossy dip in the transmission spectrum. The experimental results show that the sensitivity of up to 1328 nm/RIU is achieved for the refractive index in the range from 1.345 to 1.363 RIU, respectively. The proposed sensor appears to have potential applications of precise measurement in chemistry, medicine, and biology.

Tilted Fiber Bragg Grating photowritten in microstructured optical fiber for improved refractive index measurement.

PubMed

Phan Huy, Minh Châu; Laffont, Guillaume; Dewynter, Véronique; Ferdinand, Pierre; Labonté, Laurent; Pagnoux, Dominique; Roy, Philippe; Blanc, Wilfried; Dussardier, Bernard

2006-10-30

We report what we believe to be the first Tilted short-period Fiber Bragg Grating photowritten in a microstructured optical fiber for refractive index measurement. We investigate the spectral sensitivity of Tilted Fiber Bragg Grating to refractive index liquid inserted into the holes of a multimode microstructured fiber. We measure the wavelength shift of the first four modes experimentally observed when calibrated oils are inserted into the fiber holes, and thus we determine the refractive index resolution for each of these modes. Moreover, a cross comparison between experimental and simulation results of a modal analysis is performed. Two simulation tools are used, respectively based on the localized functions method and on a finite element method. All results are in very good agreement.

Waveguide-based optical chemical sensor

DOEpatents

Grace, Karen M [Ranchos de Taos, NM; Swanson, Basil I [Los Alamos, NM; Honkanen, Seppo [Tucson, AZ

2007-03-13

The invention provides an apparatus and method for highly selective and sensitive chemical sensing. Two modes of laser light are transmitted through a waveguide, refracted by a thin film host reagent coating on the waveguide, and analyzed in a phase sensitive detector for changes in effective refractive index. Sensor specificity is based on the particular species selective thin films of host reagents which are attached to the surface of the planar optical waveguide. The thin film of host reagents refracts laser light at different refractive indices according to what species are forming inclusion complexes with the host reagents.

Photogeneration of refractive-index patterns in doped polyimide films.

PubMed

Chakravorty, K K

1993-05-01

A photosensitive benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhyride-alkylated diamine polyimide formulation has been evaluated for application in an optical interconnection area. The refractive-index patterns in this material were optically recorded by UV-assisted photodoping of sensitizers. The polyimide films were selectively doped with benzoin-type photosensitizers such as benzildimethylketal and benzoin ethyl ether, which cause a decrease in the refractive index. High-dose UV irradiation that causes cross linking of the polyimide chains was also employed for augmenting the refractive-index difference to 0.017 between the doped and undoped regions. Refractive-index variations and lightguiding properties were investigated as a function of doping concentrations and other processing conditions. The author utilized this technique for the fabrication of embedded polyimide channel waveguides. The two photosensitizers have different effects on the waveguiding characteristics of the polyimide films. Losses for benzoin ethyl ether remained low whereas doping with benzildimethylketal caused significant increase in the waveguiding loss at high doping concentrations. Near-field imaging of the output from such waveguides shows good confinement of 815-nm light.

Photogeneration of refractive-index patterns in doped polyimide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakravorty, K. K.

1993-05-01

A photosensitive benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhyride-alkylated diamine polyimide formulation has been evaluated for application in an optical interconnection area. The refractive-index patterns in this material were optically recorded by UV-assisted photodoping of sensitizers. The polyimide films were selectively doped with benzoin-type photosensitizers such as benzildimethylketal and benzoin ethyl ether, which cause a decrease in the refractive index. High-dose UV irradiation that causes cross linking of the polyimide chains was also employed for augmenting the refractive-index difference to 0.017 between the doped and undoped regions. Refractive-index variations and lightguiding properties were investigated as a function of doping concentrations and other processing conditions. The author utilized this technique for the fabrication of embedded polyimide channel waveguides. The two photosensitizers have different effects on the waveguiding characteristics of the polyimide films. Losses for benzoin ethyl ether remained low whereas doping with benzildimethylketal caused significant increase in the waveguiding loss at high doping concentrations. Near-field imaging of the output from such waveguides shows good confinement of 815-nm light.

Design and characteristics of refractive index sensor based on thinned and microstructure fiber Bragg grating.

PubMed

Huang, Xue-Feng; Chen, Zhe-Min; Shao, Li-Yang; Cen, Ke-Fa; Sheng, De-Ren; Chen, Jun; Zhou, Hao

2008-02-01

A refractive index sensor based on the thinned and microstructure fiber Bragg grating (ThMs-FBG) was proposed and realized as a chemical sensing. The numerical simulation for the reflectance spectrum of the ThMs-FBG was calculated and the phase shift down-peak could be observed from the reflectance spectrum. Many factors influencing the reflectance spectrum were considered in detail for simulation, including the etched depth, length, and position. The sandwich-solution etching method was utilized to realize the microstructure of the ThMs-FBG, and the photographs of the microstructure were obtained. Experimental results demonstrated that the reflectance spectrum, phase shift down-peak wavelength, and reflected optical intensity of the ThMs-FBG all depended on the surrounding refractive index. However, only the down-peak wavelength of the ThMs-FBG changed with the surrounding temperature. Under the condition that the length and cladding diameter of the ThMs-FBG microstructure were 800 and 14 mum, respectively, and the position of the microstructure of the ThMs-FBG is in the middle of grating region, the refractive index sensitivity of the ThMs-FBG was 0.79 nm/refractive index unit with the wide range of 1.33-1.457 and a high resolution of 1.2 x 10(-3). The temperature sensitivity was 0.0103 nm/ degrees C, which was approximately equal to that of common FBG.

Femtosecond laser fabrication of long period fiber gratings and applications in refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Benye; Jiang, Lan; Wang, Sumei; Tsai, Hai-Lung; Xiao, Hai

2011-11-01

An improved point-by-point inscription method is proposed to fabricate long period fiber gratings (LPFGs) by using a laser operating at 800 nm with 35 fs duration pulses. The sensitivity to misalignment between the core and the focus is reduced by scanning a rectangular part on the fiber. LPFGs with an attenuation depth of 20 dB are achieved within the wavelength range of 1465-1575 nm. Characterization of the temperature sensitivity and thermal stability of the LPFGs is presented. A 5.6 nm wavelength shift and a 1.2 dB decrease in the attenuation peak are observed following heat treatment at 600 °C for 4 h. The fabricated LPFGs are used as refractive index sensors. The effect of heat treatment on the response of the LPFGs to refractive index changes is also studied.

Analysis of interferograms of refractive index inhomogeneities produced in optical materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarjányi, N.

2014-12-01

Optical homogeneity of materials intended for optical applications is one of the criterions which decide on an appropriate application method for the material. The existence of a refractive index inhomogeneity inside a material may disqualify it from utilization or by contrary, provide an advantage. For observation of a refractive index inhomogeneity, even a weak one, it is convenient to use any of interferometric methods. They are very sensitive and provide information on spatial distribution of the refractive index, immediately. One can use them also in case when the inhomogeneity evolves in time, usually due to action of some external fields. Then, the stream of interferograms provides a dynamic evolution of a spatial distribution of the inhomogeneity. In the contribution, there are presented results of the analysis of interferograms obtained by observing the creation of a refractive index inhomogeneity due to illumination of thin layers of a polyvinyl-alcohol/acrylamide photopolymer and a plate of photorefractive crystal, lithium niobate, by light and a refractive index inhomogeneity originated at the boundary of two layers of polydimethylsiloxane. The obtained dependences can be used for studying of the mechanisms responsible for the inhomogeneity creation, designing various technical applications or for diagnostics of fabricated components.

Silicon nitride directional coupler interferometer for surface sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okubo, Kyohei; Uchiyamada, Ken; Asakawa, Kiyoshi; Suzuki, Hiroaki

2017-01-01

A silicon nitride directional coupler (DC) used to create a biosensing device is presented. The DC detects changes in the refractive index of the cladding (nclad) as changes in the relative output intensity. The DC length (L), nclad-dependent sensitivities of the DC, and preferred dimensions of the single-mode DC waveguides are obtained through numerical simulations. The performance of the DC is evaluated through end-fire coupling measurements. The intensities measured after varying the nclad using air, water, and glycerol solutions agree well with the fitting for a wide range of L values between 60 and 600 μm, i.e., corresponding to 6 to 60 times the coupling length. The bulk refractive index sensitivity was investigated using glycerol solutions of different concentrations and was found to be 18.9 optical intensity units per refractive index unit (OIU/RIU). Biotin/streptavidin bindings were detected with a sensitivity of 60 OIU/RIU and a detection limit of 0.13 μM, suggesting the feasibility of the DC for immunosensing.

Low-loss planar metamaterials electromagnetically induced transparency for sensitive refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Ying; Hu, Sen; Huang, Xiaojun; Yu, Zetai; Lin, Hai; Yang, Helin

2017-10-01

A low-loss and high transmission electromagnetically induced transparency like (EIT- like) structure is experimentally and numerically demonstrated in this paper. The proposed planar structure based on EIT-like metamaterial consists of two separate split-ring resonators, and its resulting transmission level can maximally reach 0.89 with significant suppression of radiation loss. According to the effective medium theory, the imaginary parts of the effective permittivity and permeability of the metamaterial are used as the evidence of low-loss. In the analysis, the simulated surface current, magnetic field distribution and coupled oscillator model reveal the principle of high transmittance EIT-effect. Furthermore, the peak of transparency frequency is highly sensitive to the variation of refractive index in the background medium. The sensor based on the proposed EIT structure can achieve a sensitivity of 1.69 GHz/RIU (refractive index unit) and a figure of merit of 11.66. Such metamaterials have potential perspectives in sensing and chiral slow light devices.

Rapid Inversion of Angular Deflection Data for Certain Axisymmetric Refractive Index Distributions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rubinstein, R.; Greenberg, P. S.

1994-01-01

Certain functions useful for representing axisymmetric refractive-index distributions are shown to have exact solutions for Abel transformation of the resulting angular deflection data. An advantage of this procedure over direct numerical Abel inversion is that least-squares curve fitting is a smoothing process that reduces the noise sensitivity of the computation

Refractive Index of Sodium Iodide

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jellison Jr, Gerald Earle; Boatner, Lynn A; Ramey, Joanne Oxendine

2012-01-01

The refractive index of sodium iodide, an important scintillator material that is widely used for radiation detection, is based on a single measurement made by Spangenberg at one wavelength using the index-matching liquid immersion method (Z. Kristallogr., 57, 494-534 (1923)). In the present paper, we present new results for the refractive index of sodium iodide as measured by the minimum deviation technique at six wavelengths between 436 nm (n=1.839 0.002) and 633 nm (n=1.786 0.002). These 6 measurements can be fit to a Sellmeier model, resulting in a 2 of 1.02, indicating a good fit to the data. In addition,more » we report on ellipsometry measurements, which suggest that the near-surface region of the air sensitive NaI crystal seriously degrades, even in a moisture-free environment, resulting in a significantly lower value of the refractive index near the surface. First-principles theoretical calculations of the NaI refractive index that agree with the measured values within 0.025-0.045 are also presented and discussed.« less

Refractive-index-sensing fiber comb using intracavity multi-mode interference fiber sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oe, Ryo; Minamikawa, Takeo; Taue, Shuji; Fukano, Hideki; Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Minoshima, Kaoru; Yasui, Takeshi

2018-02-01

Refractive index measurement is important for evaluation of liquid materials, optical components, and bio sensing. One promising approach for such measurement is use of optical fiber sensors such as surface plasmonic resonance or multi-mode interference (MMI), which measure the change of optical spectrum resulting from the refractive index change. However, the precision of refractive index measurement is limited by the performance of optical spectrum analyzer. If such the refractive index measurement can be performed in radio frequency (RF) region in place of optical region, the measurement precision will be further improved by the frequency-standard-based RF measurement. To this end, we focus on the disturbance-to-RF conversion in a fiber optical frequency comb (OFC) cavity. Since frequency spacing frep of OFC depends on an optical cavity length nL, frep sensitively reflects the external disturbance interacted with nL. Although we previously demonstrated the precise strain measurement based on the frep measurement, the measurable physical quantity is limited to strain or temperature, which directly interacts with the fiber cavity itself. If a functional fiber sensor can be installed into the fiber OFC cavity, the measurable physical quantity will be largely expanded. In this paper, we introduce a MMI fiber sensor into a ring-type fiber OFC cavity for refractive index measurement. We confirmed the refractive-index-dependent frep shift.

High Sensitivity Refractometer Based on TiO2-Coated Adiabatic Tapered Optical Fiber via ALD Technology

PubMed Central

Zhu, Shan; Pang, Fufei; Huang, Sujuan; Zou, Fang; Guo, Qiang; Wen, Jianxiang; Wang, Tingyun

2016-01-01

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology is introduced to fabricate a high sensitivity refractometer based on an adiabatic tapered optical fiber. Different thicknesses of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofilm were coated around the tapered fiber precisely and uniformly under different deposition cycles. Attributed to the higher refractive index of the TiO2 nanofilm compared to that of silica, an asymmetric Fabry–Perot (F-P) resonator could be constructed along the fiber taper. The central wavelength of the F-P resonator could be controlled by adjusting the thickness of the TiO2 nanofilm. Such a F-P resonator is sensitive to changes in the surrounding refractive index (SRI), which is utilized to realize a high sensitivity refractometer. The refractometer developed by depositing 50.9-nm-thickness TiO2 on the tapered fiber shows SRI sensitivity as high as 7096 nm/RIU in the SRI range of 1.3373–1.3500. Due to TiO2’s advantages of high refractive index, lack of toxicity, and good biocompatibility, this refractometer is expected to have wide applications in the biochemical sensing field. PMID:27537885

Signal Enhancement Strategies for Refractive Index-Sensitive Nanobiosensor.

PubMed

Syahir, Amir; Kajikawa, Kotaro; Mihara, Hisakazu

2018-01-01

Direct bio-monitoring essentially involves optical means since photon has insignificant effects over biomolecules. Over the years, laser induced surface Plasmon resonance method with various modifications as well as versatile localized Plasmon excited by incoherent light have facilitated in recording many nanobiological activities. Yet, monitoring interactions of small molecules including drugs requires signal amplification and improvement on signal-to-noise ratio. This paper focused on how the refractive index based nanobio-sensoring gold platform can produce more efficient, adaptable and more practical detection techniques to observe molecular interactions at high degree of sensitivity. It discusses surface chemistry approach, optimisation of the refractive index of gold platform and manipulation of gold geometry augmenting signal quality. In a normal-incidence reflectivity, r0 can be calculated using the Fresnel equation. Particularly at λ = 470 nm the ratio of r / r0 showed significant amplitude reduction mainly stemmed from the imaginary part of the Au refractive index. Hence, the fraction of reduction, Δr = 1 - r / r0. Experimentally, in a common reference frame reflectivity of a bare gold surface, R0 is compared with the reflectivity of gold surface in the presence of biolayer, R. The reduction rate (%) of reflectivity, ΔR = 1 - R / R0 is denoted as the AR signal. The method therefore enables quantitative measurement of the surface-bound protein by converting ΔR to the thickness, d, and subsequently the protein mass. We discussed four strategies to improve the AR signal by changing the effective refractive index of the biosensing platform. They are; a) Thickness optimisation of Au thin layer, b) Au / Ag bimetallic layer, c) composing alloy or Au composite, and d) Au thinlayer with nano or micro holes. As the result we successfully 'move' the refractive index, ε of the AR platform (gold only) to ε = -0.948 + 3.455i, a higher sensitivity platform. This was done by composing Au-Ag2O composite with ratio = 1:1. The results were compared to the potential sensitivity improvement of the AR substrate using other that could be done by further tailoring the ε advanced method. We suggested four strategies in order to realize this purpose. It is apparent that sensitivity has been improved through Au/Ag bimetallic layer or Au-Ag2O composite thin layer, This study is an important step towards fabrication of sensitive surface for detection of biomolecular interactions. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Optical refractometer based on an asymmetrical twin-core fiber Michelson interferometer.

PubMed

Zhou, Ai; Zhang, Yanhui; Li, Guangping; Yang, Jun; Wang, Yuzhuo; Tian, Fengjun; Yuan, Libo

2011-08-15

We report and demonstrate an optical refractometer based on a compact fiber Michelson interferometer. The Michelson interferometer is composed of an asymmetrical twin-core fiber containing a central core and a side core. By chemically etching a segment of the twin-core fiber until the side core is exposed, the effective index of the side core in the etched region is sensitive to the environmental refractive index, which leads to a shift of the transmission spectrum of the Michelson interferometer. The experimental results show that such a device has a refractive index resolution of more than 800 nm/refractive index unit in the range of 1.34-1.37. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Evanescent field-based optical fiber sensing device for measuring the refractive index of liquids in microfluidic channels.

PubMed

Polynkin, PaveL; Polynkin, Alexander; Peyghambarian, N; Mansuripur, Masud

2005-06-01

We report a simple optical sensing device capable of measuring the refractive index of liquids propagating in microfluidic channels. The sensor is based on a single-mode optical fiber that is tapered to submicrometer dimensions and immersed in a transparent curable soft polymer. A channel for liquid analyte is created in the immediate vicinity of the taper waist. Light propagating through the tapered section of the fiber extends into the channel, making the optical loss in the system sensitive to the refractive-index difference between the polymer and the liquid. The fabrication process and testing of the prototype sensing devices are described. The sensor can operate both as a highly responsive on-off device and in the continuous measurement mode, with an estimated accuracy of refractive-index measurement of approximately 5 x 10(-4).

Electrical Double Layer-Induced Ion Surface Accumulation for Ultrasensitive Refractive Index Sensing with Nanostructured Porous Silicon Interferometers.

PubMed

Mariani, Stefano; Strambini, Lucanos Marsilio; Barillaro, Giuseppe

2018-03-23

Herein, we provide the first experimental evidence on the use of electrical double layer (EDL)-induced accumulation of charged ions (using both Na + and K + ions in water as the model) onto a negatively charged nanostructured surface (e.g., thermally growth SiO 2 )-Ion Surface Accumulation, ISA-as a means of improving performance of nanostructured porous silicon (PSi) interferometers for optical refractometric applications. Nanostructured PSi interferometers are very promising optical platforms for refractive index sensing due to PSi huge specific surface (hundreds of m 2 per gram) and low preparation cost (less than $0.01 per 8 in. silicon wafer), though they have shown poor resolution ( R) and detection limit (DL) (on the order of 10 -4 -10 -5 RIU) compared to other plasmonic and photonic platforms ( R and DL on the order of 10 -7 -10 -8 RIU). This can be ascribed to both low sensitivity and high noise floor of PSi interferometers when bulk refractive index variation of the solution infiltrating the nanopores either approaches or is below 10 -4 RIU. Electrical double layer-induced ion surface accumulation (EDL-ISA) on oxidized PSi interferometers allows the interferometer output signal (spectral interferogram) to be impressively amplified at bulk refractive index variation below 10 -4 RIU, increasing, in turn, sensitivity up to 2 orders of magnitude and allowing reliable measurement of refractive index variations to be carried out with both DL and R of 10 -7 RIU. This represents a 250-fold-improvement (at least) with respect to the state-of-the-art literature on PSi refractometers and pushes PSi interferometer performance to that of state-of-the-art ultrasensitive photonics/plasmonics refractive index platforms.

Refractive index and temperature sensitivity characteristics of a micro-slot fiber Bragg grating.

PubMed

Saffari, Pouneh; Yan, Zhijun; Zhou, Kaiming; Zhang, Lin

2012-07-10

Fabrication and characterization of a UV inscribed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with a micro-slot liquid core is presented. Femtosecond (fs) laser patterning/chemical etching technique was employed to engrave a micro-slot with dimensions of 5.74 μm(h)×125 μm(w)×1388.72 μm(l) across the whole grating. The device has been evaluated for refractive index (RI) and temperature sensitivities and exhibited distinctive thermal response and RI sensitivity beyond the detection limit of reported fiber gratings. This structure has not just been RI sensitive, but also maintained the robustness comparing with the bare core FBGs and long-period gratings with the partial cladding etched off.

Engineering a Large Scale Indium Nanodot Array for Refractive Index Sensing.

PubMed

Xu, Xiaoqing; Hu, Xiaolin; Chen, Xiaoshu; Kang, Yangsen; Zhang, Zhiping; B Parizi, Kokab; Wong, H-S Philip

2016-11-23

In this work, we developed a simple method to fabricate 12 × 4 mm 2 large scale nanostructure arrays and investigated the feasibility of indium nanodot (ND) array with different diameters and periods for refractive index sensing. Absorption resonances at multiple wavelengths from the visible to the near-infrared range were observed for various incident angles in a variety of media. Engineering the ND array with a centered square lattice, we successfully enhanced the sensitivity by 60% and improved the figure of merit (FOM) by 190%. The evolution of the resonance dips in the reflection spectra, of square lattice and centered square lattice, from air to water, matches well with the results of Lumerical FDTD simulation. The improvement of sensitivity is due to the enhancement of local electromagnetic field (E-field) near the NDs with centered square lattice, as revealed by E-field simulation at resonance wavelengths. The E-field is enhanced due to coupling between the two square ND arrays with [Formula: see text]x period at phase matching. This work illustrates an effective way to engineer and fabricate a refractive index sensor at a large scale. This is the first experimental demonstration of poor-metal (indium) nanostructure array for refractive index sensing. It also demonstrates a centered square lattice for higher sensitivity and as a better basic platform for more complex sensor designs.

Sensitive liquid refractive index sensors using tapered optical fiber tips.

PubMed

Tai, Yi-Hsin; Wei, Pei-Kuen

2010-04-01

An optical fiber sensor based on the change of optical confinement in a subwavelength tip is presented. The optical spot is substantially increased when the environmental refractive index (RI) increases from 1.3 to 1.4. By measuring the intensity of low angular spectral components, an intensity sensitivity up to 8000% per RI unit is achieved. The fiber tip sensors take advantage of the small detection volume and real-time responses. We demonstrate the application of the nanofiber sensors for measuring concentrations of acids and evaporation rates of aqueous mixtures.

Influence of local inhomogeneities induced in corneal ablation on the evolution of contrast sensitivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortiz, Dolores; Saiz, Jose M.; González, Francisco

2004-04-01

The presence of local inhomogeneities in corneal tissue after refractive surgery has an influence on visual performance. Here we focus on the corneal ablation associated with Lasik surgery and its effect on the modulation transfer function (MTF) that we obtained by modifying a personalized Kooijman model. Inhomogeneities induced by the ablation occur in the form of Gaussian-distributed refractive-index variations of a given correlation length. We show how variation of refractive-index deviation and correlation length (size) of the inhomogeneities allows us to obtain pairs of values that are able to achieve a MTF evolution similar to that observed for contrast sensitivity in the same patients. An estimate of the characteristics of the local effects is obtained.

Optical fiber refractometer based on tapered tilted-fiber Bragg grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tao; Liu, Tiegen; Liu, Kun; Jiang, Junfeng; Yu, Zhe; Xue, Meng

2016-11-01

Tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) have been demonstrated to be accurate refractometers as they couple light from the fiber core to the cladding. In our experiment, we changed the physical structure of the TFBGs to improve the refractive index sensing ability. One way is to stretch the grating section 5 mm longer. The result showed that not only the number of the cladding mode of the TFBG decreases but also the full width half-maximum (FWHM) of the cladding modes and core mode changes. The FWHM of the cladding mode of the tapered TFBG is more than twice than that of the original. However, the refractive index sensitivity of the tapered TFBG has no obvious improvement. Another way is to etch the grating section with 20% hydrofluoric acid solution. We find that the smaller the clad diameter, the higher the refractive index sensitivity of the TFBG.

Large-Area Subwavelength Aperture Arrays Fabricated Using Nanoimprint Lithography

DOE PAGES

Skinner, J. L.; Hunter, L. L.; Talin, A. A.; ...

2008-07-29

In this paper, we report on the fabrication and characterization of large-area 2-D square arrays of subwavelength holes in Ag and Al films. Fabrication is based on thermal nanoimprint lithography and metal evaporation, without the need for etching, and is compatible with low-cost, large-scale production. Reflectance spectra for these arrays display an intensity minimum whose amplitude, center wavelength, and line width depend on the geometry of the array and the reflectivity of the metal film. By placing various fluids in contact with the subwavelength aperture arrays, we observe that the center wavelength of the reflectance minimum varies linearly with themore » refractive index of the fluid with a sensitivity of over 500 nm per refractive index unit. Lastly, the surface plasmon theory is used to predict sensitivities to refractive index change with accuracies better than 0.5%.« less

Simultaneous monitoring the real and imaginary parts of the analyte refractive index using liquid-core photonic bandgap Bragg fibers.

PubMed

Li, Jingwen; Qu, Hang; Skorobogatiy, Maksim

2015-09-07

We demonstrate simultaneous monitoring of the real and imaginary parts of the liquid analyte refractive index by using a hollow-core Bragg fiber. We apply this two-channel fiber sensor to monitor concentrations of various commercial cooling oils. The sensor operates using spectral monitoring of the fiber bandgap center wavelength, as well as monitoring of the fiber transmission amplitude at mid-bandgap position. The sensitivity of the fiber sensor to changes in the real part of the core refractive index is found to be 1460nm/Refractive index unit (RIU). By using spectral modality and effective medium theory, we determine the concentrations of the two commercial fluids from the measured refractive indices with an accuracy of ~0.57% for both low- and high-loss oils. Moreover, using an amplitude-based detection modality allows determination of the oil concentration with accuracy of ~1.64% for low-loss oils and ~2.81% for the high-loss oils.

Cryogenic refractive index of Heraeus homosil glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Kevin H.; Quijada, Manuel A.; Leviton, Douglas B.

2017-08-01

This paper reports measurements of the refractive index of Homosil (Heraeus) over the wavelength range of 0.34—3.16 μm and temperature range of 120—335 K. These measurements were performed by using the Cryogenic High Accuracy Refraction Measuring System (CHARMS) facility at the NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. These measurements were in support of an integrated Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance (STOP) model that was developed for a fieldwidened Michelson interferometer that is being built and tested for the High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) project at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). The cryogenic refractive index measurements were required in order to account for the highly sensitive performance of the HSRL instrument to changes in refractive index with temperature, temperature gradients, thermal expansion, and deformation due to mounting stresses. A dense coverage of the absolute refractive index over the aforementioned wavelength and temperature ranges was used to determine the thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT) and dispersion relation (dn/dλ) as a function of wavelength and temperature. Our measurements of Homosil will be compared with measurements of other glasses from the fused silica family studied in CHARMS as well as measurements reported elsewhere in the literature.

Cryogenic Refractive Index of Heraeus Homosil Glass

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Kevin H.; Quijada, Manuel A.; Leviton, Douglas B.

2017-01-01

This paper reports measurements of the refractive index of Homosil (Heraeus) over the wavelength range of 0.343.16 m and temperature range of 120335 K. These measurements were performed by using the Cryogenic High Accuracy Refraction Measuring System (CHARMS) facility at the NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center. These measurements were in support of an integrated Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance (STOP) model that was developed for a field-widened Michelson interferometer that is being built and tested for the High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) project at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). The cryogenic refractive index measurements were required in order to account for the highly sensitivity performance of the HSRL instrument to changes in refractive index with temperature, temperature gradients, thermal expansion, and deformation due to mounting stresses. A dense coverage of the absolute refractive index over the aforementioned wavelength and temperature ranges was used to determine the thermo-optic coefficient (dndT) and dispersion relation (dnd) as a function of wavelength and temperature. Our measurements of Homosil will be compared with measurements of other glasses from the fused silica family studied in CHARMS as well as measurements reported elsewhere in literature.

Cryogenic Refractive Index of Heraeus Homosil Glass

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Kevin H.; Quijada, Manuel A.; Leviton, Douglas B.

2017-01-01

This paper reports measurements of the refractive index of Homosil (Heraeus) over the wavelength range of 0.34-3.16 microns and temperature range of 120-335 K. These measurements were performed by using the Cryogenic High Accuracy Refraction Measuring System (CHARMS) facility at the NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center. These measurements were in support of an integrated Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance (STOP) model that was developed for a field-widened Michelson interferometer that is being built and tested for the High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) project at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). The cryogenic refractive index measurements were required in order to account for the highly sensitivity performance of the HSRL instrument to changes in refractive index with temperature, temperature gradients, thermal expansion, and deformation due to mounting stresses. A dense coverage of the absolute refractive index over the aforementioned wavelength and temperature ranges was used to determine the thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT) and dispersion relation (dn/d(lamda)) as a function of wavelength and temperature. Our measurements of Homosil will be compared with measurements of other glasses from the fused silica family studied in CHARMS as well as measurements reported elsewhere in literature.

Tapered optical fiber tip probes based on focused ion beam-milled Fabry-Perot microcavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

André, Ricardo M.; Warren-Smith, Stephen C.; Becker, Martin; Dellith, Jan; Rothhardt, Manfred; Zibaii, M. I.; Latifi, H.; Marques, Manuel B.; Bartelt, Hartmut; Frazão, Orlando

2016-09-01

Focused ion beam technology is combined with dynamic chemical etching to create microcavities in tapered optical fiber tips, resulting in fiber probes for temperature and refractive index sensing. Dynamic chemical etching uses hydrofluoric acid and a syringe pump to etch standard optical fibers into cone structures called tapered fiber tips where the length, shape, and cone angle can be precisely controlled. On these tips, focused ion beam is used to mill several different types of Fabry-Perot microcavities. Two main cavity types are initially compared and then combined to form a third, complex cavity structure. In the first case, a gap is milled on the tapered fiber tip which allows the external medium to penetrate the light guiding region and thus presents sensitivity to external refractive index changes. In the second, two slots that function as mirrors are milled on the tip creating a silica cavity that is only sensitive to temperature changes. Finally, both cavities are combined on a single tapered fiber tip, resulting in a multi-cavity structure capable of discriminating between temperature and refractive index variations. This dual characterization is performed with the aid of a fast Fourier transform method to separate the contributions of each cavity and thus of temperature and refractive index. Ultimately, a tapered optical fiber tip probe with sub-standard dimensions containing a multi-cavity structure is projected, fabricated, characterized and applied as a sensing element for simultaneous temperature and refractive index discrimination.

Morphology of the scattering targets: Fresnel and turbulent mechanisms, part 2.1A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Royrvik, O.

1984-01-01

Refractive index fluctuations cause coherent scattering and reflection of VHF radio waves from the clear air in the altitude region between 0 and approximately 90 km. Similar echoes from the stratosphere/troposphere and the mesosphere are observed at UHF and MF/HF frequencies, respectively. The nature of the refractive index fluctuations has been studied for many years without producing a clear consensus on what mechanism causes them. It is believed that the irregularities can originate from two different mechanisms: turbulent mixing of the gradient of refractive index, and stable horizontally stratified laminae of sharp gradients in the refractive index. In order to explain observations of volume dependence and aspect sensitivity of the echo power in the MST region, a diversity of submechanisms has been proposed. They include isotropic and anisotropic turbulent scattering, Fresnel scattering and reflection, and diffuse reflection. Isotropic turbulent scattering is believed to cause a majority of the clear air echoes observed by MST radars. The mechanism requires active turbulence mixing of a preexisting gradient in the refractive index profile.

Design of highly sensitive multichannel bimetallic photonic crystal fiber biosensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hameed, Mohamed Farhat O.; Alrayk, Yassmin K. A.; Shaalan, Abdelhamid A.; El Deeb, Walid S.; Obayya, Salah S. A.

2016-10-01

A design of a highly sensitive multichannel biosensor based on photonic crystal fiber is proposed and analyzed. The suggested design has a silver layer as a plasmonic material coated by a gold layer to protect silver oxidation. The reported sensor is based on detection using the quasi transverse electric (TE) and quasi transverse magnetic (TM) modes, which offers the possibility of multichannel/multianalyte sensing. The numerical results are obtained using a finite element method with perfect matched layer boundary conditions. The sensor geometrical parameters are optimized to achieve high sensitivity for the two polarized modes. High-refractive index sensitivity of about 4750 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) and 4300 nm/RIU with corresponding resolutions of 2.1×10-5 RIU, and 2.33×10-5 RIU can be obtained according to the quasi TM and quasi TE modes of the proposed sensor, respectively. Further, the reported design can be used as a self-calibration biosensor within an unknown analyte refractive index ranging from 1.33 to 1.35 with high linearity and high accuracy. Moreover, the suggested biosensor has advantages in terms of compactness and better integration of microfluidics setup, waveguide, and metallic layers into a single structure.

In-line open-cavity Fabry-Pérot interferometer formed by C-shaped fiber fortemperature-insensitive refractive index sensing.

PubMed

Wu, Chuang; Liu, Zhengyong; Zhang, A Ping; Guan, Bai-Ou; Tam, Hwa-Yaw

2014-09-08

We report an open-cavity optical fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) capable of measuring refractive index with very low temperature cross-sensitivity. The FPI was constructed by splicing a thin piece of C-shaped fiber between two standard single-mode fibers. The refractive index (RI) response of the FPI was characterized using water-ethanol mixtures with RI in the range of 1.33 to 1.36. The RI sensitivity was measured to be 1368 nm/RIU at the wavelength of 1600 nm with good linearity. Thanks to its all-glass structure, the FPI exhibits very low temperature cross-sensitivity of 3.04 × 10⁻⁷ RIU/°C. The effects of cavity length on the performance of the sensor were also studied. A shorter cavity gives rise to broader measurement range while offering larger detection limit, and vice versa. What's more, the effect of material dispersion of analyte on the sensitivity of open-cavity FPIs was identified for the first time. The sensor is compact in size and easy to fabricate. It is potentially useful for label-free optical sensing of chemical and biological samples.

[INVITED] Design of turn around point long period fiber grating sensor with Au-nanoparticle self monolayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bandyopadhyay, Sankhyabrata; Basumallick, Nandini; Bysakh, Sandip; Dey, Tanoy Kumar; Biswas, Palas; Bandyopadhyay, Somnath

2018-06-01

In this paper studies on the design and fabrication of a long period fiber grating (LPFG) with a self mono layer of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) has been presented. Refractive index (RI) sensitivity of a dispersed cladding mode (DCM) near turn around point (TAP) of its phase matching curve (PMC) has been investigated with and also without AuNP coated LPFG. The typical role played by the intermediate layer of AuNP on the effective index and thus on the sensitivity of the cladding mode to the surrounding RI has also been explored by carrying out coupled mode analysis of the requisite multilayer waveguide. Deposition of AuNP enhanced the sensitivity by more than a factor of 2. Measured sensitivity was found to be ∼3928 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) in the range of 1.3333-1.3428.

Refractive index sensor based on lateral-offset of coreless silica interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baharin, Nur Faizzah; Azmi, Asrul Izam; Abdullah, Ahmad Sharmi; Mohd Noor, Muhammad Yusof

2018-02-01

A compact, cost-effective and high sensitivity fiber interferometer refractive index (RI) sensor based on symmetrical offset coreless silica fiber (CSF) configuration is proposed, optimized and demonstrated. The sensor is formed by splicing a section of CSF between two CSF sections in an offset manner. Thus, two distinct optical paths are created with large index difference, the first path through the connecting CSF sections and the second path is outside the CSF through the surrounding media. RI sensing is established from direct interaction of light with surrounding media, hence high sensitivity can be achieved with a relatively compact sensor length. In the experimental work, a 1.5 mm sensor demonstrates RI sensitivity of 750 nm/RIU for RI range between 1.33 and 1.345. With the main attributes of high sensitivity and compact size, the proposed sensor can be further developed for related applications including blood diagnosis, water quality control and food industries.

Numerical and experimental investigation of long-period gratings in photonic crystal fiber for refractive index sensing of gas media.

PubMed

Tian, Fei; He, Zonghu; Du, Henry

2012-02-01

We have used the finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) method to simulate the core mode to cladding mode couplings in long-period gratings (LPGs) in photonic crystal fiber (PCF). Four sets of LPG-PCF have been fabricated with respective periodicities of 590, 540, 515, and 490 μm, resulting in corresponding resonance wavelengths (RWs) of 1241, 1399, 1494, and 1579 nm. We show both theoretically and experimentally that the longer the RW, the more sensitive the LPG-PCF is to the index change in Ar. We demonstrate a robust sensitivity of 517 nm per refractive index unit using the LPG-PCF at 1579 nm RW.

Retrieval of the complex refractive index of aerosol droplets from optical tweezers measurements.

PubMed

Miles, Rachael E H; Walker, Jim S; Burnham, Daniel R; Reid, Jonathan P

2012-03-07

The cavity enhanced Raman scattering spectrum recorded from an aerosol droplet provides a unique fingerprint of droplet radius and refractive index, assuming that the droplet is homogeneous in composition. Aerosol optical tweezers are used in this study to capture a single droplet and a Raman fingerprint is recorded using the trapping laser as the source for the Raman excitation. We report here the retrieval of the real part of the refractive index with an uncertainty of ± 0.0012 (better than ± 0.11%), simultaneously measuring the size of the micrometre sized liquid droplet with a precision of better than 1 nm (< ± 0.05% error). In addition, the equilibrium size of the droplet is shown to depend on the laser irradiance due to optical absorption, which elevates the droplet temperature above that of the ambient gas phase. Modulation of the illuminating laser power leads to a modulation in droplet size as the temperature elevation is altered. By measuring induced size changes of <1 nm, we show that the imaginary part of the refractive index can be retrieved even when less than 10 × 10(-9) with an accuracy of better than ± 0.5 × 10(-9). The combination of these measurements allows the complex refractive index of a droplet to be retrieved with high accuracy, with the possibility of making extremely sensitive optical absorption measurements on aerosol samples and the testing of frequently used mixing rules for treating aerosol optical properties. More generally, this method provides an extremely sensitive approach for measuring refractive indices, particularly under solute supersaturation conditions that cannot be accessed by simple bulk-phase measurements.

Sensitivity of the Lidar ratio to changes in size distribution and index of refraction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, B. T. N.

1986-01-01

In order to invert lidar signals to obtain reliable extinction coefficients, sigma, a relationship between sigma and the backscatter coefficient, beta, must be given. These two coefficients are linearly related if the complex index of refraction, m, particle shape size distribution, N, does not change along the path illuminated by the laser beam. This, however, is generally not the case. An extensive Mie computation of the lidar ratio R = beta/sigma and the sensitivity of R to the changes in a parametric space defined by N and m were examined.

Interferometric measurement of the temperature dependence of an index of refraction: application to fused silica.

PubMed

Dupouy, Paul-Edouard; Büchner, Matthias; Paquier, Philippe; Trénec, Gérard; Vigué, Jacques

2010-02-01

The light reflected by an uncoated Fabry-Perot etalon presents dark rings which give a very sensitive measurement of the variations of the return optical path in the etalon. By measuring the diameters of these rings as a function of the etalon temperature T, we get a sensitive measurement of the derivative dn/dT of the index of refraction n. We have made this experiment with a fused silica etalon and we have achieved a 2% relative uncertainty on dn/dT, comparable to the uncertainty of the best experiments.

Experimental results for characterization of a tapered plastic optical fiber sensor based on SPR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cennamo, N.; Galatus, R.; Zeni, L.

2015-05-01

The experimental results obtained with two different Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) geometries, tapered and not-tapered, for a sensor based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) are presented. SPR is used for determining the refractive index variations at the interface between a gold layer and a dielectric medium (aqueous medium). In this work SPR sensors in POF configurations, useful for bio-sensing applications, have been realized for the optimization of the sensitivity and experimentally tested. The results show as the sensitivity increases with the tapered POF configuration, when the refractive index of aqueous medium increases.

Application of 1D Array FBG Configuration for Impact Localization on Composite Wing under Simulated Noise

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-30

Grating Sensor Fundamentals FBG sensors consists of grating with periodic variation in the refractive index which reflects certain wavelengths of...is the grating’s effective refractive index and  is the grating period. Bragg wavelength is sensitive to any changes in strain or temperature...Conference on Composite Materials. 2007: Kyoto, Japan. 2. Cartz, L., Nondestructive Testing: Radiography, Ultrasonics, Liquid Penetrant, Magnetic Particle

Goos-Hänchen effect in semiconductor metamaterial waveguide and its application as a biosensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Tingting; Li, Chaoyang; Luo, Li; Zhang, Yanfen; Li, Jie

2016-06-01

We investigate Goos-Hänchen (GH) effect in a prism waveguide coupling structure with semiconductor metamaterial (SMM) of ZnGaO/ZnO multilayer and explore the possibility as a biosensor. The GH effect in three different waveguides and their performances as a refractive index sensor to detect glycerol concentration in water are analyzed. The SMM brings a periodic property of GH shift peaks which is not found in other waveguides. It is also verified that setting coupling layer of the prism waveguide coupling structure as sensing area is an effective method to significantly increase the sensitivity to refractive index variation. A schematic diagram for the biosensor configuration is designed, and the sensitivity distribution for different glycerol water index is given. Calculation results show that in the proposed biosensor the maximum sensitivity reaches 3.2 × 106 μm/RIU and resolution reaches 1.6 × 10-7 (around 1.33306) with high sensitive position sensitive detector.

Computational determination of refractive index distribution in the crystalline cones of the compound eye of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba).

PubMed

Gál, József; Miyazaki, Taeko; Meyer-Rochow, Victor Benno

2007-01-21

In order to understand how a compound eye channels light to the retina and forms an image, one needs to know the refractive index distribution in the crystalline cones. Direct measurements of the refractive indices require sections of fresh, unfixed tissue and the use of an interference microscope, but frequently neither is available. Using the eye of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba (the main food of baleen whales) we developed a computational method to predict a likely refractive index distribution non-invasively from sections of fixed material without the need of an interference microscope. We used a computer model of the eye and calculated the most realistic spatial distribution of the refractive index gradient in the crystalline cone that would enable the eye to produce a sharp image on the retina. The animals are known to see well and on the basis of our computations we predict that for the eyes of the adult a maximum refractive index of 1.45-1.50 in the centre of the cone yields a better angular sensitivity and light absorption in a target receptor of the retina than if N(max) were 1.55. In juveniles with a narrower spatial separation between dioptric structures and retina, however, an N(max) of 1.50-1.55 gives a superior result. Our method to determine the most likely refractive index distribution in the cone without the need of fresh material and an interference microscope could be useful in the study of other invertebrate eyes that are known to possess good resolving power, but for a variety of reasons are not suitable for or will not permit direct refractive index measurements of their dioptric tissues to be taken.

Absorption enhancement and sensing properties of Ag diamond nanoantenna arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Yu-Yang; Yuan, Zong-Heng; Li, Xiao-Nan; Wu, Jun; Zhang, Wen-Tao; Ye, Song

2015-07-01

Noble metal nanoantenna could effectively enhance light absorption and increase detection sensitivity. In this paper, we propose a periodic Ag diamond nanoantenna array to increase the absorption of thin-film solar cells and to improve the detection sensitivity via localized surface plasmon resonance. The effect of nanoantenna arrays on the absorption enhancement is theoretically investigated using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method with manipulating the spectral response by geometrical parameters of nanoantennas. A maximum absorption enhancement factor of 1.51 has been achieved in this study. In addition, the relation between resonant wavelength (intensity reflectivity) and refractive index is discussed in detail. When detecting the environmental index using resonant wavelengths, a maximum detection sensitivity of about 837 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) and a resolution of about 10-3 RIU can be achieved. Moreover, when using the reflectivity, the sensitivity can be as high as 0.93 AU/RIU. Furthermore, we also have theoretically studied the effectiveness of nanoantennas in distinguishing chemical reagents, solution concentrations, and solution allocation ratios by detecting refractive index. From the results presented in this paper, we conclude that this work might be useful for biosensor detection and other types of detections. Project supported by the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Projects of Guizhou Province, China (Grant No. 20117035) and the Program for Innovative Research Team of Guilin University of Electronic Technology, China (Grant No. IRTGUET).

Refractive-index dispersion measurement of bulk optical materials using a fiber raman laser widely tunable in the visible and near-infrared

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilev, Ilko K.; Kumagai, Hiroshi; Toyoda, Koichi

1997-01-01

We propose a simple, highly sensitive fiber-optic autocollimation method for refractive-index dispersion measurement of solid-state and liquid bulk optical materials using a double-pass fiber Raman laser with Littrow-prism-tuned emission. The optical fiber is a key element of the scheme and serves simultaneously as a point laser source for the test, as a highly sensitive point receiver (or spatial filter) of the autocollimation backreflectance signal and as a medium for nonlinear frequency conversion and generation of a broadband continuum spectrum. When the Raman medium is a graded-index multimode fiber with powerful pumping (over 100 kW) using the second harmonic of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (λp=532nm), we obtain widely tunable (0.54-1.01 μm) generation in both the visible and near-IR ranges. The results obtained in the refractive-index dispersion measurements are fitted to the Sellmeier dispersion equation and the standard deviation of the experimental data from the analytical curve does not exceed 5x10-5.

Fabrication of titania inverse opals by multi-cycle dip-infiltration for optical sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiang, Chun-Chen; Tuyen, Le Dac; Ren, Ching-Rung; Chau, Lai-Kwan; Wu, Cheng Yi; Huang, Ping-Ji; Hsu, Chia Chen

2016-04-01

We have demonstrated a low-cost method to fabricate TiO2 inverse opal photonic crystals with high refractive index skeleton. The TiO2 inverse opal films were fabricated from a polystyrene opal template by multi-cycle dip-infiltration-coating method. The properties of the TiO2 inverse opal films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Bragg reflection spectroscopy. The reflection spectroscopic measurements of the TiO2 inverse opal films were compared with theories of photonic band calculations and Bragg law. The agreement between experiment and theory indicates that we can precisely predict the refractive index of the infiltrated liquid sample in the TiO2 inverse opal films from the measurement results. The red-shift of the peak wavelength in the Bragg reflection spectra for both alcohol mixtures and aqueous sucrose solutions of increasing refractive index was observed and respective refractive index sensitivities of 296 and 286 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) were achieved. As the fabrication of the TiO2 inverse opal films and reflection spectroscopic measurement are fairly easy, the TiO2 inverse opal films have potential applications in optical sensing.

Biosensing Using Microring Resonator Interferograms

PubMed Central

Hsu, Shih-Hsiang; Yang, Yung-Chia; Su, Yu-Hou; Wang, Sheng-Min; Huang, Shih-An; Lin, Ching-Yu

2014-01-01

Optical low-coherence interferometry (OLCI) takes advantage of the variation in refractive index in silicon-wire microring resonator (MRR) effective lengths to perform glucose biosensing using MRR interferograms. The MRR quality factor (Q), proportional to the effective length, could be improved using the silicon-wire propagation loss and coupling ratio from the MRR coupler. Our study showed that multimode interference (MMI) performed well in broad band response, but the splitting ratio drifted to 75/25 due to the stress issue. The glucose sensing sensitivity demonstrated 0.00279 meter per refractive-index-unit (RIU) with a Q factor of ∼30,000 under transverse electric polarization. The 1,310 nm DFB laser was built in the OLCI system as the optical ruler achieving 655 nm characterization accuracy. The lowest sensing limitation was therefore 2 × 10−4 RIU. Moreover, the MRR effective length from the glucose sensitivity could be utilized to experimentally demonstrate the silicon wire effective refractive index with a width of 0.45 μm and height of 0.26 μm. PMID:24434876

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature based on intensity demodulation using matching grating method.

PubMed

Qi, Liang; Zhao, Chun-Liu; Kang, Juan; Jin, Yongxing; Wang, Jianfeng; Ye, Manping; Jin, Shangzhong

2013-07-01

A solution refractive index (SRI) and temperature simultaneous measurement sensor with intensity-demodulation system based on matching grating method were demonstrated. Long period grating written in a photonic crystal fiber (LPG-PCF), provides temperature stable and wavelength dependent optical intensity transmission. The reflective peaks of two fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), one of which is etched then sensitive to both SRI and temperature, another (FBG2) is only sensitive to temperature, were located in the same linear range of the LPG-PCF's transmission spectrum. An identical FBG with FBG2 was chosen as a matching FBG. When environments (SRI and temperature) change, the wavelength shifts of the FBGs are translated effectively to the reflection intensity changes. By monitoring output lights of unmatching and matching paths, the SRI and temperature were deduced by a signal processing unit. Experimental results show that the simultaneous refractive index and temperature measurement system work well. The proposed sensor system is compact and suitable for in situ applications at lower cost.

Wavelength-multiplexing surface plasmon holographic microscopy.

PubMed

Zhang, Jiwei; Dai, Siqing; Zhong, Jinzhan; Xi, Teli; Ma, Chaojie; Li, Ying; Di, Jianglei; Zhao, Jianlin

2018-05-14

Surface plasmon holographic microscopy (SPHM), which combines surface plasmon microscopy with digital holographic microscopy, can be applied for amplitude- and phase-contrast surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging. In this paper, we propose an improved SPHM with the wavelength multiplexing technique based on two laser sources and a common-path hologram recording configuration. Through recording and reconstructing the SPR images at two wavelengths simultaneously employing the improved SPHM, tiny variation of dielectric refractive index in near field is quantitatively monitored with an extended measurement range while maintaining the high sensitivity. Moreover, imaging onion tissues is performed to demonstrate that the detection sensitivities of two wavelengths can compensate for each other in SPR imaging. The proposed wavelength-multiplexing SPHM presents simple structure, high temporal stability and inherent capability of phase curvature compensation, as well as shows great potentials for further applications in monitoring diverse dynamic processes related with refractive index variations and imaging biological tissues with low-contrast refractive index distributions in the near field.

Photonic crystal-based optical biosensor: a brief investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Divya, J.; Selvendran, S.; Sivanantha Raja, A.

2018-06-01

In this paper, a two-dimensional photonic crystal biosensor for medical applications based on two waveguides and a nanocavity was explored with different shoulder-coupled nanocavity structures. The most important biosensor parameters, like the sensitivity and quality factor, can be significantly improved. By injecting an analyte into a sensing hole, the refractive index of the hole was changed. This refractive index biosensor senses the changes and shifts its operating wavelength accordingly. The transmission characteristics of light in the biosensor under different refractive indices that correspond to the change in the analyte concentration are analyzed by the finite-difference time-domain method. The band gap for each structure is designed and observed by the plane wave expansion method. These proposed structures are designed to obtain an analyte refractive index variation of about 1–1.5 in an optical wavelength range of 1.250–1.640 µm. Accordingly, an improved sensitivity of 136.6 nm RIU‑1 and a quality factor as high as 3915 is achieved. An important feature of this structure is its very small dimensions. Such a combination of attributes makes the designed structure a promising element for label-free biosensing applications.

Photonic crystal nanofiber air-mode cavity with high Q-factor and high sensitivity for refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xiaoxue; Chen, Xin; Nie, Hongrui; Yang, Daquan

2018-01-01

Recently, due to its superior characteristics and simple manufacture, such as small size, low loss, high sensitivity and convenience to couple, the optical fiber sensor has become one of the most promising sensors. In order to achieve the most effective realization of light propagation by changing the structure of sensors, FOM(S •Q/λres) ,which is determined by two significant variables Q-factor and sensitivity, as a trade-off parameter should be optimized to a high value. In typical sensors, a high Q can be achieved by confining the optical field in the high refractive index dielectric region to make an interaction between analytes and evanescent field of the resonant mode. However, the ignored sensitivity is relatively low with a high Q achieved, which means that the resonant wavelength shift changes non-obviously when the refractive index increases. Meanwhile, the sensitivity also leads to a less desirable FOM. Therefore, a gradient structure, which can enhance the performance of sensors by achieving high Q and high sensitivity, has been developed by Kim et al. later. Here, by introducing parabolic-tapered structure, the light field localized overlaps strongly and sufficiently with analytes. And based on a one-dimensional photonic-crystal nanofiber air-mode cavity, a creative optical fiber sensor is proposed by combining good stability and transmission characteristics of fiber and strengths of tapered structure, realizing excellent FOM {4.7 x 105 with high Q-factors (Q{106) and high sensitivities (<700 nm/RIU).

Direct Electrospray Printing of Gradient Refractive Index Chalcogenide Glass Films.

PubMed

Novak, Spencer; Lin, Pao Tai; Li, Cheng; Lumdee, Chatdanai; Hu, Juejun; Agarwal, Anuradha; Kik, Pieter G; Deng, Weiwei; Richardson, Kathleen

2017-08-16

A spatially varying effective refractive index gradient using chalcogenide glass layers is printed on a silicon wafer using an optimized electrospray (ES) deposition process. Using solution-derived glass precursors, IR-transparent Ge 23 Sb 7 S 70 and As 40 S 60 glass films of programmed thickness are fabricated to yield a bilayer structure, resulting in an effective gradient refractive index (GRIN) film. Optical and compositional analysis tools confirm the optical and physical nature of the gradient in the resulting high-optical-quality films, demonstrating the power of direct printing of multimaterial structures compatible with planar photonic fabrication protocols. The potential application of such tailorable materials and structures as they relate to the enhancement of sensitivity in chalcogenide glass based planar chemical sensor device design is presented. This method, applicable to a broad cross section of glass compositions, shows promise in directly depositing GRIN films with tunable refractive index profiles for bulk and planar optical components and devices.

Correction of stain variations in nuclear refractive index of clinical histology specimens

PubMed Central

Uttam, Shikhar; Bista, Rajan K.; Hartman, Douglas J.; Brand, Randall E.; Liu, Yang

2011-01-01

For any technique to be adopted into a clinical setting, it is imperative that it seamlessly integrates with well-established clinical diagnostic workflow. We recently developed an optical microscopy technique—spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy (SL-QPM) that can extract the refractive index of the cell nucleus from the standard histology specimens on glass slides prepared via standard clinical protocols. This technique has shown great potential in detecting cancer with a better sensitivity than conventional pathology. A major hurdle in the clinical translation of this technique is the intrinsic variation among staining agents used in histology specimens, which limits the accuracy of refractive index measurements of clinical samples. In this paper, we present a simple and easily generalizable method to remove the effect of variations in staining levels on nuclear refractive index obtained with SL-QPM. We illustrate the efficacy of our correction method by applying it to variously stained histology samples from animal model and clinical specimens. PMID:22112118

Hybrid Ni/SiO2/Au dimer arrays for high-resolution refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pourjamal, Sara; Kataja, Mikko; Maccaferri, Nicolò; Vavassori, Paolo; van Dijken, Sebastiaan

2018-05-01

We introduce a novel magnetoplasmonic sensor concept for sensitive detection of refractive index changes. The sensor consists of a periodic array of Ni/SiO2/Au dimer nanodisks. Combined effects of near-field interactions between the Ni and Au disks within the individual dimers and far-field diffractive coupling between the dimers of the array produce narrow linewidth features in the magneto-optical Faraday spectrum. We associate these features with the excitation of surface lattice resonances and show that they exhibit a spectral shift when the refractive index of the surrounding environment is varied. Because the resonances are sharp, refractive index changes are accurately detected by tracking the wavelength where the Faraday signal crosses 0. Compared to random distributions of pure Ni nanodisks or Ni/SiO2/Au dimers or periodic arrays of Ni nanodisks, the sensing figure of merit of the hybrid magnetoplasmonic array is more than one order of magnitude larger.

MgF2 prism/rhodium/graphene: efficient refractive index sensing structure in optical domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Akhilesh Kumar; Mishra, Satyendra Kumar

2017-04-01

A theoretical study of a noble surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based sensing probe has been carried out. The sensing probe consists of a magnesium fluoride (MgF2) prism with its base coated with rarely used noble metal rhodium (Rh) and a bio-compatible layer of graphene. The refractive indices (RIs) of the sensing medium vary from 1.33 to 1.36 refractive index unit (RIU). The thickness of Rh and the number of graphene layers have been optimized for maximum sensitivity in a constraint set by the detection accuracy (DA). For the operating wavelength of 632 nm, the optimized sensing probe Rh (12 nm)/graphene (single layer) demonstrates sensitivity of ~259 degree/RIU with corresponding DA of ~0.32 degree-1 while for 532 nm of excitation, the optimized sensing probe Rh (12 nm)/graphene (three layer) exhibits sensitivity of ~240 degree/RIU and DA of ~0.27 degree-1.

MgF2 prism/rhodium/graphene: efficient refractive index sensing structure in optical domain.

PubMed

Mishra, Akhilesh Kumar; Mishra, Satyendra Kumar

2017-04-12

A theoretical study of a noble surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based sensing probe has been carried out. The sensing probe consists of a magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) prism with its base coated with rarely used noble metal rhodium (Rh) and a bio-compatible layer of graphene. The refractive indices (RIs) of the sensing medium vary from 1.33 to 1.36 refractive index unit (RIU). The thickness of Rh and the number of graphene layers have been optimized for maximum sensitivity in a constraint set by the detection accuracy (DA). For the operating wavelength of 632 nm, the optimized sensing probe Rh (12 nm)/graphene (single layer) demonstrates sensitivity of ~259 degree/RIU with corresponding DA of ~0.32 degree -1 while for 532 nm of excitation, the optimized sensing probe Rh (12 nm)/graphene (three layer) exhibits sensitivity of ~240 degree/RIU and DA of ~0.27 degree -1 .

High Sensitivity Detection of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dot-Labeled DNA Based on N-type Porous Silicon Microcavities

PubMed Central

Lv, Changwu; Jia, Zhenhong; Lv, Jie; Zhang, Hongyan; Li, Yanyu

2017-01-01

N-type macroporous silicon microcavity structures were prepared using electrochemical etching in an HF solution in the absence of light and oxidants. The CdSe/ZnS water-soluble quantum dot-labeled DNA target molecules were detected by monitoring the microcavity reflectance spectrum, which was characterized by the reflectance spectrum defect state position shift resulting from changes to the structures’ refractive index. Quantum dots with a high refractive index and DNA coupling can improve the detection sensitivity by amplifying the optical response signals of the target DNA. The experimental results show that DNA combined with a quantum dot can improve the sensitivity of DNA detection by more than five times. PMID:28045442

High Sensitivity Detection of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dot-Labeled DNA Based on N-type Porous Silicon Microcavities.

PubMed

Lv, Changwu; Jia, Zhenhong; Lv, Jie; Zhang, Hongyan; Li, Yanyu

2017-01-01

N-type macroporous silicon microcavity structures were prepared using electrochemical etching in an HF solution in the absence of light and oxidants. The CdSe/ZnS water-soluble quantum dot-labeled DNA target molecules were detected by monitoring the microcavity reflectance spectrum, which was characterized by the reflectance spectrum defect state position shift resulting from changes to the structures' refractive index. Quantum dots with a high refractive index and DNA coupling can improve the detection sensitivity by amplifying the optical response signals of the target DNA. The experimental results show that DNA combined with a quantum dot can improve the sensitivity of DNA detection by more than five times.

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index, strain and temperature using a tapered structure based on SMF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Na; Xu, Wei; You, Shanhong; Yu, Cheungchuen; Yu, Changyuan; Dong, Bo; Li, Kunpu

2018-03-01

A novel fiber-optic sensing structure based on miniaturized modal interferometer (MMI) for simultaneous refractive index (RI), strain and temperature measurement is proposed. It is mainly based on Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and formed by introducing a down taper between two adjacent up tapers in one single mode fiber (SMF). Experimental results demonstrate a RI sensitivity of 131.93 nm/RIU, a strain sensitivity of 0.0007 nm/ με and a temperature sensitivity of 0.0878 nm/°C respectively. The sensor is merely made of SMF which is cheap and available, and the whole fabrication process contains only cleaving and splicing and can be well controlled by a commercial fiber splicer.

Strain dependence of perfluorinated polymer optical fiber Bragg grating measured at different wavelengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishikawa, Ryo; Lee, Heeyoung; Lacraz, Amédée; Theodosiou, Antreas; Kalli, Kyriacos; Mizuno, Yosuke; Nakamura, Kentaro

2018-03-01

We measure the strain dependence of multiple Bragg wavelengths (corresponding to different diffraction orders) of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) inscribed in a perfluorinated graded-index polymer optical fiber (PFGI-POF) in the wavelength range up to 1550 nm. On the basis of this result, we show that the fractional sensitivity, which has been conventionally used as a wavelength-independent index for fair comparison of the FBG performance measured at different wavelengths, is dependent on wavelength in this range. The reason for this behavior seems to originate from the non-negligible wavelength dependence of refractive index and its strain-dependence coefficient. Using the wavelength dependence of the refractive index already reported for bulk, we deduce the wavelength dependence of the strain coefficient of the refractive index. This information will be a useful archive in implementing PFGI-POF-based strain sensors based on not only FBGs but also Brillouin scattering in the future.

Fundamental characteristics of a dual-colour fibre optic SPR sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Hitoshi; Sugimoto, Mitsunori; Matsui, Yoshikazu; Kondoh, Jun

2006-06-01

In this paper, we present the fundamental characteristics of a novel dual-colour optical fibre surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for a portable low-cost sensing system. The principle of the proposed SPR sensor is based on the differential reflectance method. Light from two light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are flashing alternately with different wavelengths, is fed to a sensor via two optical couplers. The reflected light is detected by a photodiode. Changes of reflectance at two wavelengths are proportional to the refractive index change of the medium of interest. Taking the difference in reflectance at two wavelengths improves the sensitivity almost twofold. Measuring ethanol solutions with different refractive indices reveals that the sensor has a linear response to the refractive index change from 1.333 to 1.3616. By measuring the stability in the time response we estimate that the limit of detection (LOD) of the refractive index is 5.2 × 10-4.

Plasmonic nano-sensor based on metal-dielectric-metal waveguide with the octagonal cavity ring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghorbani, Saeed; Dashti, Mohammad Ali; Jabbari, Masoud

2018-06-01

In this paper, a refractive index plasmonic sensor including a waveguide of metal–insulator–metal with side coupled octagonal cavity ring has been suggested. The sensory and transmission feature of the structure has been analyzed numerically using Finite Element Method numerical solution. The effect of coupling distance and changing the width of metal–insulator–metal waveguide and refractive index of the dielectric located inside octagonal cavity—which are the effective factors in determining the sensory feature—have been examined so completely that the results of the numerical simulation show a linear relation between the resonance wavelength and refractive index of the liquid/gas dielectric material inside the octagonal cavity ring. High sensitivity of the sensor in the resonance wavelength, simplicity and a compact geometry are the advantages of the refractive plasmonic sensor advised which make that possible to use it for designing high performance nano-sensor and bio-sensing devices.

Spectrum online-tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on step-like tapers and its refractive index sensing characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yong; Chen, Mao-qing; Xia, Feng; Hu, Hai-feng

2017-11-01

A novel refractive index (RI) sensor based on an asymmetrical Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with two different step-like tapers is proposed. The step-like taper is fabricated by fusion splicing two half tapers with an appropriate offset. By further applying offset and discharging to the last fabricated step-like taper of MZI, influence of taper parameters on interference spectrum is investigated using only one device. This simple technique provides an on-line method to sweep parameters of step-like tapers and speeds up the optimization process of interference spectrum, meanwhile. In RI sensing experiment, the sensor has a high sensitivity of -185.79 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) in the RI range of 1.3333-1.3673.

D-shaped fiber grating refractive index sensor induced by an ultrashort pulse laser.

PubMed

Liao, Changrui; Wang, Qiao; Xu, Lei; Liu, Shen; He, Jun; Zhao, Jing; Li, Zhengyong; Wang, Yiping

2016-03-01

The fabrication of fiber Bragg gratings was here demonstrated using ultrashort pulse laser point-by-point inscription. This is a very convenient means of creating fiber Bragg gratings with different grating periods and works by changing the translation speed of the fiber. The laser energy was first optimized in order to improve the spectral properties of the fiber gratings. Then, fiber Bragg gratings were formed into D-shaped fibers for use as refractive index sensors. A nonlinear relationship was observed between the Bragg wavelength and liquid refractive index, and a sensitivity of ∼30  nm/RIU was observed at 1.450. This shows that D-shaped fiber Bragg gratings might be used to develop promising biochemical sensors.

EDITORIAL: Sensitive structures: refractive indices in nanotechnology Sensitive structures: refractive indices in nanotechnology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demming, Anna

2012-12-01

Refractive index effects using nanoscale systems are frequently applied in new imaging, sensing and even visibility cloaking technology. In this issue, researchers in Japan use simulations and experiments to describe the confinement of optical vortices in nanoscale fin structures and the sensitivity of these systems to the refractive index of the surrounding media [1]. The effects of refraction as light rays pass between different media were recorded as long ago as the first century AD, by Ptolemy [2]. Over the following centuries the phenomena inspired Ibn Sahl in 984 [3], Thomas Harriot in 1602 [4], Willebrord Snellius in 1621 [5] and Rene Descartes in 1637 [6] to independently derive the more accurate and elegant equation for refraction so familiar to us today. Recent studies of the interactions between light and matter continue to reveal a wealth of phenomena that originate in the effects of the refractive indices of materials. Nanostructures can be used to manipulate conditions that affect the refractive indices of materials, such as temperature. A E Aliev et al at the University of Texas reported a striking demonstration of temperature-dependent refractive index effects using a free-standing, highly aligned carbon nanotube aerogel sheet [7]. They used the extremely low thermal capacitance and high heat transfer ability of transparent carbon nanotube sheets to enable high-frequency modulation of the sheet temperature over an enormous temperature range. The resulting sharp, rapidly changing gradient of the refractive index in the surrounding liquid or gas makes objects seem to disappear and can be used for visibility cloaking. Light-matter interaction resonances, where light is confined at the nanoscale, can be extremely sensitive to changes in the refractive index of the surrounding media [8], even allowing single-molecule detection [9]. Plasmons, the collective oscillations of electrons in response to incident light, are a typical example. Researchers at Rice University, Texas monitored the shift in the surface plasmon resonance of nanoscale gold pyramid structures at antibody-antigen unbinding events. In their demonstration they identified the effective refractive index of a single protein to be approximately 1.54. C G Biris and N C Panoiu at University College London used nonlinear effects in plasmonic metal nanowire structures to generate non-radiative dark-cavity plasmonic modes for sensing applications [10]. The plasmonic cavity modes of the nanowire structures do not couple to the radiation continuum so that radiative losses are suppressed, resulting in a Q-factor an order of magnitude larger than for the plasmonic modes of metallic nanoparticles. The resonances are highly sensitive to the refractive index of the surrounding medium and can detect changes of 10-5 refractive index units for a detector resolution of 0.01 nm. Optical vortices are also a form of light confinement. They have ring-shaped intensity distributions, an optical torque and their potential use in applications requiring nanoscale light confinement has been well demonstrated [11]. In this issue J-J Delaunay and his colleagues identify dips in the reflectivity spectra from nanoscale fin structures caused by optical vortices [1]. The dips may shift in response to changes in the refractive index of the surrounding medium, lending themselves to sensing applications. While other refractive index sensing approaches exist, the use of optical vortices in nanoscale fins boasts a number of additional attractive features including the potential for large-scale fabrication, ease of integration in microfluidic systems and possible trapping applications. And that is not to mention the fascinating physics of the optical vortices that the effects hinge on. In science and technology research, it is often the case that alternative approaches already exist but lack some or many attractive attributes. Johannes Kepler, who discovered the elliptical paths of the planets and came so close to uncovering the law of refraction [12], once termed his professional efforts 'the restless search for and interpretation of causes, the spiritual anguish for grace' [13]. The outcry will resonate with anyone who has applied themselves in the endeavours of scientific research or indeed any other discipline as a scholar, athlete, artist or otherwise. But while there may be frustrations along the way, the achievements in the end make the effort worthwhile. The work in this issue is just one example of what the 'restless search' in scientific research can achieve in sensing technology using nanoscale systems. References [1] Maeda E, Yaerim L, Kobayashi Y, Taino A, Koizumi M, Fujikawa S and Delauney J-J 2012 Sensitivity to refractive index of high aspect-ratio nano-fins with optical vortex Nanotechnology 23 505502 [2] Smith A M 1982 Ptolemy's search for a law of refraction: a case-study in the classical methodology of 'saving the appearances' and its limitations Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. 26 221-40 [3] Rashed R 1990 A pioneer in anaclastics: Ibn Sahl on burning mirrors and lenses ISIS 81 464-91 [4] Kwan A, Dudley J and Lantz E 2002 Who really discovered Snell's law? Phys. World 15 64 [5] Snellius W 1621 unpublished [6]Descartes R 1637 Dioptrique [7] Aliev A E, Gartstein Y N and Baughman R H 2011 Mirage effect from thermally modulated transparent carbon nanotube sheets Nanotechnology 22 435704 [8] Homola J, Yee S S and Gunter G 1999 Surface plasmon resonance sensors: review Sensors Actuators B 54 3-15 [9] Mayer K M, Hao F, Lee S, Nordlander P and Hafner J H 2010 A single molecule immunoassay by localized surface plasmon resonance Nanotechnology 21 255503 [10] Biris C G and Panoiu N C 2011 Excitation of dark plasmonic cavity modes via nonlinearly induced dipoles: applications to near-infrared plasmonic sensing Nanotechnology 22 235502 [11] Boriskina S V and Reinhard B M 2011 Adaptive on-chip control of nano-optical fields with optoplasmonic vortex nanogates Opt. Express 19 22305-15 [12] Houstoun R A 1925 Kepler's law of refraction Math. Notes 23 1516 [13] Koestler A C 1959 The Sleepwalkers (London: Macmillan)

Real-Time Label-Free Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensing with Gold Nanohole Arrays Fabricated by Nanoimprint Lithography

PubMed Central

Martinez-Perdiguero, Josu; Retolaza, Aritz; Otaduy, Deitze; Juarros, Aritz; Merino, Santos

2013-01-01

In this work we present a surface plasmon resonance sensor based on enhanced optical transmission through sub-wavelength nanohole arrays. This technique is extremely sensitive to changes in the refractive index of the surrounding medium which result in a modulation of the transmitted light. The periodic gold nanohole array sensors were fabricated by high-throughput thermal nanoimprint lithography. Square periodic arrays with sub-wavelength hole diameters were obtained and characterized. Using solutions with known refractive index, the array sensitivities were obtained. Finally, protein absorption was monitored in real-time demonstrating the label-free biosensing capabilities of the fabricated devices. PMID:24135989

Periodical rocking long period gratings in PANDA fibers for high temperature and refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Wa; Bi, Wei-hong; Fu, Xing-hu; Fu, Guang-wei

2017-09-01

We report periodical rocking long period gratings (PR-LPGs) in PANDA fibers fabricated with CO2 laser. The PR-LPGs achieve very high coupling efficiency of 19 dB with 12 periods and a 3.5° twist angle in just one scanning cycle, which is much more effective than the conventional CO2 laser fabrication technique. This type of LPGs exhibits polarization-selective resonance dips which demonstrate different sensitivities to environmental parameters. The high temperature and external refractive index sensitivities are measured simultaneously, so it can be used as a wavelength-selective polarization filter and sensor.

Surface Plasmon Scattering in Exposed Core Optical Fiber for Enhanced Resolution Refractive Index Sensing.

PubMed

Klantsataya, Elizaveta; François, Alexandre; Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike; Hoffmann, Peter; Monro, Tanya M

2015-09-29

Refractometric sensors based on optical excitation of surface plasmons on the side of an optical fiber is an established sensing architecture that has enabled laboratory demonstrations of cost effective portable devices for biological and chemical applications. Here we report a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) configuration realized in an Exposed Core Microstructured Optical Fiber (ECF) capable of optimizing both sensitivity and resolution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of fabrication of a rough metal coating suitable for spectral interrogation of scattered plasmonic wave using chemical electroless plating technique on a 10 μm diameter exposed core of the ECF. Performance of the sensor in terms of its refractive index sensitivity and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of SPR response is compared to that achieved with an unstructured bare core fiber with 140 μm core diameter. The experimental improvement in FWHM, and therefore the detection limit, is found to be a factor of two (75 nm for ECF in comparison to 150 nm for the large core fiber). Refractive index sensitivity of 1800 nm/RIU was achieved for both fibers in the sensing range of aqueous environment (1.33-1.37) suitable for biosensing applications.

Retrieving the Vertical Structure of the Effective Aerosol Complex Index of Refraction from a Combination of Aerosol in Situ and Remote Sensing Measurements During TARFOX

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Redemann, J.; Turco, R. P.; Liou, K. N.; Russell, P. B.; Bergstrom, R. W.; Schmid, B.; Livingston, J. M.; Hobbs, P. V.; Hartley, W. S.; Ismail, S.

2000-01-01

The largest uncertainty in estimates of the effects of atmospheric aerosols on climate stems from uncertainties in the determination of their microphysical properties, including the aerosol complex index of refraction, which in turn determines their optical properties. A novel technique is used to estimate the aerosol complex index of refraction in distinct vertical layers from a combination of aerosol in situ size distribution and remote sensing measurements during the Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment (TARFOX). In particular, aerosol backscatter measurements using the NASA Langley LASE (Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment) instrument and in situ aerosol size distribution data are utilized to derive vertical profiles of the 'effective' aerosol complex index of refraction at 815 nm (i.e., the refractive index that would provide the same backscatter signal in a forward calculation on the basis of the measured in situ particle size distributions for homogeneous, spherical aerosols). A sensitivity study shows that this method yields small errors in the retrieved aerosol refractive indices, provided the errors in the lidar derived aerosol backscatter are less than 30% and random in nature. Absolute errors in the estimated aerosol refractive indices are generally less than 0.04 for the real part and can be as much as 0.042 for the imaginary part in the case of a 30% error in the lidar-derived aerosol backscatter. The measurements of aerosol optical depth from the NASA Ames Airborne Tracking Sunphotometer (AATS-6) are successfully incorporated into the new technique and help constrain the retrieved aerosol refractive indices. An application of the technique to two TARFOX case studies yields the occurrence of vertical layers of distinct aerosol refractive indices. Values of the estimated complex aerosol refractive index range from 1.33 to 1.45 for the real part and 0.001 to 0.008 for the imaginary part. The methodology devised in this study provides, for the first time a complete set of vertically resolved aerosol size distribution and refractive index data, yielding the vertical distribution of aerosol optical properties required for the determination of aersol-induced radiative flux changes

Retrieving the Vertical Structure of the Effective Aerosol Complex Index of Refraction from a Combination of Aerosol in Situ and Remote Sensing Measurements During TARFOX

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Redemann, J.; Turco, R. P.; Liou, K. N.; Russell, P. B.; Bergstrom, R. W.; Schmid, B.; Livingston, J. M.; Hobbs, P. V.; Hartley, W. S.; Ismail, S.;

Ultra-high sensitivity Fabry-Perot interferometer gas refractive index fiber sensor based on photonic crystal fiber and Vernier effect.

PubMed

Quan, Mingran; Tian, Jiajun; Yao, Yong

2015-11-01

An ultra-high sensitivity open-cavity Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) gas refractive index (RI) sensor based on the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and Vernier effect is proposed and demonstrated. The sensor is prepared by splicing a section of PCF to a section of fiber tube fused with a section of single mode fiber. The air holes running along the cladding of the PCF enable the gas to enter or leave the cavity freely. The reflection beam from the last end face of the PCF is used to generate the Vernier effect, which significantly improves the sensitivity of the sensor. Experimental results show that the proposed sensor can provide an ultra-high RI sensitivity of 30899 nm/RIU. This sensor has potential applications in fields such as gas concentration analyzing and humidity monitoring.

Temperature sensor based on an isopropanol-sealed photonic crystal fiber in-line interferometer with enhanced refractive index sensitivity.

PubMed

Qiu, Sun-jie; Chen, Ye; Xu, Fei; Lu, Yan-qing

2012-03-01

We fabricate a simple, compact, and stable temperature sensor based on a liquid-sealed photonic crystal fiber (PCF) in-line nonpolarimetric modal interferometer. Different from other reported PCF devices, it does not need expensive polarimetric devices, and the liquid is sealed in one fiber. The device consists of a stub of isopropanol-filled PCF spliced between standard single-mode fibers. The temperature sensitivity (-166 pm/°C) increases over an order of magnitude compared with those of the previous sensors based on air-sealed PCF interferometers built via fusion splicing with the same mechanism. In addition, the refractive index sensitivity also increases. Higher temperature sensitivity can be realized by infiltrating some liquid having a higher thermo-optic coefficient into the microholes of the PCF. © 2012 Optical Society of America

Overlapping illusions by transformation optics without any negative refraction material.

PubMed

Sun, Fei; He, Sailing

2016-01-11

A novel method to achieve an overlapping illusion without any negative refraction index material is introduced with the help of the optic-null medium (ONM) designed by an extremely stretching spatial transformation. Unlike the previous methods to achieve such an optical illusion by transformation optics (TO), our method can achieve a power combination and reshape the radiation pattern at the same time. Unlike the overlapping illusion with some negative refraction index material, our method is not sensitive to the loss of the materials. Other advantages over existing methods are discussed. Numerical simulations are given to verify the performance of the proposed devices.

A Multi-D-Shaped Optical Fiber for Refractive Index Sensing

PubMed Central

Chen, Chien-Hsing; Tsao, Tzu-Chein; Tang, Jaw-Luen; Wu, Wei-Te

2010-01-01

A novel class of multi-D-shaped optical fiber suited for refractive index measurements is presented. The multi-D-shaped optical fiber was constructed by forming several D-sections in a multimode optical fiber at localized regions with femtosecond laser pulses. The total number of D-shaped zones fabricated could range from three to seven. Each D-shaped zone covered a sensor volume of 100 μm depth, 250 μm width, and 1 mm length. The mean roughness of the core surface obtained by the AFM images was 231.7 nm, which is relatively smooth. Results of the tensile test indicated that the fibers have sufficient mechanical strength to resist damage from further processing. The multi-D-shaped optical fiber as a high sensitive refractive-index sensor to detect changes in the surrounding refractive index was studied. The results for different concentrations of sucrose solution show that a resolution of 1.27 × 10−3–3.13 × 10−4 RIU is achieved for refractive indices in the range of 1.333 to 1.403, suggesting that the multi-D-shaped fibers are attractive for chemical, biological, and biochemical sensing with aqueous solutions. PMID:22399908

Asymmetric nanofluidic grating detector for differential refractive index measurement and biosensing.

PubMed

Purr, F; Bassu, M; Lowe, R D; Thürmann, B; Dietzel, A; Burg, T P

2017-12-05

Measuring small changes in refractive index can provide both sensitive and contactless information on molecule concentration or process conditions for a wide range of applications. However, refractive index measurements are easily perturbed by non-specific background signals, such as temperature changes or non-specific binding. Here, we present an optofluidic device for measuring refractive index with direct background subtraction within a single measurement. The device is comprised of two interdigitated arrays of nanofluidic channels designed to form an optical grating. Optical path differences between the two sets of channels can be measured directly via an intensity ratio within the diffraction pattern that forms when the grating is illuminated by a collimated laser beam. Our results show that no calibration or biasing is required if the unit cell of the grating is designed with an appropriate built-in asymmetry. In proof-of-concept experiments we attained a noise level equivalent to ∼10 -5 refractive index units (30 Hz sampling rate, 4 min measurement interval). Furthermore, we show that the accumulation of biomolecules on the surface of the nanochannels can be measured in real-time. Because of its simplicity and robustness, we expect that this inherently differential measurement concept will find many applications in ultra-low volume analytical systems, biosensors, and portable devices.

Nanoparticles doped film sensing based on terahertz metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Weimin; Fan, Fei; Chang, Shengjiang; Hou, Jiaqing; Chen, Meng; Wang, Xianghui; Bai, Jinjun

2017-12-01

A nanoparticles concentration sensor based on doped film and terahertz (THz) metamaterial has been proposed. By coating the nanoparticles doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film on the surface of THz metamaterial, the effects of nanoparticle concentration on the metamaterial resonances are investigated through experiments and numerical simulations. Results show that resonant frequency of the metamaterial linearly decreases with the increment of doping concentration. Furthermore, numerical simulations illustrate that the redshift of resonance results from the changes of refractive index of the doped film. The concentration sensitivity of this sensor is 3.12 GHz/0.1%, and the refractive index sensitivity reaches 53.33 GHz/RIU. This work provides a non-contact, nondestructive and sensitive method for the detection of nanoparticles concentration and brings out a new application on THz film metamaterial sensing.

Simulation and performance evaluation of fiber optic sensor for detection of hepatic malignancies in human liver tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Anuj K.; Gupta, Jyoti; Basu, Rikmantra

2018-01-01

A fiber optic sensor is proposed for the identification of healthy and cancerous liver tissues through determination of their corresponding refractive index values. Existing experimental results describing variation of complex refractive index of liver tissues in near infrared (NIR) spectral region are considered for theoretical calculations. The intensity interrogation method with chalcogenide fiber is considered. The sensor's performance is closely analyzed in terms of its sensitivity at multiple operating wavelengths falling in NIR region. Operating at shorter NIR wavelengths leads to greater sensitivity. The effect of design parameters (sensing region length and fiber core diameter), different launching conditions, and fiber glass materials on sensor's performance is examined. The proposed sensor has the potential to provide high sensitivity of liver tissue detection.

Refractive index and temperature sensors based on no-core fiber cascaded with long period fiber grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jianming; Pu, Shengli; Rao, Jie; Yao, Tianjun

2018-05-01

A kind of compact fibre-optic sensor based on no-core fibre (NCF) cascaded with a strong coupling long-period fibre grating (LPFG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensing mechanism is based on the Mach-Zehnder-like interference between the core fundamental mode and cladding mode of the fibre structure. The NCF and LPFG are used as the mode exciter and combiner, respectively. Due to the particular properties of the strong coupling LPFG, the measurements of refractive index (RI) and temperature with high sensitivity are realized by monitoring the transmission spectrum with intensity and wavelength interrogation techniques, respectively. The achieved RI sensitivity reaches -580.269 dB/RIU in the range of 1.436-1.454 and the temperature sensitivity reaches 27.2 pm/°C.

Diffractive Optical Analysis for Refractive Index Sensing using Transparent Phase Gratings

PubMed Central

Kumawat, Nityanand; Pal, Parama; Varma, Manoj

2015-01-01

We report the implementation of a micro-patterned, glass-based photonic sensing element that is capable of label-free biosensing. The diffractive optical analyzer is based on the differential response of diffracted orders to bulk as well as surface refractive index changes. The differential read-out suppresses signal drifts and enables time-resolved determination of refractive index changes in the sample cell. A remarkable feature of this device is that under appropriate conditions, the measurement sensitivity of the sensor can be enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude due to interference between multiply reflected diffracted orders. A noise-equivalent limit of detection (LoD) of 6 × 10−7 was achieved with this technique with scope for further improvement. PMID:26578408

The investigation of an LSPR refractive index sensor based on periodic gold nanorings array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shuai; Sun, Xiaohong; Ding, Mingjie; Peng, Gangding; Qi, Yongle; Wang, Yile; Ren, Jie

2018-01-01

An on-chip refractive index (RI) sensor, which is based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of periodic gold nanorings array, is presented. The structure parameters and performance of LSPR-based sensors are optimized by analyzing and comparing the LSPR extinction spectra. The mechanism of the enhancement of plasma resonance in a ring array is discussed by the simulation results. A feasible preparation scheme of the nanorings array is proposed and verified by coating a gold film and etching on the photonic crystals. Based on the optimum sensing structure, an RI sensor is constructed with a RI sensitivity of 577 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) and a figure of merit (FOM) of 6.1, which is approximately 2 times that of previous reports.

Dark plasmonic mode based perfect absorption and refractive index sensing.

PubMed

Yang, W H; Zhang, C; Sun, S; Jing, J; Song, Q; Xiao, S

2017-07-06

Dark plasmonic resonances in metallic nanostructures are essential for many potential applications such as refractive index sensing, single molecule detection, nanolasers etc. However, it is difficult to excite the dark modes in optical experiments and thus the practical applications are severely limited. Herein, we demonstrate a simple method to experimentally excite the quadrupolar and higher-order plasmonic modes with normal incident light. By directionally depositing silver films onto the sidewalls of metal-covered one-dimensional grating, we have experimentally observed a series of asymmetrical resonances at the plasmonic ranges of silver gratings. Interestingly, both of the reflection and transmission coefficients of high-order plasmonic modes are reduced to around zero, demonstrating the perfect absorption very well. The corresponding numerical simulations show that these resonances are the well-known dark modes. Different from the conventional dark modes in plasmonic dimers, here the dark modes are the electric oscillations (as standing waves) within the silver sidewalls that are excited by charge accumulation via the bright plasmonic resonance of the top silver strips. In addition to the simple realization of perfect absorption, the dark modes are found to be quite sensitive to the environmental changes. The experimentally measured reflective index sensitivity is around 458 nm per RIU (refractive index unit), which is much higher than the sensitivity of the metal-covered grating without silver sidewalls. This research shall pave new routes to practical applications of dark surface plasmons.

Quasi-D-shaped optical fiber plasmonic refractive index sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Guowen; Li, Shuguang; Wang, Haiyang; Zhang, Xuenan; Yan, Xin

2018-03-01

A quasi-D-shaped photonic crystal fiber plasmonic sensor with a rectangular lattice is proposed by using Au as a plasmonic layer and graphene to enhance the sensing performance. By moving the core to the edge of the fiber, a shorter polishing depth is achieved, which makes the fiber proposed have a greater mechanical strength than other common D-shaped fibers. Benefiting from the natural advantage of the rectangular lattice, the dual sensing channels make the proposed sensor show a maximum wavelength interrogation sensitivity of 3877 nm/RIU with the dynamic refractive index range from 1.33 to 1.42 and a maximum amplitude sensitivity of 1236 RIU-1 with the analyte RI = 1.41 in the visible region. The corresponding resolutions are 2.58 × 10-5 and 8.1 × 10-6 with the methods of the wavelength interrogation method and amplitude- or phase-based method. These advantages make the proposed sensor a competitive candidate for biosensing in the field of refractive index detection, such as water quality analysis, clinical medicine detection, and pharmaceutical testing.

Optical fiber micro-displacement sensor using a refractive index modulation window-assisted reflection fiber taper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Weijia; Qiao, Xueguang; Yin, Xunli; Rong, Qiangzhou; Wang, Ruohui; Yang, Hangzhou

2017-12-01

We demonstrate a compact fiber-optic quasi-Michelson interferometer (QMI) for micro-displacement measurement. The sensor comprises a micro-structure of a reflection taper tip containing a refractive index modification (RIM) as a coupling window over the interface between core and cladding of the fiber. Femtosecond laser-based direct inscription technique is used to achieve this window inscription and to induce large refractive index change. The RIM acts as a window for the strong coupling and recoupling of core-to-cladding modes. As the core and cladding modes are reflected at the taper tip and coupled back to lead-in fiber, a well-defined interference spectrum is achieved. The spectral intensity exhibits a high micro-bending sensitivity of 4 . 94 dB / μm because of the sensitivity to bending of recoupled intensity of cladding modes. In contrast, the spectral wavelength is insensitive to bending but linearly responds to temperature. The simultaneous measurements, including power-referenced for displacement and wavelength-referenced for temperature, were achieved by selective interference dip monitoring.

Dual-hole Photonic Crystal Fiber Intermodal Interference based Refractometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Feng; Guo, Xuan; Zhang, Qing; Fu, Xinghu

2017-12-01

A refractive-index (RI) sensor and its sensing characteristics based on intermodal interference of dual-hole Polarization Maintaining Photonic Crystal Fiber (PM-PCF) are demonstrated in this letter. The sensor works from the interference between LP01 and LP11 modes of hydrofluoric acid etched PM-PCF. The influence of corrosion zone radius on the RI sensing sensitivity is also discussed. Via choosing a 2.5 cm etched PM-PCF(the etched area radius is 27.5 μm) and 650 nm laser, the sensor exhibits the RI sensitivity of 7.48 V/RIU. The simple sensor structure and inexpensive demodulation method can make this technology for online refractive index measurement in widespread areas.

Nanowire lasers as intracellular probes.

PubMed

Wu, Xiaoqin; Chen, Qiushu; Xu, Peizhen; Chen, Yu-Cheng; Wu, Biming; Coleman, Rhima M; Tong, Limin; Fan, Xudong

2018-05-24

We investigate a cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanowire (NW) laser that is spontaneously internalized into a single cell to serve as a stand-alone intracellular probe. By pumping with nano-joule light pulses, green laser emission (500-520 nm) can be observed inside cells with a peak linewidth as narrow as 0.5 nm. Due to the sub-micron diameter (∼200 nm), the NW has an appreciable fraction of the evanescent field outside, facilitating a sensitive detection of cellular environmental changes. By monitoring the lasing peak wavelength shift in response to the intracellular refractive index change, our NW laser probe shows a sensitivity of 55 nm per RIU (refractive index units) and a figure of merit of approximately 98.

High-sensitivity liquid refractive-index sensor based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a double-slot hybrid plasmonic waveguide.

PubMed

Sun, Xu; Dai, Daoxin; Thylén, Lars; Wosinski, Lech

2015-10-05

A Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) liquid sensor, employing ultra-compact double-slot hybrid plasmonic (DSHP) waveguide as active sensing arm, is developed. Numerical results show that extremely large optical confinement factor of the tested analytes (as high as 88%) can be obtained by DSHP waveguide with optimized geometrical parameters, which is larger than both, conventional SOI waveguides and plasmonic slot waveguides with same widths. As for MZI sensor with 40μm long DSHP active sensing area, the sensitivity can reach as high value as 1061nm/RIU (refractive index unit). The total loss, excluding the coupling loss of the grating coupler, is around 4.5dB.

Refractive Index Sensor Based on Fano Resonances in Metal-Insulator-Metal Waveguides Coupled with Resonators.

PubMed

Tang, Yue; Zhang, Zhidong; Wang, Ruibing; Hai, Zhenyin; Xue, Chenyang; Zhang, Wendong; Yan, Shubin

2017-04-06

A surface plasmon polariton refractive index sensor based on Fano resonances in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides coupled with rectangular and ring resonators is proposed and numerically investigated using a finite element method. Fano resonances are observed in the transmission spectra, which result from the coupling between the narrow-band spectral response in the ring resonator and the broadband spectral response in the rectangular resonator. Results are analyzed using coupled-mode theory based on transmission line theory. The coupled mode theory is employed to explain the Fano resonance effect, and the analytical result is in good agreement with the simulation result. The results show that with an increase in the refractive index of the fill dielectric material in the slot of the system, the Fano resonance peak exhibits a remarkable red shift, and the highest value of sensitivity (S) is 1125 nm/RIU, RIU means refractive index unit. Furthermore, the coupled MIM waveguide structure can be integrated with other photonic devices at the chip scale. The results can provide a guide for future applications of this structure.

Colloidal gold-modified optical fiber for chemical and biochemical sensing.

PubMed

Cheng, Shu-Fang; Chau, Lai-Kwan

2003-01-01

A novel class of fiber-optic evanescent-wave sensor was constructed on the basis of modification of the unclad portion of an optical fiber with self-assembled gold colloids. The optical properties and, hence, the attenuated total reflection spectrum of self-assembled gold colloids on the optical fiber changes with different refractive index of the environment near the colloidal gold surface. With sucrose solutions of increasing refractive index, the sensor response decreases linearly. The colloidal gold surface was also functionalized with glycine, succinic acid, or biotin to enhance the selectivity of the sensor. Results show that the sensor response decreases linearly with increasing concentration of each analyte. When the colloidal gold surface was functionalized with biotin, the detection limit of the sensor for streptavidin was 9.8 x 10(-11) M. Using this approach, we demonstrate proof-of-concept of a class of refractive index sensor that is sensitive to the refractive index of the environment near the colloidal gold surface and, hence, is suitable for label-free detection of molecular or biomolecular binding at the surface of gold colloids.

Dispersion and shape engineered plasmonic nanosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Hyeon-Ho; Mark, Andrew G.; Alarcón-Correa, Mariana; Kim, Insook; Oswald, Peter; Lee, Tung-Chun; Fischer, Peer

2016-04-01

Biosensors based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of individual metallic nanoparticles promise to deliver modular, low-cost sensing with high-detection thresholds. However, they continue to suffer from relatively low sensitivity and figures of merit (FOMs). Herein we introduce the idea of sensitivity enhancement of LSPR sensors through engineering of the material dispersion function. Employing dispersion and shape engineering of chiral nanoparticles leads to remarkable refractive index sensitivities (1,091 nm RIU-1 at λ=921 nm) and FOMs (>2,800 RIU-1). A key feature is that the polarization-dependent extinction of the nanoparticles is now characterized by rich spectral features, including bipolar peaks and nulls, suitable for tracking refractive index changes. This sensing modality offers strong optical contrast even in the presence of highly absorbing media, an important consideration for use in complex biological media with limited transmission. The technique is sensitive to surface-specific binding events which we demonstrate through biotin-avidin surface coupling.

Demodulation method for tilted fiber Bragg grating refractometer with high sensitivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pham, Xuantung; Si, Jinhai; Chen, Tao; Wang, Ruize; Yan, Lihe; Cao, Houjun; Hou, Xun

2018-05-01

In this paper, we propose a demodulation method for refractive index (RI) sensing with tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs). It operates by monitoring the TFBG cladding mode resonance "cut-off wavelengths." The idea of a "cut-off wavelength" and its determination method are introduced. The RI sensitivities of TFBGs are significantly enhanced in certain RI ranges by using our demodulation method. The temperature-induced cross sensitivity is eliminated. We also demonstrate a parallel-double-angle TFBG (PDTFBG), in which two individual TFBGs are inscribed in the fiber core in parallel using a femtosecond laser and a phase mask. The RI sensing range of the PDTFBG is significantly broader than that of a conventional single-angle TFBG. In addition, its RI sensitivity can reach 1023.1 nm/refractive index unit in the 1.4401-1.4570 RI range when our proposed demodulation method is used.

High sensitivity plasmonic sensor using hybrid structure of graphene stripe combined with gold gap-ring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Zhiyuan; Hu, Bin; Cyril, Planchon; Liu, Juan; Wang, Yongtian

2017-10-01

Local surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) produced by metallic nano-structures is often sensitive to the refractive index of the surrounding media and can be applied for sensing. However, it often suffers from large line width caused by large plasmonic radiative damping, especially in the infrared (IR) frequencies, which reduces the sensitivity. Here we propose a hybrid structure consists of a graphene stripe and a gold gap-ring at short-IR frequencies (1-3 µm). Due to the low loss and high plasmonic confinement of graphene, LSPR line width of 6 nm is obtained. In addition, due to the strong coupling of the gold gap-ring with graphene stripe, the intensity of graphene LSPR is enhanced by 100 times. Simulation results show that the sensitivity of the sensor is ~1000 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) and the figure of merit (FoM) can reach up to 383.

Sensitivity Enhancement in Low Cutoff Wavelength Long-Period Fiber Gratings by Cladding Diameter Reduction.

PubMed

Del Villar, Ignacio; Partridge, Matthew; Rodriguez, Wenceslao Eduardo; Fuentes, Omar; Socorro, Abian Bentor; Diaz, Silvia; Corres, Jesus Maria; James, Stephen Wayne; Tatam, Ralph Peter

2017-09-13

The diameter of long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) fabricated in optical fibers with a low cutoff wavelength was be reduced by hydrofluoric acid etching, enhancing the sensitivity to refractive index by more than a factor of 3, to 2611 nm/refractive index unit in the range from 1.333 to 1.4278. The grating period selected for the LPFGs allowed access to the dispersion turning point at wavelengths close to the visible range of the optical spectrum, where optical equipment is less expensive. As an example of an application, a pH sensor based on the deposition of a polymeric coating was analyzed in two situations: with an LPFG without diameter reduction and with an LPFG with diameter reduction. Again, a sensitivity increase of a factor of near 3 was obtained, demonstrating the ability of this method to enhance the sensitivity of thin-film-coated LPFG chemical sensors.

Photonic crystal fiber long-period gratings for structural monitoring and chemical sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Jaw-Luen; Wang, Jian-Neng

2008-03-01

We present a simple, low-cost, temperature- and strain-insensitive long-period gratings (LPGs) written in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) that can be used as sensitive chemical solution sensors or bend sensors for a variety of industrial applications, including civil engineering, aircraft, chemistry, food industry, and biosensing. Three different configurations of PCFs have been used for this study, including a polarization maintaining PCF, a large mode area PCF and an endlessly single mode PCF. These LPGs have been characterized for their sensitivity to temperature, strain, bending, and surrounding refractive index. Transmission spectra of the LPGs were found to exhibit negligible temperature and strain sensitivities, whereas possessing usable sensitivity to refractive index and bending. This type of PCF sensor could in principle be designed for optimum sensitivity to desired measurand(s), while minimizing or removing undesirable cross-sensitivities. The unique sensing features of PCFs are particularly suited for a wide variety of applications in smart structures, embedded materials, telecommunications and sensor systems.

High-sensitivity and large-dynamic-range refractive index sensors employing weak composite Fabry-Perot cavities.

PubMed

Chen, Pengcheng; Shu, Xuewen; Cao, Haoran; Sugden, Kate

2017-08-15

Most sensors face a common trade-off between high sensitivity and a large dynamic range. We demonstrate here an all-fiber refractometer based on a dual-cavity Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) that possesses the advantage of both high sensitivity and a large dynamic range. Since the two composite cavities have a large cavity length difference, one can observe both fine and coarse fringes, which correspond to the long cavity and the short cavity, respectively. The short-cavity FPI and the use of an intensity demodulation method mean that the individual fine fringe dips correspond to a series of quasi-continuous highly sensitive zones for refractive index measurement. By calculating the parameters of the composite FPI, we find that the range of the ultra-sensitive zones can be considerably adjusted to suit the end requirements. The experimental trends are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. The co-existence of high sensitivity and a large dynamic range in a composite FPI is of great significance to practical RI measurements.

Refractive index-based detection of gradient elution liquid chromatography using chip-integrated microring resonator arrays.

PubMed

Wade, James H; Bailey, Ryan C

2014-01-07

Refractive index-based sensors offer attractive characteristics as nondestructive and universal detectors for liquid chromatographic separations, but a small dynamic range and sensitivity to minor thermal perturbations limit the utility of commercial RI detectors for many potential applications, especially those requiring the use of gradient elutions. As such, RI detectors find use almost exclusively in sample abundant, isocratic separations when interfaced with high-performance liquid chromatography. Silicon photonic microring resonators are refractive index-sensitive optical devices that feature good sensitivity and tremendous dynamic range. The large dynamic range of microring resonators allows the sensors to function across a wide spectrum of refractive indices, such as that encountered when moving from an aqueous to organic mobile phase during a gradient elution, a key analytical advantage not supported in commercial RI detectors. Microrings are easily configured into sensor arrays, and chip-integrated control microrings enable real-time corrections of thermal drift. Thermal controls allow for analyses at any temperature and, in the absence of rigorous temperature control, obviates extended detector equilibration wait times. Herein, proof of concept isocratic and gradient elution separations were performed using well-characterized model analytes (e.g., caffeine, ibuprofen) in both neat buffer and more complex sample matrices. These experiments demonstrate the ability of microring arrays to perform isocratic and gradient elutions under ambient conditions, avoiding two major limitations of commercial RI-based detectors and maintaining comparable bulk RI sensitivity. Further benefit may be realized in the future through selective surface functionalization to impart degrees of postcolumn (bio)molecular specificity at the detection phase of a separation. The chip-based and microscale nature of microring resonators also make it an attractive potential detection technology that could be integrated within lab-on-a-chip and microfluidic separation devices.

Study on the SPR responses of various DNA probe concentrations by parallel scan spectral SPR imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Suihua; Liu, Le; Lu, Weiping; Zhang, Yaou; He, Yonghong; Guo, Jihua

2008-12-01

SPR sensors have become a high sensitive and label free method for characterizing and quantifying chemical and biochemical interactions. However, the relations between the SPR refractive index response and the property (such as concentrations) of biochemical probes are still lacking. In this paper, an experimental study on the SPR responses of varies concentrations of Legionella pneumophila mip DNA probes is presented. We developed a novel two-dimensional SPR sensing technique-parallel scan spectral SPR imaging-to detect an array of mip gene probes. This technique offers quantitative refractive index information with a high sensing throughput. By detecting mip DNA probes with different concentrations, we obtained the relations between the SPR refractive index response and the concentrations of mip DNA probes. These results are valuable for design and developing SPR based mip gene biochips.

Novel multichannel surface plasmon resonance photonic crystal fiber biosensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hameed, Mohamed Farhat O.; Alrayk, Yassmin K. A.; Shaalan, A. A.; El Deeb, Walid S.; Obayya, S. S. A.

2016-04-01

In this paper, a novel design of highly sensitive biosensor based on photonic crystal fiber is presented and analyzed using full vectorial finite element method. The suggested design depends on using silver layer as a plasmonic active material coated by a gold layer to protect silver oxidation. The reported sensor is based on the detection using the quasi transverse electric (TE) and quasi transverse magnetic (TM) modes which offers the possibility of multi-channel/multi-analyte sensing. The sensor geometrical parameters are optimized to achieve high sensitivity for the two polarized modes. High refractive index sensitivity of about 4750 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) and 4300 nm/RIU with corresponding resolutions of 2.1×10-5 RIU, and 2.33×10-5 RIU can be obtained for the quasi TM and quasi TE modes, respectively.

APPLIED PHYSICS. Mid-infrared plasmonic biosensing with graphene.

PubMed

Rodrigo, Daniel; Limaj, Odeta; Janner, Davide; Etezadi, Dordaneh; García de Abajo, F Javier; Pruneri, Valerio; Altug, Hatice

2015-07-10

Infrared spectroscopy is the technique of choice for chemical identification of biomolecules through their vibrational fingerprints. However, infrared light interacts poorly with nanometric-size molecules. We exploit the unique electro-optical properties of graphene to demonstrate a high-sensitivity tunable plasmonic biosensor for chemically specific label-free detection of protein monolayers. The plasmon resonance of nanostructured graphene is dynamically tuned to selectively probe the protein at different frequencies and extract its complex refractive index. Additionally, the extreme spatial light confinement in graphene—up to two orders of magnitude higher than in metals—produces an unprecedentedly high overlap with nanometric biomolecules, enabling superior sensitivity in the detection of their refractive index and vibrational fingerprints. The combination of tunable spectral selectivity and enhanced sensitivity of graphene opens exciting prospects for biosensing. Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

High-sensitivity refractive index sensors based on fused tapered photonic crystal fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Xing-hu; Xie, Hai-yang; Yang, Chuan-qing; Qu, Yu-wei; Zhang, Shun-yang; Fu, Guang-wei; Guo, Xuan; Bi, Wei-hong

2016-05-01

In this paper, a novel liquid refractive index (RI) sensor based on fused tapered photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed. It is fabricated by fusing and tapering a section of PCF which is spliced with two single-mode fibers (SMFs). Due to the fused biconical taper method, the sensor becomes longer and thinner, to make the change of the outside RI has more direct effects on the internal optical field of the PCF, which finally enhances the sensitivity of this sensor. Experimental results show that the transmission spectra of the sensor are red-shifted obviously with the increase of RI. The longer the tapered region of the sensor, the higher the sensitivity is. This sensor has the advantages of simple structure, easy fabrication, high performance and so on, so it has potential applications in RI measurement.

Index-of-refraction-dependent subcellular light scattering observed with organelle-specific dyes.

PubMed

Wilson, Jeremy D; Cottrell, William J; Foster, Thomas H

2007-01-01

Angularly resolved light scattering and wavelength-resolved darkfield scattering spectroscopy measurements were performed on intact, control EMT6 cells and cells stained with high-extinction lysosomal- or mitochondrial-localizing dyes. In the presence of the lysosomal-localizing dye NPe6, we observe changes in the details of light scattering from stained and unstained cells, which have both wavelength- and angular-dependent features. Analysis of measurements performed at several wavelengths reveals a reduced scattering cross section near the absorption maximum of the lysosomal-localizing dye. When identical measurements are made with cells loaded with a similar mitochondrial-localizing dye, HPPH, we find no evidence that staining mitochondria had any effect on the light scattering. Changes in the scattering properties of candidate populations of organelles induced by the addition of an absorber are modeled with Mie theory, and we find that any absorber-induced scattering response is very sensitive to the inherent refractive index of the organelle population. Our measurements and modeling are consistent with EMT6-cell-mitochondria having refractive indices close to those reported in the literature for organelles, approximately 1.4. The reduction in scattering cross section induced by NPe6 constrains the refractive index of lysosomes to be significantly higher. We estimate the refractive index of lysosomes in EMT6 cells to be approximately 1.6.

Highly Sensitive Liquid Core Temperature Sensor Based on Multimode Interference Effects

PubMed Central

Fuentes-Fuentes, Miguel A.; May-Arrioja, Daniel A.; Guzman-Sepulveda, José R.; Torres-Cisneros, Miguel; Sánchez-Mondragón, José J.

2015-01-01

A novel fiber optic temperature sensor based on a liquid-core multimode interference device is demonstrated. The advantage of such structure is that the thermo-optic coefficient (TOC) of the liquid is at least one order of magnitude larger than that of silica and this, combined with the fact that the TOC of silica and the liquid have opposite signs, provides a liquid-core multimode fiber (MMF) highly sensitive to temperature. Since the refractive index of the liquid can be easily modified, this allows us to control the modal properties of the liquid-core MMF at will and the sensor sensitivity can be easily tuned by selecting the refractive index of the liquid in the core of the device. The maximum sensitivity measured in our experiments is 20 nm/°C in the low-temperature regime up to 60 °C. To the best of our knowledge, to date, this is the largest sensitivity reported for fiber-based MMI temperature sensors. PMID:26512664

High Sensitive Temperature Sensor Using a Liquid-core Optical Fiber with Small Refractive Index Difference Between Core and Cladding Materials.

PubMed

Xu, Yonghao; Chen, Xianfeng; Zhu, Yu

2008-03-17

An intensive temperature sensor based on a liquid-core optical fiber has been demonstrated for the measuring the temperature of the environment. The core of fiber is filled with a mixture of toluene and chloroform in order to make the refractive index of the liquid-core and the cladding of the fiber close. The experiment shows that a temperature sensitivity of about 5 dB/K and a tunable temperature range (from 20 o C to 60 o C) can be achieved. Based on the dielectric-clad liquid core fiber model, a simulation was carried out and the calculated results were in good accord with the experimental measurement.

An original method to determine complex refractive index of liquids by spectroscopic ellipsometry and illustrated applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stchakovsky, M.; Battie, Y.; Naciri, A. En

2017-11-01

We present a method to characterize optical properties of liquids by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The experiments use a specific liquid cell that avoids disturbance of waves at air-liquid interface and allows the determination of the real and the imaginary part of the refractive index, with a sensitivity of the latter below 10-4. The method is illustrated by results obtained with a spectroscopic phase modulation ellipsometer on several liquids such as deionised water, microscope oil and protein solution. Comparisons of the method with standard techniques are given.

Optical fibre cavity ring down measurement of refractive index with a microchannel drilled by femtosecond laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Kaiming; Webb, David; Mou, Chengbo; Farries, Mark; Hayes, Neil; Bennion, Ian

2009-10-01

μA microchannel was inscribed in the fibre of a ring cavity which was constructed from two 0.1%:99.9% couplers and a 10m fibre loop. Cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) was used to measure the refractive index (RI) of gels infused into the microchannel with high resolution. The ring down time discloses a nonlinear increase with respect to the RI of the gel and sensitivity up to 300μs/RI unit (RIU) and resolution of 5×10-4 were obtained.

An optical wavefront sensor based on a double layer microlens array.

PubMed

Lin, Vinna; Wei, Hsiang-Chun; Hsieh, Hsin-Ta; Su, Guo-Dung John

2011-01-01

In order to determine light aberrations, Shack-Hartmann optical wavefront sensors make use of microlens arrays (MLA) to divide the incident light into small parts and focus them onto image planes. In this paper, we present the design and fabrication of long focal length MLA with various shapes and arrangements based on a double layer structure for optical wavefront sensing applications. A longer focal length MLA could provide high sensitivity in determining the average slope across each microlens under a given wavefront, and spatial resolution of a wavefront sensor is increased by numbers of microlenses across a detector. In order to extend focal length, we used polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) above MLA on a glass substrate. Because of small refractive index difference between PDMS and MLA interface (UV-resin), the incident light is less refracted and focused in further distance. Other specific focal lengths could also be realized by modifying the refractive index difference without changing the MLA size. Thus, the wavefront sensor could be improved with better sensitivity and higher spatial resolution.

Fabrication Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance sensor chip of gold nanoparticles and detection lipase-osmolytes interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghodselahi, T.; Hoornam, S.; Vesaghi, M. A.; Ranjbar, B.; Azizi, A.; Mobasheri, H.

2014-09-01

Co-deposition of RF-sputtering and RF-PECVD from acetylene gas and Au target were used to prepare sensor chip of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Deposition conditions were optimized to reach a Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) sensor chip of Au NPs with particle size less than 10 nm. The RF power was set at 180 W and the initial gas pressure was set at 0.035 mbar. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) data were used to investigate particles size and surface morphology of LSPR sensor chip. The Au and C content of the LSPR sensor chip of Au NPs was obtained from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) thin film was used as intermediate material to immobilize Au NPs on the SiO2 substrate. The interaction between two types of osmolytes, i.e. sorbitol and trehalose, with Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PCL) were detected by the prepared LSPR biosensor chip. The detection mechanism is based on LSPR spectroscopy in which the wavelength of absorption peak is sensitive to the refractive index of the environment of the Au NPs. This mechanism eliminates the use of a probe or immobilization of PCL on the Au NPs of LSPR sensor chip. The interaction between PCL and osmolytes can change refractive index of the mixture or solution. We found that unlike to trehalose, sorbitol interacts with the PCL. This interaction increases refractive index of the PCL and sorbitol mixture. Refractive index of PCL in the presence of different concentration of sorbitol was obtained by Mie theory modeling of LSPR peaks. This modeling stated that the present LSPR sensor chip has sensitivity as high as wavelength shift of 175 nm per refractive index. Moreover, the detection of such weakly interaction between bio-molecules cannot be achieved by other analysis.

Simultaneous Retrieval of Effective Refractive Index and Density from Size Distribution and Light Scattering Data: Weakly-Absorbing Aerosol

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kassianov, Evgueni I.; Barnard, James C.; Pekour, Mikhail S.

2014-10-01

We propose here a novel approach for retrieving in parallel the effective density and real refractive index of weakly absorbing aerosol from optical and size distribution measurements. Here we define “weakly absorbing” as aerosol single-scattering albedos that exceed 0.95 at 0.5 um.The required optical measurements are the scattering coefficient and the hemispheric backscatter fraction, obtained in this work from an integrating nephelometer. The required size spectra come from a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer. The performance of this approach is first evaluated using a sensitivity study with synthetically generated but measurement-related inputs. The sensitivity study revealsmore » that the proposed approach is robust to random noise; additionally the uncertainties of the retrieval are almost linearly proportional to the measurement errors, and these uncertainties are smaller for the real refractive index than for the effective density. Next, actual measurements are used to evaluate our approach. These measurements include the optical, microphysical, and chemical properties of weakly absorbing aerosol which are representative of a variety of coastal summertime conditions observed during the Two-Column Aerosol Project (TCAP; http://campaign.arm.gov/tcap/). The evaluation includes calculating the root mean square error (RMSE) between the aerosol characteristics retrieved by our approach, and the same quantities calculated using the conventional volume mixing rule for chemical constituents. For dry conditions (defined in this work as relative humidity less than 55%) and sub-micron particles, a very good (RMSE~3%) and reasonable (RMSE~28%) agreement is obtained for the retrieved real refractive index (1.49±0.02) and effective density (1.68±0.21), respectively. Our approach permits discrimination between the retrieved aerosol characteristics of sub-micron and sub-10micron particles. The evaluation results also reveal that the retrieved density and refractive index tend to decrease with an increase of the relative humidity.« less

Optical CT imaging of solid radiochromic dosimeters in mismatched refractive index solutions using a scanning laser and large area detector.

PubMed

Dekker, Kurtis H; Battista, Jerry J; Jordan, Kevin J

2016-08-01

The practical use of the PRESAGE® solid plastic dosimeter is limited by the inconvenience of immersing it in high-viscosity oils to achieve refractive index matching for optical computed tomography (CT) scanning. The oils are slow to mix and difficult to clean from surfaces, and the dosimeter rotation can generate dynamic Schlieren inhomogeneity patterns in the reference liquid, limiting the rotational and overall scan speed. Therefore, it would be beneficial if lower-viscosity, water-based solutions with slightly unmatched refractive index could be used instead. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of allowing mismatched conditions when using a scanning laser system with a large acceptance angle detector. A fiducial-based ray path measurement technique is combined with an iterative CT reconstruction algorithm to reconstruct images. A water based surrounding liquid with a low viscosity was selected for imaging PRESAGE® solid dosimeters. Liquid selection was optimized to achieve as high a refractive index as possible while avoiding rotation-induced Schlieren effects. This led to a refractive index mismatch of 6% between liquid and dosimeters. Optical CT scans were performed with a fan-beam scanning-laser optical CT system with a large area detector to capture most of the refracted rays. A fiducial marker placed on the wall of a cylindrical sample occludes a given light ray twice. With knowledge of the rotation angle and the radius of the cylindrical object, the actual internal path of each ray through the dosimeter can be calculated. Scans were performed with 1024 projections of 512 data samples each, and rays were rebinned to form 512 parallel-beam projections. Reconstructions were performed on a 512 × 512 grid using 100 iterations of the SIRT iterative CT algorithm. Proof of concept was demonstrated with a uniformly attenuating solution phantom. PRESAGE® dosimeters (11 cm diameter) were irradiated with Cobalt-60 irradiator to achieve either a uniform dose or a 2-level "step-dose" pattern. With 6% refractive index mismatching, a circular field of view of 85% of the diameter of a cylindrical sample can be reconstructed accurately. Reconstructed images of the test solution phantom were uniform (within 3%) inside this radius. However, the dose responses of the PRESAGE® samples were not spatially uniform, with variations of at least 5% in sensitivity. The variation appears as a "cupping" artifact with less sensitivity in the middle than at the periphery of the PRESAGE® cylinder. Polarization effects were also detected for these samples. The fiducial-based ray path measurement scheme, coupled with an iterative reconstruction algorithm, enabled optical CT scanning of PRESAGE® dosimeters immersed in mismatched refractive index solutions. However, improvements to PRESAGE® dose response uniformity are required.

Sensitivity Analysis of Different Shapes of a Plastic Optical Fiber-Based Immunosensor for Escherichia coli: Simulation and Experimental Results.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Domingos M C; Lopes, Rafaela N; Franco, Marcos A R; Werneck, Marcelo M; Allil, Regina C S B

2017-12-19

Conventional pathogen detection methods require trained personnel, specialized laboratories and can take days to provide a result. Thus, portable biosensors with rapid detection response are vital for the current needs for in-loco quality assays. In this work the authors analyze the characteristics of an immunosensor based on the evanescent field in plastic optical fibers with macro curvature by comparing experimental with simulated results. The work studies different shapes of evanescent-wave based fiber optic sensors, adopting a computational modeling to evaluate the probes with the best sensitivity. The simulation showed that for a U-Shaped sensor, the best results can be achieved with a sensor of 980 µm diameter by 5.0 mm in curvature for refractive index sensing, whereas the meander-shaped sensor with 250 μm in diameter with radius of curvature of 1.5 mm, showed better sensitivity for either bacteria and refractive index (RI) sensing. Then, an immunosensor was developed, firstly to measure refractive index and after that, functionalized to detect Escherichia coli . Based on the results with the simulation, we conducted studies with a real sensor for RI measurements and for Escherichia coli detection aiming to establish the best diameter and curvature radius in order to obtain an optimized sensor. On comparing the experimental results with predictions made from the modelling, good agreements were obtained. The simulations performed allowed the evaluation of new geometric configurations of biosensors that can be easily constructed and that promise improved sensitivity.

Highly sensitive refractive index sensor based on a TiO₂ nanowire array.

PubMed

Li, Qiu-Shun; Xiang, Dong; Chang, Zhi-Min; Shi, Jian-Guo; Ma, Yao-Hong; Cai, Lei; Feng, Dong; Dong, Wen-Fei

2017-03-01

We propose a novel, highly sensitive refractive index (RI) sensor by means of combining the Kretschmann prism with a TiO₂ nanowire array and do not use a metallic layer in the Kretschmann configuration. Its RI sensing performance was investigated through measuring different concentrations of sodium chloride solution. Experimental results showed that, with increasing RI of liquid, the resonant wavelength in the reflectance spectrum redshifted gradually in the visible light range. There was a very good linear relationship between resonant wavelength and RI in the range of 1.3330 to 1.3546. More importantly, in contrast to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, the interferometric sensors showed higher sensitivity to the external RI. In the case of the transverse magnetic mode, the RI sensitivity is up to 320,700.93 a.u./RIU (refractive index unit) by expression of light intensity, which is 9.55 times that of the SPR sensor. As for the transverse electric mode, it achieves 4371.76 nm/RIU by expression of the resonant wavelength, which is increased by a factor of 1.4 in comparison with the SPR sensor. Moreover, the experimental results have favorable repeatability. A TiO₂ nanowire array sensor has also other advantages, such as easy manufacturing, low cost, and in situ determination, etc. To our knowledge, this fact is reported for the first time. It has great potential applications in the field of biological and chemical sensing.

Detection of non-absorbing charge dynamics via refractive index change in dye-sensitized solar cells.

PubMed

Kuwahara, Shota; Hata, Hiroaki; Taya, Soichiro; Maeda, Naotaka; Shen, Qing; Toyoda, Taro; Katayama, Kenji

2013-04-28

The carrier dynamics in dye-sensitized solar cells was investigated by using the transient grating, in addition to the transient absorption method and transient photocurrent method on the order of microseconds to seconds. The signals for the same sample were obtained under a short-circuit condition to compare the carrier dynamics via refractive index change with the transient photocurrent measurement. Optically silent carrier dynamics by transient absorption have been successfully observed via a refractive index change. The corresponding signal components were originated from the charge dynamics at the solid/liquid interface, especially on the liquid side; rearrangement or diffusion motion of charged redox species occurred when the injected electrons were trapped at the TiO2 surface and when the electron-electrolyte recombination occurred at the interface. The assignments were confirmed from the dependence on the viscosity of the solvent and the presence of 4-tert-butyl pyridine. As the viscosity of the solvent increased, the rearrangement and the motion of the charged redox species were delayed. Since the rearrangement dynamics was changed by the presence of 4-tert-butyl pyridine, it affected not only the TiO2 surface but also the redox species close to the interface.

Manipulation of surface plasmon resonance of a graphene-based Au aperture antenna in visible and near-infrared regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Yuan; An, Yashuai; Tao, Zhi; Deng, Luogen

2018-03-01

Behaviors of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of a graphene-based Au aperture antenna are investigated in visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) regions. Compared with the SPR wavelength of a traditional Au aperture antenna, the SPR wavelength of the graphene-based Au aperture antenna shows a remarkable blue shift due to the redistribution of the electric field in the proposed structure. The electric field of the graphene-based Au aperture antenna is highly localized on the surface of the graphene in the aperture and redistributed to be a standing wave. Moreover, the SPR of a graphene-based Au aperture antenna is sensitive to the thickness and the refractive index of the dielectric layer, the graphene Fermi energy, the refractive index of the environment and the polarization direction of the incident light. Finally, we find the wavelength, intensity and phase of the reflected light of the graphene-based Au aperture antenna array can be actively modulated by varying the graphene Fermi energy. The proposed structure provides a promising platform for realizing a tunable optical filter, a highly sensitive refractive index sensor, and other actively tunable optical and optoelectronic devices.

Simultaneous Chemical and Refractive Index Sensing in the 1-2.5 μm Near-Infrared Wavelength Range on Nanoporous Gold Disks.

PubMed

Shih, Wei-Chuan; Santos, Greggy M; Zhao, Fusheng; Zenasni, Oussama; Arnob, Md Masud Parvez

2016-07-13

Near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy provides molecular and chemical information based on overtones and combination bands of the fundamental vibrational modes in the infrared wavelengths. However, the sensitivity of NIR absorption measurement is limited by the generally weak absorption and the relatively poor detector performance compared to other wavelength ranges. To overcome these barriers, we have developed a novel technique to simultaneously obtain chemical and refractive index sensing in 1-2.5 μm NIR wavelength range on nanoporous gold (NPG) disks, which feature high-density plasmonic hot-spots of localized electric field enhancement. For the first time, surface-enhanced near-infrared absorption (SENIRA) spectroscopy has been demonstrated for high sensitivity chemical detection. With a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of octadecanethiol (ODT), an enhancement factor (EF) of up to ∼10(4) has been demonstrated for the first C-H combination band at 2400 nm using NPG disk with 600 nm diameter. Together with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) extinction spectroscopy, simultaneous sensing of sample refractive index has been achieved for the first time. The performance of this technique has been evaluated using various hydrocarbon compounds and crude oil samples.

Film sensor based on cascaded tilted long-period and tilted fiber Bragg grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sang, Jiangang; Gu, Zhengtian; Ling, Qiang; Feng, Wenbin

2018-06-01

A film sensor based on a tilted long-period fiber grating (TLPFG) inserted before a tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) is proposed. The sensor is described theoretically using the transfer matrix method. This structure has two reflected peaks in the reflection spectrum. One peak is for the selected recoupled cladding mode of azimuthal order l = 2 and the other one is for the coupled core mode. The tilt angles of the TLPFG and TFBG and the mode order of the l = 2 cladding mode mainly determine the reflected power of the recoupled-(l = 2) cladding-mode peak in the reflection spectrum. By analyzing the relation between the film parameters (film refractive index and film thickness) and reflection spectrum, the characteristics of the film sensor are studied. The results show that this film sensor has a high sensitivity to the film parameters and increases the sensitivity of the film refractive index by two orders of magnitude in comparison with the normal cascaded long-period fiber grating (LPFG) and the fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The resolutions of the refractive index and the thickness of the sensing film are predicted to be 10‑6 and 10‑3 nm.

Facile Growth of High-Yield Gold Nanobipyramids Induced by Chloroplatinic Acid for High Refractive Index Sensing Properties.

PubMed

Fang, Caihong; Zhao, Guili; Xiao, Yanling; Zhao, Jun; Zhang, Zijun; Geng, Baoyou

2016-11-14

Au nanobipyramids (NBPs) have attracted great attention because of their unique localized surface plasmon resonance properties. However, the current growth methods always have low yield or suffer tedious process. Developing new ways to direct synthesis of high-yield Au NBPs using common agents is therefore desirable. Here, we employed chloroplatinic acid as the key shape-directing agent for the first time to grow Au NBPs using a modified seed-mediated method at room temperature. H 2 PtCl 6 was added both during the seed preparation and in growth solution. Metallic Pt, reduced from chloroplatinic acid, will deposit on the surface of the seed nanoparticles and the Au nanocrystals and thus plays a critical role for the formation of Au NBPs. Additionally, the reductant, precursor, and surfactant are all cheap and commonly used. Furthermore, the Au NBPs offer narrow size distribution, two sharp tips, and a shared basis. Au NBPs therefore show much higher refractive index sensitivities than that of the Au nanorods. The refractive index sensitivities and lager figure of merit values of Au NBPs exhibit an increase of 63% and 321% respectively compared to the corresponding values of Au nanorod sample.

A comparison of electronic heterodyne moire deflectometry and electronic heterodyne holographic interferometry for flow measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Decker, A. J.; Stricker, J.

1985-01-01

Electronic heterodyne moire deflectometry and electronic heterodyne holographic interferometry are compared as methods for the accurate measurement of refractive index and density change distributions of phase objects. Experimental results are presented to show that the two methods have comparable accuracy for measuring the first derivative of the interferometric fringe shift. The phase object for the measurements is a large crystal of KD*P, whose refractive index distribution can be changed accurately and repeatably for the comparison. Although the refractive index change causes only about one interferometric fringe shift over the entire crystal, the derivative shows considerable detail for the comparison. As electronic phase measurement methods, both methods are very accurate and are intrinsically compatible with computer controlled readout and data processing. Heterodyne moire is relatively inexpensive and has high variable sensitivity. Heterodyne holographic interferometry is better developed, and can be used with poor quality optical access to the experiment.

Two-step recording of visible holographic elements in photo-thermo-refractive glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kompan, Fedor; Divliansky, Ivan; Smirnov, Vadim; Glebov, Leonid B.

2018-02-01

Photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass) is a photosensitive silicate glass doped with Ce3+ where a permanent refractive index decrement is produced by UV exposure followed by thermal development. This material provides high efficiency and low losses combined with high thermal, ionizing and laser tolerance of holographic optical elements (HOEs). This is why PTR glass is widely used for holographic recording of volume Bragg gratings (trivial holograms produced by interference of two collimated beams) and phase plates operating in near UV, visible, and near IR spectral regions. It would be very beneficial though to record also complex HOEs (lenses and curved mirrors) for those spectral regions. However, PTR is not sensitive to visible or IR radiation and therefore does not allow the recording of nonplanar holograms for these regions. The present paper describes a technique for recording complex HOEs using visible radiation in Ce3+ doped PTR glass. This two-step technique includes a blank exposure to UV radiation followed by structured exposure to a visible beam. It was found that the second exposure decreases the refractive index decrement induced in the UV exposed glass after thermal development. This means that areas, which underwent double exposure, have refractive index lower than in unexposed areas but higher than in just UV exposed ones. Thus, this technique provides refractive index increment after visible irradiation of UV exposed PTR glass. Using this approach, complex holograms (curved mirrors and lenses) operating in the visible region, were recorded in PTR glass.

Etching twin core fiber for the temperature-independent refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chuanbiao; Ning, Tigang; Li, Jing; Zheng, Jingjing; Gao, Xuekai; Lin, Heng; Pei, Li

2018-04-01

We proposed an ultra-compact chemically etched twin core fiber (TCF) based optic refractive index (RI) sensor, in which the etched fiber was fabricated by immersing in an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid (HF) to etch the cladding. Due to the multipath evolutions of light during the TCF, the mode induced interference pattern can be used for measurement. Numerical simulations were performed, demonstrating that only the cladding mode strongly interacts with the surrounding media, and the higher cladding modes will be more sensitive to external medium. In the experiment demonstration, the RI response characteristics of the sensor were investigated, which shows a relatively high RI sensitivity and a much low temperature cross-sensitivity with about 1.06 × 10-6 RIU °C-1. Due to low cost and easy fabrication, the sensor can be a suitable candidate in the biochemical field.

Theoretical study of modulated multi-layer SPR device for improved refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohapatra, Saswat; Moirangthem, Rakesh S.

2018-02-01

In the present work, a theoretical investigation of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) properties of a multilayer film (Au-SiO2-Au) coated on a glass prism is being carried out. In this multilayer structure, each interface corresponds to multiple SPR modes. To obtain the maximum reflection dips in the SPR modes, the thickness of SiO2 layer is optimized by varying it from 100-600 nm. Our calculation also reveals that SPR mode corresponding to Au-ambient interface is very sensitive to the changes in the surrounding medium, least affecting other SPR modes. The sensing performance of the proposed nano-plasmonic sensor is theoretically calculated using bulk refractive index sensing. Such multilayer SPR sensing device has advantages over conventional SPR devices in terms of their bulk sensitivity and self-referencing, claiming itself as a potential candidate for the development of highly sensitive biological sensor.

Hybrid tilted fiber grating based refractive index and liquid level sensing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zhijun; Mou, Chengbo; Sun, Zhongyuan; Zhou, Kaimin; Wang, Hushan; Wang, Yishan; Zhao, Wei; Zhang, Lin

2015-09-01

We report a refractive index (RI) and liquid level sensing system based on a hybrid grating structure comprising of a 45° and an 81° tilted fiber gratings (TFGs) that have been inscribed into a single mode fiber in series. In this structure, the 45°-TFG is used as a polarizer to filter out the transverse electric (TE) component and enable the 81°-TFG operating at single polarization for RI and level sensing. The experiment results show a lower temperature cross-sensitivity, only about 7.33 pm/°C, and a higher RI sensitivity, being around 180 nm/RIU at RI=1.345 and 926 nm/RIU at RI=1.412 region, which are significantly improved in comparison with long period fiber gratings. The hybrid grating structure has also been applied as a liquid level sensor, showing 3.06 dB/mm linear peak ratio sensitivity.

Hollow fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor for the detection of liquid with high refractive index.

PubMed

Liu, Bing-Hong; Jiang, Yong-Xiang; Zhu, Xiao-Song; Tang, Xiao-Li; Shi, Yi-Wei

2013-12-30

A new kind of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on silver-coated hollow fiber (HF) structure for the detection of liquids with high refractive index (RI) is presented. Liquid sensed medium with high RI is filled in the hollow core of the HF and its RI can be detected by measuring the transmission spectra of the HF SPR sensor. The designed sensors with different silver thicknesses are fabricated and the transmission spectra for filled liquids with different RI are measured to investigate the performances of the sensors. Theoretical analysis is also carried out to evaluate the performance. The simulation results agree well with the experimental results. Factors that might affect sensitivity and detection accuracy of the sensor are discussed. The highest sensitivity achieved is 6,607 nm/RIU, which is comparable to the sensitivities of the other reported fiber SPR sensors.

Highly sensitive biochemical sensor utilizing Bragg grating in submicron Si/SiO2 waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tripathi, Saurabh Mani; Kumar, Arun; Meunier, Jean-Pierre; Marin, Emmanuel

2009-05-01

We present a novel highly sensitive biochemical sensor based on a Bragg grating written in the cladding region of a submicron planar Si/SiO2 waveguide. Owing to the high refractive index contrast at the Si/SiO2 boundary the TM modal power is relatively high in low refractive index sensing region, leading to higher sensitivity in this configuration [1]. Waveguide parameters have been optimized to obtain maximum modal power in the sensing region (PSe) and an optimum core width corresponding to maximum sensitivity is found to exist while operating in TM mode configuration, as has been shown in Fig. 1. It has been found that operating in TM mode configuration at optimum core width the structure exhibits extremely high sensitivity, ~ 5×10-6 RIU - 1.35×10-6 RIU for the ambient refractive indices between 1.33 - 1.63. Such high sensitivities are typically attainable for Surface Plasmon Polariton (SPP) based biosensors and is much higher than any non SPP based sensors. Being free from any metallic layer or bulky prism the structure is easy to realize. Owing to its simple structure and small dimensions the proposed sensor can be integrated with planar lightwave circuits and could be used in handy lab-on-a-chip devices. The device may find application in highly sensitive biological/chemical sensing areas in civil and defense sectors where analyzing the samples at the point of need is required rather than sending it to some centralized laboratory.

Low-temperature cross-talk magnetic-field sensor based on tapered all-solid waveguide-array fiber and magnetic fluids.

PubMed

Miao, Yinping; Ma, Xixi; Wu, Jixuan; Song, Binbin; Zhang, Hao; Zhang, Kailiang; Liu, Bo; Yao, Jianquan

2015-08-15

A compact fiber-optic magnetic-field sensor based on tapered all-solid waveguide-array fiber (WAF) and magnetic fluid (MF) has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The tapered all-solid WAF is fabricated by using a fusion splicer, and the sensor is formed by immersing the tapered all-solid WAF into the MF. The transmission spectra have been measured and analyzed under different magnetic-field intensities. Experimental results show that the acquired magnetic-field sensitivity is 44.57 pm/Oe for a linear magnetic-field intensity range from 50 to 200 Oe. All-solid WAF has very similar thermal expansion coefficient for high- and low-refractive-index glasses, so mode profile is not affected by thermal drifts. Also, magnetically induced refractive-index changes into the ferrofluid are of the order of ∼5×10(-2), while the corresponding thermally induced refractive-index changes into the ferrofluid are expected to be lower. The temperature response has also been detected, and the temperature-induced wavelength shift perturbation is less than 0.3 nm from temperature of 26.9°C-44°C. The proposed magnetic-field sensor has such advantages as low temperature sensitivity, simple structure, and ease of fabrication. It also indicates that the magnetic-field sensor based on tapered all-solid WAF and MF is helpful to reduce temperature cross-sensitivity for the measurement of magnetic field.

Non-destructive geometric and refractive index characterization of single and multi-element lenses using optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Haddad, Mohamed T.; Tao, Yuankai K.

2018-02-01

Design of optical imaging systems requires careful balancing of lens aberrations to optimize the point-spread function (PSF) and minimize field distortions. Aberrations and distortions are a result of both lens geometry and glass material. While most lens manufacturers provide optical models to facilitate system-level simulation, these models are often not reflective of true system performance because of manufacturing tolerances. Optical design can be further confounded when achromatic or proprietary lenses are employed. Achromats are ubiquitous in systems that utilize broadband sources due to their superior performance in balancing chromatic aberrations. Similarly, proprietary lenses may be custom-designed for optimal performance, but lens models are generally not available. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides non-contact, depth-resolved imaging with high axial resolution and sensitivity. OCT has been previously used to measure the refractive index of unknown materials. In a homogenous sample, the group refractive index is obtained as the ratio between the measured optical and geometric thicknesses of the sample. In heterogenous samples, a method called focus-tracking (FT) quantifies the effect of focal shift introduced by the sample. This enables simultaneous measurement of the thickness and refractive index of intermediate sample layers. Here, we extend the mathematical framework of FT to spherical surfaces, and describe a method based on OCT and FT for full characterization of lens geometry and refractive index. Finally, we validate our characterization method on commercially available singlet and doublet lenses.

Material Structure of a Graded Refractive Index Lens in Decapod Squid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Jing; Heiney, Paul; Sweeney, Alison

2013-03-01

Underwater vision with a camera-type eye that is simultaneously acute and sensitive requires a spherical lens with a graded distribution of refractive index. Squids have this type of lens, and our previous work has shown that its optical properties are likely achieved with radially variable densities of a single protein with multiple isoforms. Here we measure the spatial organization of this novel protein material in concentric layers of the lens and use these data to suggest possible mechanisms of self-assembly of the proteins into a graded refractive index structure. First, we performed small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) to study how the protein is spatially organized. Then, molecular dynamic simulation allowed us to correlate structure to the possible dynamics of the system in different regions of the lens. The combination of simulation and SAXS data in this system revealed the likely protein-protein interactions, resulting material structure and its relationship to the observed and variable optical properties of this graded index system. We believe insights into the material properties of the squid lens system will inform the invention of self-assembling graded index devices.

Square array photonic crystal fiber-based surface plasmon resonance refractive index sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Min; Yang, Xu; Zhao, Bingyue; Hou, Jingyun; Shum, Ping

2017-12-01

Based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a novel refractive index (RI) sensor comprising a square photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed to realize the detection of the annular analyte. Instead of hexagon structure, four large air-holes in a square array are introduced to enhance the sensitivity by allowing two polarization directions of the core mode to be more sensitive. The gold is used as the only plasmonic material. The design purpose is to reduce the difficulty in gold deposition and enhance the RI sensitivity. The guiding properties and the effects of the parameters on the performance of the sensor are numerically investigated by the Finite Element Method (FEM). By optimizing the structure, the sensor can exhibit remarkable sensitivity up to 7250 nm/RIU and resolution of 1.0638 × 10-5 RIU with only one plasmonic material, which is very competitive compared with the other reported externally coated and single-layer coated PCF-based SPR (PCF-SPR) sensors, to our best knowledge.

Refractive index and temperature-sensing characteristics of a cladding-etched thin core fiber interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Weiying; Dong, Xinran; Chu, Dongkai; Hu, Youwang; Sun, Xiaoyan; Duan, Ji-An

2018-05-01

A high refractive index (RI) sensor based on an in-line Mach-Zehnder mode interferometer (MZI) is proposed. The sensor was realized by splicing a 2-cm length of cladding-etched thin core fiber (TCF) between two single mode fibers (SMFs). The TCF-structured MZI exhibited good fringe visibility as high as 15 dB in air and the high RI sensitivity attained a value of 1143.89 nm/RIU at a RI of 1.447. The experimental data revealed that the MZI has high RI sensitivity after HF etching realizing 2599.66 nm/RIU. Studies were performed on the temperature characteristics of the device. It is anticipated that this high RI sensor will be deployed in new and diverse applications in the chemical and biological fields.

Elliptical-core two mode fiber sensors and devices incorporating photoinduced refractive index gratings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greene, Jonathan A.; Miller, Mark S.; Starr, Suzanne E.; Fogg, Brian R.; Murphy, Kent A.; Claus, Richard O.; Vengsarkar, Ashish M.

1991-01-01

Results of experiments performed using germanium-doped, elliptical core, two-mode optical fibers whose sensitivity to strain was spatially varied through the use of chirped, refractive-index gratings permanently induced into the core using Argon-ion laser light are presented. This type of distributed sensor falls into the class of eighted-fiber sensors which, through a variety of means, weight the strain sensitivity of a fiber according to a specified spatial profile. We describe results of a weighted-fiber vibration mode filter which successfully enhances the particular vibration mode whose spatial profile corresponds to the profile of the grating chirp. We report on the high temperature survivability of such grating-based sensors and discuss the possibility of multiplexing more than one sensor within a single fiber.

Hybrid Fabry-Perot interferometer for simultaneous liquid refractive index and temperature measurement.

PubMed

Xu, Ben; Yang, Yi; Jia, Zhenbao; Wang, D N

2017-06-26

A compact and high sensitivity sensor with a fiber-tip structure is proposed and demonstrated for simultaneously liquid refractive index (RI) and temperature sensing. The device is fabricated by inserting a tiny segment of capillary tube between single-mode fibers (SMFs) to form two cascaded Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs). The theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that the ambient liquid RI and temperature can be simultaneously determined by the intensity and shift of the resonant wavelength in the reflection spectrum. Our proposed device has the highest RI sensitivity of ~216.37 dB/RIU at the RI value of 1.30; a high spatial resolution owing to its compact size (with dimension <400 μm) makes it promising for high precision bio/chemical sensing applications.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kulchin, Yurii N; Vitrik, O B; Gurbatov, S O

The phase of light propagating through a bent optical fibre is shown to depend on the refractive index of the medium surrounding the fibre cladding when there is resonance coupling between the guided core mode and cladding modes. This shifts the spectral maxima in the bent fibre-optic Fabry - Perot interferometer. The highest phase and spectral sensitivities achieved with this interferometer configuration are 0.71 and 0.077, respectively, and enable changes in the refractive index of the ambient medium down to 5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -6} to be detected. This makes the proposed approach potentially attractive for producing highly stable, precision refractivemore » index sensors capable of solving a wide range of liquid refractometry problems.« less

Polarized micro-Raman studies of femtosecond laser written stress-induced optical waveguides in diamond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sotillo, B.; Chiappini, A.; Bharadwaj, V.; Hadden, J. P.; Bosia, F.; Olivero, P.; Ferrari, M.; Ramponi, R.; Barclay, P. E.; Eaton, S. M.

2018-01-01

Understanding the physical mechanisms of the refractive index modulation induced by femtosecond laser writing is crucial for tailoring the properties of the resulting optical waveguides. In this work, we apply polarized Raman spectroscopy to study the origin of stress-induced waveguides in diamond, produced by femtosecond laser writing. The change in the refractive index induced by the femtosecond laser in the crystal is derived from the measured stress in the waveguides. The results help to explain the waveguide polarization sensitive guiding mechanism, as well as provide a technique for their optimization.

Indirect absorption spectroscopy using quantum cascade lasers: mid-infrared refractometry and photothermal spectroscopy.

PubMed

Pfeifer, Marcel; Ruf, Alexander; Fischer, Peer

2013-11-04

We record vibrational spectra with two indirect schemes that depend on the real part of the index of refraction: mid-infrared refractometry and photothermal spectroscopy. In the former, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) spot is imaged to determine the angles of total internal reflection, which yields the absorption line via a beam profile analysis. In the photothermal measurements, a tunable QCL excites vibrational resonances of a molecular monolayer, which heats the surrounding medium and changes its refractive index. This is observed with a probe laser in the visible. Sub-monolayer sensitivities are demonstrated.

Highly birefringent suspended-core photonic microcells for refractive-index sensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Chao; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057; Jin, Wa

2014-08-11

An in-line photonic microcell with a highly birefringent suspended microfiber core is fabricated by locally heating and pressurizing selected air-holes of an endless single mode photonic crystal fiber. The microfiber core has rhombus-like cross-sectional geometry and could achieve a high birefringence of up to 10{sup −2}. The microfiber core is fixed at the center of the microcell by thin struts attached to an outer jacket tube, which protects and isolates the microfiber from environmental contaminations. Highly sensitive and robust refractive index sensors based on such microcells are experimentally demonstrated.

Mode-independent attenuation in evanescent-field sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gnewuch, Harald; Renner, Hagen

1995-03-01

Generally, the total power attenuation in multimode evanescent-field sensor waveguides is nonproportional to the bulk absorbance because the modal attenuation constants differ. Hence a direct measurement is difficult and is additionally aggravated because the waveguide absorbance is highly sensitive to the specific launching conditions at the waveguide input. A general asymptotic formula for the modal power attenuation in strongly asymmetric inhomogeneous planar waveguides with arbitrarily distributed weak absorption in the low-index superstrate is derived. Explicit expressions for typical refractive-index profiles are given. Except when very close to the cutoff, the predicted asymptotic attenuation behavior agrees well with exact calculations. The ratio of TM versus TE absorption has been derived to be (2 - n0 2/nf2 ) for arbitrary profiles. Waveguides with a linear refractive-index profile show mode-independent attenuation coefficients within each polarization. Further, the asymptotic sensitivity is independent of the wavelength, so that it should be possible to directly measure the spectral variation of the bulk absorption. The mode independence of the attenuation has been verified experimentally for a second-order polynomial profile, which is close to a linear refractive-index distribution. In contrast, the attenuation in the step-profile waveguide has been found to depend strongly on the mode number, as predicted by theory. A strong spread of the modal attenuation coefficients is also predicted for the parabolic-profile waveguide sensor.

High sensitivity refractive index sensor based on a tapered small core single-mode fiber structure.

PubMed

Liu, Dejun; Mallik, Arun Kumar; Yuan, Jinhui; Yu, Chongxiu; Farrell, Gerald; Semenova, Yuliya; Wu, Qiang

2015-09-01

A high sensitivity refractive index (RI) sensor based on a tapered small core single-mode fiber (SCSMF) structure sandwiched between two traditional single-mode fibers (SMF28) is reported. The microheater brushing technique was employed to fabricate the tapered fiber structures with different waist diameters of 12.5, 15.0, and 18.8 μm. Experiments demonstrate that the fiber sensor with a waist diameter of 12.5 μm offers the best sensitivity of 19212.5  nm/RIU (RI unit) in the RI range of 1.4304 to 1.4320. All sensors fabricated in this Letter show good linearity in terms of the spectral wavelength shift versus changes in RI. Furthermore, the sensor with the best sensitivity to RI was also used to measure relative humidity (RH) without any coating materials applied to the fiber surface. Experimental results show that the spectral wavelength shift changes exponentially as the RH varies from 60% to 95%. A maximum sensitivity of 18.3 nm per relative humidity unit (RHU) was achieved in the RH range of 90.4% to 94.5% RH.

Plasmon-enhanced tilted fiber Bragg gratings with oriented silver nanowire coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renoirt, J.-M.; Debliquy, M.; Albert, J.; Ianoul, A.; Caucheteur, C.

2014-05-01

(TFBG) covered by silver nanowires aligned perpendicularly to the fiber axis. TBFGs are a convenient way to measure surrounding refractive index, as they provide intrinsic temperature-insensitivity and preserve the optical fiber structural integrity. With bare TFBGs, sensitivity is about 60 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) while when coated with a gold thin film, surface plasmon resonance can be excited leading to a sensitivity about 600 nm/RIU. In our case, we show that localized plasmon resonances can be excited on silver nanowires. These nanowires (100 nm diameter and about 2.5 µm length) were synthetized by polyol process (ethylene glycol reducing silver nitrate in the presence of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone and sodium chloride). The nanowires were aligned and deposited perpendicularly to the fiber axis on the gratings using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique in order to maximise the coupling between azimuthally polarized light modes and the localized plasmons. Excitation of surface plasmons at wavelengths around 1.5 µm occurred, leading to a dip in the polarization dependent losses of the grating. This dip is highly dependent of the surrounding refractive index, leading to a sensitivity of 650 nm/RIU, which is a 10-fold increase compared to bare gratings. We obtain results equal or slightly higher than those obtained using a gold layer on TFBGs. In spite of the comparable bulk refractometric sensitivity, the use of these oriented nanowire layers provide significantly higher contact surface area for biochemical analysis using bioreceptors, and benefit from stronger polarization selectivity between azimuthal and radially polarized modes.

Measurement Sensitivity Of Liquid Droplet Parameters Using Optical Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Alok K.; Mandal, Anup K.

1990-02-01

A new clad probing technique is used to measure the size, number, refractive index and viscosity of liquid droplets sprayed from a pressure nozzle on an uncoated core-clad fiber. The probe monitors the clad mode power loss within the leaky ray zone represented as a three region fiber. Liquid droplets measured are Glycerine, commercial grade Turpentine, Linseed oil and some oil mixtures. The measurement sensitivity depends on probing conditions and clad diameter which is observed experimentally and verified analytically. A maximum sensitivity is obtained for the tapered probe-fiber diameter made equal to the clad thickness. A slowly tapered probe-fiber and a small end angle as well as separation of the sensor-fiber and the probe-fiber further improve the sensitivity. Under the best probing condition for 90-percent Glycerine droplets of - 50 micron diameter and a 50/125 micron sensor fiber with clad refractive index of 1.465 and 0.2 NA, the measured sensitivity per drop is 0.015 and 0.006 dB, respectively, for (10-20) and (100-200) droplets. Sensitivities for different systems are shown. The sensitivity is optimized by choosing proper fiber for known liquids.

Optical CT imaging of solid radiochromic dosimeters in mismatched refractive index solutions using a scanning laser and large area detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dekker, Kurtis H., E-mail: kdekker2@uwo.ca

Purpose: The practical use of the PRESAGE® solid plastic dosimeter is limited by the inconvenience of immersing it in high-viscosity oils to achieve refractive index matching for optical computed tomography (CT) scanning. The oils are slow to mix and difficult to clean from surfaces, and the dosimeter rotation can generate dynamic Schlieren inhomogeneity patterns in the reference liquid, limiting the rotational and overall scan speed. Therefore, it would be beneficial if lower-viscosity, water-based solutions with slightly unmatched refractive index could be used instead. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of allowing mismatched conditions when using amore » scanning laser system with a large acceptance angle detector. A fiducial-based ray path measurement technique is combined with an iterative CT reconstruction algorithm to reconstruct images. Methods: A water based surrounding liquid with a low viscosity was selected for imaging PRESAGE® solid dosimeters. Liquid selection was optimized to achieve as high a refractive index as possible while avoiding rotation-induced Schlieren effects. This led to a refractive index mismatch of 6% between liquid and dosimeters. Optical CT scans were performed with a fan-beam scanning-laser optical CT system with a large area detector to capture most of the refracted rays. A fiducial marker placed on the wall of a cylindrical sample occludes a given light ray twice. With knowledge of the rotation angle and the radius of the cylindrical object, the actual internal path of each ray through the dosimeter can be calculated. Scans were performed with 1024 projections of 512 data samples each, and rays were rebinned to form 512 parallel-beam projections. Reconstructions were performed on a 512 × 512 grid using 100 iterations of the SIRT iterative CT algorithm. Proof of concept was demonstrated with a uniformly attenuating solution phantom. PRESAGE® dosimeters (11 cm diameter) were irradiated with Cobalt-60 irradiator to achieve either a uniform dose or a 2-level “step-dose” pattern. Results: With 6% refractive index mismatching, a circular field of view of 85% of the diameter of a cylindrical sample can be reconstructed accurately. Reconstructed images of the test solution phantom were uniform (within 3%) inside this radius. However, the dose responses of the PRESAGE® samples were not spatially uniform, with variations of at least 5% in sensitivity. The variation appears as a “cupping” artifact with less sensitivity in the middle than at the periphery of the PRESAGE® cylinder. Polarization effects were also detected for these samples. Conclusions: The fiducial-based ray path measurement scheme, coupled with an iterative reconstruction algorithm, enabled optical CT scanning of PRESAGE® dosimeters immersed in mismatched refractive index solutions. However, improvements to PRESAGE® dose response uniformity are required.« less

An Optical Wavefront Sensor Based on a Double Layer Microlens Array

PubMed Central

Lin, Vinna; Wei, Hsiang-Chun; Hsieh, Hsin-Ta; Su, Guo-Dung John

2011-01-01

In order to determine light aberrations, Shack-Hartmann optical wavefront sensors make use of microlens arrays (MLA) to divide the incident light into small parts and focus them onto image planes. In this paper, we present the design and fabrication of long focal length MLA with various shapes and arrangements based on a double layer structure for optical wavefront sensing applications. A longer focal length MLA could provide high sensitivity in determining the average slope across each microlens under a given wavefront, and spatial resolution of a wavefront sensor is increased by numbers of microlenses across a detector. In order to extend focal length, we used polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) above MLA on a glass substrate. Because of small refractive index difference between PDMS and MLA interface (UV-resin), the incident light is less refracted and focused in further distance. Other specific focal lengths could also be realized by modifying the refractive index difference without changing the MLA size. Thus, the wavefront sensor could be improved with better sensitivity and higher spatial resolution. PMID:22346643

Intensity-modulated refractive index sensor with anti-light source fluctuation based on no-core fiber filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Cheng; Xu, Shan; Zhao, Junfa; Li, Hongqiang; Bai, Hua; Miao, Changyun

2017-12-01

A differential intensity-modulated refractive index (RI) sensor consisting of a no-core fiber (NCF) filter, a circulator and two fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) is proposed and demonstrated. A section of the NCF is sandwiched between two parts of single mode fibers (SMFs) to form a band-pass filter. The Bragg wavelengths of the FBGs are chosen at the two edges of the filter, respectively. The peak wavelength of the NCF filter has a red-shift with the increase of the surrounding refractive index (SRI) while the Bragg wavelengths have no change, which results in the variation of the difference of the two FBGs reflective intensities, thus the differential intensity modulation to the SRI can be accomplished. Compared with directly connecting the NCF filter and the FBGs, this sensing structure can increase the output power so as to improve the measuring resolution. The experimental results show that the RI sensitivities are -99.191 dB/RIU and -139.958 dB/RIU at the range of 1.3329-1.3781 and 1.3781-1.401, respectively. In addition, the disturbance from the light source fluctuation and temperature cross sensitivity can be minimized effectively, which has great potential in actual applications.

Fiber ring laser based on SMF-TCF-SMF structure for strain and refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Fen; Xu, Ben; Zhang, Yixin; Wang, Dongning

2017-12-01

An erbium-doped fiber ring laser with embedded Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is constructed and experimentally demonstrated for strain and refractive index (RI) measurement. The MZI consists of a segment of thin-core fiber sandwiched between two single-mode fibers and acts as both the sensing component as well as a bandpass filter to select the lasing wavelength. The strain sensitivity of ˜-0.97 pm/μɛ and RI sensitivity of ˜44.88 nm/RIU are obtained in the range of 0 to 1750 μɛ and 1.3300 to 1.3537, respectively. The high-optical signal-to-noise ratio of >50 dB and narrow 3-dB bandwidth of <0.11 nm obtained indicate that the fiber ring laser sensor is promising for high-precision strain and RI measurement.

Optical Modulation of BST/STO Thin Films in the Terahertz Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Ying; Shi, Songjie; Zhou, Ling; Ling, Furi; Yao, Jianquan

2018-04-01

The {Ba}_{0.7} {Sr}_{0.3} {TiO}3 (BST) thin film (30.3 nm) deposited on a {SrTiO}3 (STO) film/silicon substrate sample was modulated by 532 nm continuous-wave laser in the range of 0.2-1 THz at room temperature. The refractive index variation was observed to linearly increase at the highest 3.48 for 0.5 THz with the pump power increasing to 400 mW. It was also found that the BST/STO sample had a larger refractive index variation and was more sensitive to the external optical field than a BST monolayer due to the epitaxial strain induced by the STO film. The electric displacement-electric field loops results revealed that the increasing spontaneous polarization with the STO film that was induced was responsible for the larger refractive index variation of the BST/STO sample. In addition, the real and imaginary part of the permittivity were observed increasing along with the external field increasing, due to the soft mode hardening.

Long period grating-based fiber-optic PH sensor for ocean monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ke; Klimov, Denis; Kolber, Zbigniew

2007-09-01

A fiber-optic PH sensor is developed based-on the long period grating (LPG). The LPG is fabricated by using CO II laser with a point-by-point technique. Then the grating portion is coated with PH sensitive hydrogel. The hydrogel, made of PVA/PAA, swells its volume in response to the PH change in the surrounding environment and results in a change in the refractive index. As a result, the LPG can response to the refractive index change in the coating by shifting its wavelength. Therefore, change in refractive index can be measured by tracking the wavelength shift using an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA). In this research, the LPG is dip-coated by the hydrogel. A chemostat is designed to simulate the marine environment. The PH in the chemostat is varied by controlling the CO II concentration in the sea water. A PH resolution 0.046/nm using the OSA has been obtained. This sensor is designed to monitor the sea water PH change in a long term basis.

Refractometry of melanocyte cell nuclei using optical scatter images recorded by digital Fourier microscopy.

PubMed

Seet, Katrina Y T; Nieminen, Timo A; Zvyagin, Andrei V

2009-01-01

The cell nucleus is the dominant optical scatterer in the cell. Neoplastic cells are characterized by cell nucleus polymorphism and polychromism-i.e., the nuclei exhibits an increase in the distribution of both size and refractive index. The relative size parameter, and its distribution, is proportional to the product of the nucleus size and its relative refractive index and is a useful discriminant between normal and abnormal (cancerous) cells. We demonstrate a recently introduced holographic technique, digital Fourier microscopy (DFM), to provide a sensitive measure of this relative size parameter. Fourier holograms were recorded and optical scatter of individual scatterers were extracted and modeled with Mie theory to determine the relative size parameter. The relative size parameter of individual melanocyte cell nuclei were found to be 16.5+/-0.2, which gives a cell nucleus refractive index of 1.38+/-0.01 and is in good agreement with previously reported data. The relative size parameters of individual malignant melanocyte cell nuclei are expected to be greater than 16.5.

Optical Modulation of BST/STO Thin Films in the Terahertz Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Ying; Shi, Songjie; Zhou, Ling; Ling, Furi; Yao, Jianquan

2018-07-01

The {Ba}_{0.7} {Sr}_{0.3} {TiO}3 (BST) thin film (30.3 nm) deposited on a {SrTiO}3 (STO) film/silicon substrate sample was modulated by 532 nm continuous-wave laser in the range of 0.2-1 THz at room temperature. The refractive index variation was observed to linearly increase at the highest 3.48 for 0.5 THz with the pump power increasing to 400 mW. It was also found that the BST/STO sample had a larger refractive index variation and was more sensitive to the external optical field than a BST monolayer due to the epitaxial strain induced by the STO film. The electric displacement-electric field loops results revealed that the increasing spontaneous polarization with the STO film that was induced was responsible for the larger refractive index variation of the BST/STO sample. In addition, the real and imaginary part of the permittivity were observed increasing along with the external field increasing, due to the soft mode hardening.

Very Oblique Whistler Mode Propagation in the Radiation Belts: Effects of Hot Plasma and Landau Damping

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Q.; Artemyev, A. V.; Mourenas, D.

We present that satellite observations of a significant population of very oblique chorus waves in the outer radiation belt have fueled considerable interest in the effects of these waves on energetic electron scattering and acceleration. However, corresponding diffusion rates are extremely sensitive to the refractive index N, controlled by hot plasma effects including Landau damping and wave dispersion modifications by suprathermal (15–100 eV) electrons. A combined investigation of wave and electron distribution characteristics obtained from the Van Allen Probes shows that peculiarities of the measured electron distribution significantly reduce Landau damping, allowing wave propagation with high N ~ 100–200. Furthermore » comparing measured refractive indexes with theoretical estimates incorporating hot plasma corrections to the wave dispersion, we provide the first experimental demonstration that suprathermal electrons indeed control the upper limit of the refractive index of highly oblique whistler mode waves. In conclusion, such results further support the importance of incorporating very oblique waves into radiation belt models.« less

Very Oblique Whistler Mode Propagation in the Radiation Belts: Effects of Hot Plasma and Landau Damping

DOE PAGES

Ma, Q.; Artemyev, A. V.; Mourenas, D.; ...

2017-11-30

We present that satellite observations of a significant population of very oblique chorus waves in the outer radiation belt have fueled considerable interest in the effects of these waves on energetic electron scattering and acceleration. However, corresponding diffusion rates are extremely sensitive to the refractive index N, controlled by hot plasma effects including Landau damping and wave dispersion modifications by suprathermal (15–100 eV) electrons. A combined investigation of wave and electron distribution characteristics obtained from the Van Allen Probes shows that peculiarities of the measured electron distribution significantly reduce Landau damping, allowing wave propagation with high N ~ 100–200. Furthermore » comparing measured refractive indexes with theoretical estimates incorporating hot plasma corrections to the wave dispersion, we provide the first experimental demonstration that suprathermal electrons indeed control the upper limit of the refractive index of highly oblique whistler mode waves. In conclusion, such results further support the importance of incorporating very oblique waves into radiation belt models.« less

Thin metal bilayer for surface plasmon resonance sensors in a multimode plastic optical fiber: the case of palladium and gold metal films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cennamo, Nunzio; Zuppella, Paola; Bacco, Davide; Corso, Alain J.; Pelizzo, Maria G.; Pesavento, Maria; Zeni, Luigi

2016-05-01

A novel sensing platform based on thin metal bilayer for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in a D-shaped plastic optical fiber (POF) has been designed, implemented and tested. The experimental results are congruent with the numerical studies. This platform has been properly optimized to work in the 1.38 -1.42 refractive index range and it exhibits excellent sensitivity. This refractive index range is very interesting for bio-chemical applications, where the polymer layer are used as receptors (e.g. molecularly imprinted polymer) or to immobilize the bio-receptor on the metal surface. The proposed metallic bilayer is based on palladium and gold films and replaces the traditional gold by exhibiting higher performances. Furthermore, the deposition of the thin bilayer is a single process and no further manufacturing step is required. In fact, in this case the photoresist buffer layer between the POF core and the metal layer, usually required to increase the refractive index range, is no longer necessary.

Sensitivity optimization in whispering gallery mode optical cylindrical biosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khozeymeh, F.; Razaghi, M.

2018-01-01

Whispering-gallery-mode resonances propagated in cylindrical resonators have two angular and radial orders of l and i. In this work, the higher radial order whispering-gallery-mode resonances, (i = 1 - 4), at a fixed l are examined. The sensitivity of theses resonances is analysed as a function of the structural parameters of the cylindrical resonator like different radii and refractive index of composed material of the resonator. A practical application where cylindrical resonators are used for the measurement of glucose concentration in water is presented as a biosensor demonstrator. We calculate the wavelength shifts of the WG1-4, in several glucose/water solutions, with concentrations spanning from 0.0% to 9.0.% (weight/weight). Improved sensitivity can be achieved using multi-WGM cylindrical resonators with radius of R = 100 μm and resonator composed material of MgF 2 with refractive index of nc = 1.38. Also the effect of polarization on sensitivity is considered for all four WGMs. The best sensitivity of 83.07 nm/RIU for the fourth WGM with transverse magnetic polarization, is reported. These results propose optimized parameters aimed to fast designing of cylindrical resonators as optical biosensors, where both the sensitivity and the geometries can be optimized.

Topography and refractometry of sperm cells using spatial light interference microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lina; Kandel, Mikhail E.; Rubessa, Marcello; Schreiber, Sierra; Wheeler, Mathew B.; Popescu, Gabriel

2018-02-01

Characterization of spermatozoon viability is a common test in treating infertility. Recently, it has been shown that label-free, phase-sensitive imaging can provide a valuable alternative for this type of assay. We employ spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) to perform high-accuracy single-cell phase imaging and decouple the average thickness and refractive index information for the population. This procedure was enabled by quantitative-phase imaging cells on media of two different refractive indices and using a numerical tool to remove the curvature from the cell tails. This way, we achieved ensemble averaging of topography and refractometry of 100 cells in each of the two groups. The results show that the thickness profile of the cell tail goes down to 150 nm and the refractive index can reach values of 1.6 close to the head.

Multimode-singlemode-multimode optical fiber sensor coated with novolac resin for detecting liquid phase alcohol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marfu'ah, Amalia, Niza Rosyda; Hatta, Agus Muhamad; Pratama, Detak Yan

2018-04-01

Alcohol sensor based on multimode-singlemode-multimode (MSM) optical fiber with novolac resin as the external medium is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. Novolac resin swells when it is exposed by the alcohol. This effect causes a change in the polymer density leading to the refractive index's variation. The transmission light of the sensor depends on the refractive index of external medium. Based on the results, alcohol sensor based on MSM optical fiber structure using novolac resin has a higher sensitivity compared to the sensor without using novolac resin in the mixture of alcohol and distilled water. Alcohol sensor based on MSM optical fiber structure using novolac resin in the mixture of alcohol and distilled water with a singlemode fiber length of 5 mm has a sensitivity of 0.028972 dBm per % V/V, and in the mixture of alcohol and sugar solution of 10% w/w has a sensitivity of 0.005005 dBm per % V/V.

Refractive index sensors based on the fused tapered special multi-mode fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Xing-hu; Xiu, Yan-li; Liu, Qin; Xie, Hai-yang; Yang, Chuan-qing; Zhang, Shun-yang; Fu, Guang-wei; Bi, Wei-hong

2016-01-01

In this paper, a novel refractive index (RI) sensor is proposed based on the fused tapered special multi-mode fiber (SMMF). Firstly, a section of SMMF is spliced between two single-mode fibers (SMFs). Then, the SMMF is processed by a fused tapering machine, and a tapered fiber structure is fabricated. Finally, a fused tapered SMMF sensor is obtained for measuring external RI. The RI sensing mechanism of tapered SMMF sensor is analyzed in detail. For different fused tapering lengths, the experimental results show that the RI sensitivity can be up to 444.517 81 nm/RIU in the RI range of 1.334 9—1.347 0. The RI sensitivity is increased with the increase of fused tapering length. Moreover, it has many advantages, including high sensitivity, compact structure, fast response and wide application range. So it can be used to measure the solution concentration in the fields of biochemistry, health care and food processing.

Plasmonic Optical Fiber Sensor Based on Double Step Growth of Gold Nano-Islands

PubMed Central

Vasconcelos, Helena

2018-01-01

It is presented the fabrication and characterization of optical fiber sensors for refractive index measurement based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) with gold nano-islands obtained by single and by repeated thermal dewetting of gold thin films. Thin films of gold deposited on silica (SiO2) substrates and produced by different experimental conditions were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope/Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and optical means, allowing identifying and characterizing the formation of nano-islands. The wavelength shift sensitivity to the surrounding refractive index of sensors produced by single and by repeated dewetting is compared. While for the single step dewetting, a wavelength shift sensitivity of ~60 nm/RIU was calculated, for the repeated dewetting, a value of ~186 nm/RIU was obtained, an increase of more than three times. It is expected that through changing the fabrication parameters and using other fiber sensor geometries, higher sensitivities may be achieved, allowing, in addition, for the possibility of tuning the plasmonic frequency. PMID:29677108

Optofluidic refractometer using resonant optical tunneling effect.

PubMed

Jian, A Q; Zhang, X M; Zhu, W M; Yu, M

2010-12-30

This paper presents the design and analysis of a liquid refractive index sensor that utilizes a unique physical mechanism of resonant optical tunneling effect (ROTE). The sensor consists of two hemicylindrical prisms, two air gaps, and a microfluidic channel. All parts can be microfabricated using an optical resin NOA81. Theoretical study shows that this ROTE sensor has extremely sharp transmission peak and achieves a sensitivity of 760 nm∕refractive index unit (RIU) and a detectivity of 85 000 RIU(-1). Although the sensitivity is smaller than that of a typical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor (3200 nm∕RIU) and is comparable to a 95% reflectivity Fabry-Pérot (FP) etalon (440 nm∕RIU), the detectivity is 17 000 times larger than that of the SPR sensor and 85 times larger than that of the FP etalon. Such ROTE sensor could potentially achieve an ultrahigh sensitivity of 10(-9) RIU, two orders higher than the best results of current methods.

Plasmonic Optical Fiber Sensor Based on Double Step Growth of Gold Nano-Islands.

PubMed

de Almeida, José M M M; Vasconcelos, Helena; Jorge, Pedro A S; Coelho, Luis

2018-04-20

It is presented the fabrication and characterization of optical fiber sensors for refractive index measurement based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) with gold nano-islands obtained by single and by repeated thermal dewetting of gold thin films. Thin films of gold deposited on silica (SiO₂) substrates and produced by different experimental conditions were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope/Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and optical means, allowing identifying and characterizing the formation of nano-islands. The wavelength shift sensitivity to the surrounding refractive index of sensors produced by single and by repeated dewetting is compared. While for the single step dewetting, a wavelength shift sensitivity of ~60 nm/RIU was calculated, for the repeated dewetting, a value of ~186 nm/RIU was obtained, an increase of more than three times. It is expected that through changing the fabrication parameters and using other fiber sensor geometries, higher sensitivities may be achieved, allowing, in addition, for the possibility of tuning the plasmonic frequency.

An index of refraction algorithm for seawater over temperature, pressure, salinity, density, and wavelength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Millard, R. C.; Seaver, G.

1990-12-01

A 27-term index of refraction algorithm for pure and sea waters has been developed using four experimental data sets of differing accuracies. They cover the range 500-700 nm in wavelength, 0-30°C in temperature, 0-40 psu in salinity, and 0-11,000 db in pressure. The index of refraction algorithm has an accuracy that varies from 0.4 ppm for pure water at atmospheric pressure to 80 ppm at high pressures, but preserves the accuracy of each original data set. This algorithm is a significant improvement over existing descriptions as it is in analytical form with a better and more carefully defined accuracy. A salinometer algorithm with the same uncertainty has been created by numerically inverting the index algorithm using the Newton-Raphson method. The 27-term index algorithm was used to generate a pseudo-data set at the sodium D wavelength (589.26 nm) from which a 6-term densitometer algorithm was constructed. The densitometer algorithm also produces salinity as an intermediate step in the salinity inversion. The densitometer residuals have a standard deviation of 0.049 kg m -3 which is not accurate enough for most oceanographic applications. However, the densitometer algorithm was used to explore the sensitivity of density from this technique to temperature and pressure uncertainties. To achieve a deep ocean densitometer of 0.001 kg m -3 accuracy would require the index of refraction to have an accuracy of 0.3 ppm, the temperature an accuracy of 0.01°C and the pressure 1 db. Our assessment of the currently available index of refraction measurements finds that only the data for fresh water at atmospheric pressure produce an algorithm satisfactory for oceanographic use (density to 0.4 ppm). The data base for the algorithm at higher pressures and various salinities requires an order of magnitude or better improvement in index measurement accuracy before the resultant density accuracy will be comparable to the currently available oceanographic algorithm.

Simulation of the influence of aerosol particles on Stokes parameters of polarized skylight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, L.; Li, Z. Q.; Wendisch, M.

2014-03-01

Microphysical properties and chemical compositions of aerosol particles determine polarized radiance distribution in the atmosphere. In this paper, the influences of different aerosol properties (particle size, shape, real and imaginary parts of refractive index) on Stokes parameters of polarized skylight in the solar principal and almucantar planes are studied by using vector radiative transfer simulations. The results show high sensitivity of the normalized Stokes parameters due to fine particle size, shape and real part of refractive index of aerosols. It is possible to utilize the strength variations at the peak positions of the normalized Stokes parameters in the principal and almucantar planes to identify aerosol types.

Liquid level sensor based on an excessively tilted fibre grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mou, Chengbo; Zhou, Kaiming; Yan, Zhijun; Fu, Hongyan; Zhang, Lin

2013-09-01

We propose and demonstrate an optical liquid level sensor based on the surrounding medium refractive index (SRI) sensing using an excessively tilted fibre grating (ETFG). When the ETFG submerged in water, two sets of cladding modes are coupled, corresponding to air- and water-surrounded grating structures, respectively. The coupling strengths of the two sets of cladding modes evolve with the submerging length of the grating, providing a mechanism to measure the liquid level. Comparing with long-period fibre grating based liquid level sensor, the ETFG sensor has a much higher SRI responsivity for liquids with refractive index around 1.33 and a lower thermal cross sensitivity.

Plastic optical fibre sensor for quality control in food industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novo, C.; Bilro, L.; Ferreira, R.; Alberto, N.; Antunes, P.; Leitão, C.; Nogueira, R.; Pinto, J. L.

2013-05-01

The present work addresses the need for new devices felt in the context of quality control, especially in the food industry. Due to the spectral dependence of the attenuation coefficient, a novel dual-parameter sensor for colour and refractive index was developed and tested. The sensor employs plastic optical fibres to measure the transmitted optical power in three measurement cells each with a different incident wavelength. The performance of the sensor was tested using several dyes at different concentrations and aqueous solutions of glycerine and ethanol. Results show that this technique allows the monitoring of refractive index and colour without cross-sensitivity.

Dynamically tunable dendritic graphene-based absorber with thermal stability at infrared regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Hailong; Xia, Hui; Guo, Zhibo; Xie, Ding; Li, Hongjian

2018-06-01

The infrared polarization-insensitive absorber, which is composed of dendritic metal, graphene layer, silicon dioxides layer, gallium arsenide substrate, and metal plate, is investigated theoretically and numerically. The tunability can be realized by loading a graphene layer into the structure. The position of absorption peak can be tuned by manipulating the graphene's Fermi energy. Compared with the previously reported graphene-based absorbers, the system has the advantage of temperature-independent high absorption. The results indicate that the proposed absorber can be used in the applications of the refractive index sensor with a sensitivity of 587.8 nm/refractive index unit and temperature-insensitive infrared absorber.

Plasmon waveguide resonance sensor using an Au-MgF2 structure.

PubMed

Zhou, Yanfei; Zhang, Pengfei; He, Yonghong; Xu, Zihao; Liu, Le; Ji, Yanhong; Ma, Hui

2014-10-01

We report an Au − MgF(2) plasmon waveguide resonance (PWR) sensor in this work. The characteristics of this sensing structure are compared with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) structure theoretically and experimentally. The transverse-magnetic-polarized PWR sensor has a refractive index resolution of 9.3 × 10(-7) RIU, which is 6 times smaller than that of SPR at the incident light wavelength of 633 nm, and the transverse-electric-polarized PWR sensor has a refractive index resolution of 3.0 × 10(-6) RIU. This high-resolution sensor is easy to build and is less sensitive to film coating deviations.

Measurement of the Microwave Refractive Index of Materials Based on Parallel Plate Waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, F.; Pei, J.; Kan, J. S.; Zhao, Q.

2017-12-01

An electrical field scanning apparatus based on a parallel plate waveguide method is constructed, which collects the amplitude and phase matrices as a function of the relative position. On the basis of such data, a method for calculating the refractive index of the measured wedge samples is proposed in this paper. The measurement and calculation results of different PTFE samples reveal that the refractive index measured by the apparatus is substantially consistent with the refractive index inferred with the permittivity of the sample. The proposed refractive index calculation method proposed in this paper is a competitive method for the characterization of the refractive index of materials with positive refractive index. Since the apparatus and method can be used to measure and calculate arbitrary direction of the microwave propagation, it is believed that both of them can be applied to the negative refractive index materials, such as metamaterials or “left-handed” materials.

Denaturation process of laccase in various media by refractive index measurements.

PubMed

Saoudi, O; Ghaouar, N; Ben Salah, S; Othman, T

2017-09-01

In this work, we are interested in the denaturation process of a laccase from Tramates versicolor via the determination of the refractive index, the refractive index increment and the specific volume in various media. The measurements were carried out using an Abbe refractometer. We have shown that the refractive index increment values obtained from the slope of the variation of the refractive index vs. Concentration are outside the range refractive index increments of proteins. To correct the results, we have followed the theoretical predictions based on the knowledge of the protein refractive index from its amino acids composition. The denaturation process was studied by calculating the specific volume variation where its determination was related to the Gladstone-Dale and the Lorentz-Lorentz models.

Patient age, refractive index of the corneal stroma, and outcomes of uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis.

PubMed

Patel, Sudi; Alió, Jorge L; Walewska, Anna; Amparo, Francisco; Artola, Alberto

2013-03-01

To determine the influence of age and the corneal stromal refractive index on the difference between the predicted and actual postoperative refractive error after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and whether the precision of outcomes could be improved by considering age and the refractive index. Vissum Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. Case series. Flaps were created using a mechanical microkeratome. The stromal refractive index was measured using a VCH-1 refractometer after flap lifting. Refractive data were obtained 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Uneventful LASIK was performed in 133 eyes. The mean age, refractive index, and applied corrections were 33.4 years ± 9.49 (SD), 1.368 ± 0.006, and -2.43 ± 3.36 diopters (D), respectively. The difference between the predicted and actual postoperative refractive error = 2.315-0.021 age-1.106 refractive index (F = 3.647, r = 0.254, P=.029; n = 109) at 1 month and = 11.820-0.023 age-7.976 refractive index (F = 3.392, r = 0.261, P=.022, n = 106) at 3 months. A correlation between the actual and calculated postoperative refraction improved from r = -0.178 (P=.064; n = 75) to r = -0.418 (P<.001) after considering the true refractive index 6 months postoperatively. The predicted outcomes of LASIK can be improved by inputting the refractive index of the individual corneal stroma. Unexpected outcomes (>0.50 D) of LASIK could be avoided by considering patient age and the refractive index and by adjusting the applied correction accordingly. Copyright © 2012 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ultrafast Radiation Detection by Modulation of an Optical Probe Beam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vernon, S P; Lowry, M E

2006-02-22

We describe a new class of radiation sensor that utilizes optical interferometry to measure radiation-induced changes in the optical refractive index of a semiconductor sensor medium. Radiation absorption in the sensor material produces a transient, non-equilibrium, electron-hole pair distribution that locally modifies the complex, optical refractive index of the sensor medium. Changes in the real (imaginary) part of the local refractive index produce a differential phase shift (absorption) of an optical probe used to interrogate the sensor material. In contrast to conventional radiation detectors where signal levels are proportional to the incident energy, signal levels in these optical sensors aremore » proportional to the incident radiation energy flux. This allows for reduction of the sensor form factor with no degradation in detection sensitivity. Furthermore, since the radiation induced, non-equilibrium electron-hole pair distribution is effectively measured ''in place'' there is no requirement to spatially separate and collect the generated charges; consequently, the sensor risetime is of the order of the hot-electron thermalization time {le} 10 fs and the duration of the index perturbation is determined by the carrier recombination time which is of order {approx} 600 fs in, direct-bandgap semiconductors, with a high density of recombination defects; consequently, the optical sensors can be engineered with sub-ps temporal response. A series of detectors were designed, and incorporated into Mach Zehnder and Fabry-Perot interferometer-based detection systems: proof of concept, lower detection sensitivity, Mach-Zehnder detectors were characterized at beamline 6.3 at SSRL; three generations of high sensitivity single element and imaging Fabry-Perot detectors were measured at the LLNL Europa facility. Our results indicate that this technology can be used to provide x-ray detectors and x-ray imaging systems with single x-ray sensitivity and S/N {approx} 30 at x-ray energies {approx} 10 keV.« less

Hybrid plasmonic waveguide-assisted Metal–Insulator–Metal ring resonator for refractive index sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butt, M. A.; Khonina, S. N.; Kazanskiy, N. L.

2018-05-01

A highly sensitive refractive index sensor based on an integrated hybrid plasmonic waveguide (HPWG) and a Metal-Insulator-Metal (M-I-M) micro-ring resonator is presented. In our design, there are two slot-waveguide-based micro-rings that encircle a gold disc. The outer slot WG is formed by the combination of Silicon-Air-Gold ring and the inner slot-waveguide is formed by Gold ring-Air-Gold disc. The slot-waveguide rings provide an interaction length sufficient to accumulate a detectable wavelength shift. The transmission spectrum and electric field distribution of this sensor structure are simulated using Finite Element Method (FEM). The sensitivity of this micro-ring resonator is achieved at 800 nm/RIU which is about six times higher than that of the conventional Si ring with the same geometry. Our proposed sensor design has a potential to find further applications in biomedical science and nano-photonic circuits.

Research on dual-parameter optical fiber sensor based on thin-core fiber and spherical structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, Zhengrong; Wang, Xue; Zhang, Weihua; Xue, Lifang

2018-04-01

A novel dual-parameter optical fiber sensor is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed sensor is based on a fiber in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer, which is fabricated by sandwiching a section of thin-core fiber between two spherical structures made of single-mode fibers. The transmission spectrum exhibits the response of the interference between the core and the different cladding modes. Due to the different wavelength shifts of the two selected dips, the simultaneous measurement of temperature and the surrounding refractive index can be achieved. The measured temperature sensitivities are 0.067 nm/°C and 0.050 nm/°C, and the refractive index sensitivities are  -119.9 nm/RIU and  -69.71 nm/RIU, respectively. In addition, the compact size, simple fabrication and cost-effectiveness of the fiber sensor are also advantages.

Refractive index and strain sensor based on twin-core fiber with a novel T-shaped taper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chuanbiao; Ning, Tigang; Li, Jing; Zheng, JingJing; Gao, Xuekai; Pei, Li

2018-06-01

A compact in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based on twin-core fiber (TCF) with a novel T-shaped taper is proposed and demonstrated. The taper was firstly fabricated by a short section of TCF, and then spliced with a section of cleaved single mode fiber (SMF). When the light transmit into the TCF, multiple modes will be excited and will propagate within the TCF. In experiment, the proposed device had a maximum interferometric extinction ratio about 17 dB. And the refractive index (RI), strain, and temperature response properties of the sensor have been investigated, which show a relatively high RI, strain sensitivity and low temperature cross sensitivity. Hence, the sensor can be a suitable candidate in the biochemical and physical sensing applications. And due to its easy and controllable fabrication, the novel drawing technology can be applied to more multicore optical fibers.

BPM analysis of all-optical fiber interferometric sensor based on a U-shape microcavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Hongbin; Yuan, Lei; Wang, Sumei; Zhao, Longjiang; Cao, Zhitao

2014-02-01

Reflectivity spectrum of beam propagation method (BPM), for the first time to the best of our knowledge, is realized and utilized to model all-optical fiber interferometric sensor formed by a U-shape microcavity embedded in a single mode optical fiber and illustrate the principle of sensor structures varied by the length and the depth of U-shape microcavity. BPM analysis gives a constructive guideline to get a high interferometric fringe visibility which is most important for sensing application. The simulated results are completely in agreement with the interferometric sensor principle of Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) theory. With the conclusion of FPI sensor, refractive index (RI) sensitivity and temperature sensitivity are then simulated and obtained as 1049+/-5.2nm/RIU (refractive index unit) within RI range of solutions and 1.04+/-0.03pm/°C respectively.

Gradients of refractive index in the crystalline lens and transient changes in refraction among patients with diabetes.

PubMed

Charman, W Neil; Adnan; Atchison, David A

2012-12-01

Transient hyperopic refractive shifts occur on a timescale of weeks in some patients after initiation of therapy for hyperglycemia, and are usually followed by recovery to the original refraction. Possible lenticular origin of these changes is considered in terms of a paraxial gradient index model. Assuming that the lens thickness and curvatures remain unchanged, as observed in practice, it appears possible to account for initial hyperopic refractive shifts of up to a few diopters by reduction in refractive index near the lens center and alteration in the rate of change between center and surface, so that most of the index change occurs closer to the lens surface. Restoration of the original refraction depends on further change in the refractive index distribution with more gradual changes in refractive index from the lens center to its surface. Modeling limitations are discussed.

Gradients of refractive index in the crystalline lens and transient changes in refraction among patients with diabetes

PubMed Central

Charman, W. Neil; Adnan; Atchison, David A.

2012-01-01

Transient hyperopic refractive shifts occur on a timescale of weeks in some patients after initiation of therapy for hyperglycemia, and are usually followed by recovery to the original refraction. Possible lenticular origin of these changes is considered in terms of a paraxial gradient index model. Assuming that the lens thickness and curvatures remain unchanged, as observed in practice, it appears possible to account for initial hyperopic refractive shifts of up to a few diopters by reduction in refractive index near the lens center and alteration in the rate of change between center and surface, so that most of the index change occurs closer to the lens surface. Restoration of the original refraction depends on further change in the refractive index distribution with more gradual changes in refractive index from the lens center to its surface. Modeling limitations are discussed. PMID:23243557

Temperature insensitive refractive index sensor based on concatenated long period fiber gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tripathi, Saurabh M.; Bock, Wojtek J.; Mikulic, Predrag

2013-10-01

We propose and demonstrate a temperature immune biosensor based on two concatenated LPGs incorporating a suitable inter-grating-space (IGS). Compensating the thermal induced phase changes in the grating region by use of an appropriate length of the IGS the temperature insensitivity has been achieved. Using standard telecommunication grade single-mode fibers we show that a length ratio of ~8.2 is sufficient to realize the proposed temperature insensitivity. The resulting sensor shows a refractive index sensitivity of 423.28 nm/RIU displaying the capability of detecting an index variation of 2.36 × 10-6 RIU in the bio-samples. The sensor can also be applied as a temperature insensitive WMD channel isolation filter in the optical communication systems, removing the necessity of any external thermal insulation packaging.

Axial strain insensitivity of weakly guiding optical fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Egalon, Claudio O.; Rogowski, Robert S.

1993-01-01

A numerical model has been developed to calculate the modal phase shift of circular step index profile weakly guiding fibers under axial strain. Whenever an optical fiber is under stress, the optical path length, the index of refraction, and the propagation constants of each mode change. In consequence, the phase of each mode is also modified. A relationship for the modal phase shift is presented. This relation is applied to both single mode and two-mode fibers in order to determine the sensitivity characteristics of strained fibers. It was found that the phase shift is strongly dependent on the core refractive index, n(co). It was also found that it is possible to design fibers which are insensitive to axial strain. Practical applications of strain insensitive fibers are discussed.

Optofluidic two-dimensional grating volume refractive index sensor.

PubMed

Sarkar, Anirban; Shivakiran Bhaktha, B N; Khastgir, Sugata Pratik

2016-09-10

We present an optofluidic reservoir with a two-dimensional grating for a lab-on-a-chip volume refractive index sensor. The observed diffraction pattern from the device resembles the analytically obtained fringe pattern. The change in the diffraction pattern has been monitored in the far-field for fluids with different refractive indices. Reliable measurements of refractive index variations, with an accuracy of 6×10^-3 refractive index units, for different fluids establishes the optofluidic device as a potential on-chip tool for monitoring dynamic refractive index changes.

Measurement of refractive index profile of non-symmetric, complex silica preforms with high refractive index differences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Probostova, Jana; Slanicka, Jiri; Mrazek, Jan; Podrazky, Ondrej; Benda, Adam; Peterka, Pavel

2016-04-01

Refractive index profile measurement is a key instrument for characterization of optical properties of preforms, which are used for drawing of high-quality optical fibers. Common industrial optical preform analyzers have been designed for measurement of simple symmetric structures such as step-index or graded-index preforms with refractive index close to the silica (n=1.457 at 633 nm). However, these conditions are usually far from more complex structures used in fiber lasers or in fiber sensor area. Preforms for the drawing of advanced optical fibers, such as Bragg, microstructure or photonic crystal fibers, are usually constituted from stacks with non-symmetric internal structure or composed of alternating layers with high refractive index contrasts. In this paper we present comparison of refractive index profile measurements of simple as well as complex structures with high refractive index differences simulating the Bragg structures. Commercial Photon Kinetics 2600 preform analyzer was used for the refractive index profile measurements. A set of concentrically arranged silica tubes was welded to form a complex preforms. Free space between the tubes was filled by immersion with varying refractive indices to simulate the Bragg structure. Up to three tubes were used for the analysis and the refractive indices of immersion were changed from 1.4 to 1.5. When refractive index of immersion was independently measured the structure of preform was defined. Profiles of these "known" structures were compared to measured data processed by originally proposed algorithm. The work provides an extension of issues of refractive index profile measurements in non-symmetric complex silica structures by a commercial preform analyzer and proposes more convenient methods of numeric data processing.

The complex refractive index of atmospheric and model humic-like substances (HULIS) retrieved by a cavity ring down aerosol spectrometer (CRD-AS).

PubMed

Dinar, E; Riziq, A Abo; Spindler, C; Erlick, C; Kiss, G; Rudich, Y

2008-01-01

Atmospheric aerosols absorb and reflect solar radiation causing surface cooling and heating of the atmosphere. The interaction between aerosols and radiation depends on their complex index of refraction, which is related to the particles' chemical composition. The contribution of light absorbing organic compounds, such as HUmic-LIke Substances (HULIS) to aerosol scattering and absorption is among the largest uncertainties in assessing the direct effect of aerosols on climate. Using a Cavity Ring Down Aerosol Spectrometer (CRD-AS), the complex index of refraction of aerosols containing HULIS extracted from pollution, smoke, and rural continental aerosols, and molecular weight-fractionated fulvic acid was measured at 390 nm and 532 nm. The imaginary part of the refractive index (absorption) substantially increases towards the UV range with increasing molecular weight and aromaticity. At both wavelengths, HULIS extracted from pollution and smoke particles absorb more than HULIS from the rural aerosol. Sensitivity calculations for a pollution-type aerosol containing ammonium sulfate, organic carbon (HULIS), and soot suggests that accounting for absorption by HULIS leads in most cases to a significant decrease in the single scattering albedo and to a significant increase in aerosol radiative forcing efficiency, towards more atmospheric absorption and heating. This indicates that HULIS in biomass smoke and pollution aerosols, in addition to black carbon, can contribute significantly to light absorption in the ultraviolet and visible spectral regions.

Organic plasmon-emitting diodes for detecting refractive index variation.

PubMed

Chiu, Nan-Fu; Cheng, Chih-Jen; Huang, Teng-Yi

2013-06-28

A photo-excited organic layer on a metal thin film with a corrugated substrate was used to generate surface plasmon grating coupled emissions (SPGCEs). Directional emissions corresponded to the resonant condition of surface plasmon modes on the Au/air interface. In experimental comparisons of the effects of different pitch sizes on the plasmonic band-gap, the obtained SPGCEs were highly directional, with intensity increases as large as 10.38-fold. The FWHM emission spectrum was less than 70 nm. This method is easily applicable to detecting refractive index changes by using SP-coupled fluorophores in which wavelength emissions vary by viewing angle. The measurements and calculations in this study confirmed that the color wavelength of the SPGCE changed from 545.3 nm to 615.4 nm at certain viewing angles, while the concentration of contacting glucose increased from 10 to 40 wt%, which corresponded to a refractive index increase from 1.3484 to 1.3968. The organic plasmon-emitting diode exhibits a wider linearity range and a resolution of the experimental is 1.056 × 10-3 RIU. The sensitivity of the detection limit for naked eye of the experimental is 0.6 wt%. At a certain viewing angle, a large spectral shift is clearly distinguishable by the naked eye unaided by optoelectronic devices. These experimental results confirm the potential applications of the organic plasmon-emitting diodes in a low-cost, integrated, and disposable refractive-index sensor.

Magneto-photonic crystal optical sensors with sensitive covers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dissanayake, Neluka; Levy, Miguel; Chakravarty, A.; Heiden, P. A.; Chen, N.; Fratello, V. J.

2011-08-01

We report on a magneto-photonic crystal on-chip optical sensor for specific analyte detection with polypyrrole and gold nano particles as modified photonic crystal waveguide cover layers. The reaction of the active sensor material with various analytes modifies the electronic structure of the sensor layer causing changes in its refractive index and a strong transduction signal. Magneto-photonic crystal enhanced polarization rotation sensitive to the nature of the cover layer detects the index modification upon analyte adsorption. A high degree of selectivity and sensitivity are observed for aqueous ammonia and methanol with polypyrrole and for thiolated-gold- with gold-nanoparticles covers.

Refractive index measurements in absorbing media with white light spectral interferometry.

PubMed

Arosa, Yago; Lago, Elena López; de la Fuente, Raúl

2018-03-19

White light spectral interferometry is applied to measure the refractive index in absorbing liquids in the spectral range of 400-1000 nm. We analyze the influence of absorption on the visibility of interferometric fringes and, accordingly, on the measurement of the refractive index. Further, we show that the refractive index in the absorption band can be retrieved by a two-step process. The procedure requires the use of two samples of different thickness, the thicker one to retrieve the refractive index in the transparent region and the thinnest to obtain the data in the absorption region. First, the refractive index values are retrieved with good accuracy in the transparent region of the material for 1-mm-thick samples. Second, these refractive index values serve also to precisely calculate the thickness of a thinner sample (~150 µm) since the accuracy of the methods depends strongly on the thickness of the sample. Finally, the refractive index is recovered for the entire spectral range.

Topography and refractometry of sperm cells using spatial light interference microscopy.

PubMed

Liu, Lina; Kandel, Mikhail E; Rubessa, Marcello; Schreiber, Sierra; Wheeler, Mathew B; Popescu, Gabriel

2018-02-01

Characterization of spermatozoon viability is a common test in treating infertility. Recently, it has been shown that label-free, phase-sensitive imaging can provide a valuable alternative for this type of assay. We employ spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) to perform high-accuracy single-cell phase imaging and decouple the average thickness and refractive index information for the population. This procedure was enabled by quantitative-phase imaging cells on media of two different refractive indices and using a numerical tool to remove the curvature from the cell tails. This way, we achieved ensemble averaging of topography and refractometry of 100 cells in each of the two groups. The results show that the thickness profile of the cell tail goes down to 150 nm and the refractive index can reach values of 1.6 close to the head. (2018) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

Optical sensors based on photonic crystal: a new route

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romano, S.; Torino, S.; Coppola, G.; Cabrini, S.; Mocella, V.

2017-05-01

The realization of miniaturized devices able to accumulate a higher number of information in a smallest volume is a challenge of the technological development. This trend increases the request of high sensitivity and selectivity sensors which can be integrated in microsystems. In this landscape, optical sensors based on photonic crystal technology can be an appealing solution. Here, a new refractive index sensor device, based on the bound states in the continuum (BIC) resonance shift excited in a photonic crystal membrane, is presented. A microfluidic cell was used to control the injection of fluids with different refractive indices over the photonic crystal surface. The shift of very high Q-factor resonances excited into the photonic crystal open cavity was monitored as a function of the refractive index n of the test liquid. The excellent stability we found and the minimal, loss-free optical equipment requirement, provide a new route for achieving high performance in sensing applications.

Refractive Index Sensor Based on a Metal-Insulator-Metal Waveguide Coupled with a Symmetric Structure.

PubMed

Yan, Shubin; Zhang, Meng; Zhao, Xuefeng; Zhang, Yanjun; Wang, Jicheng; Jin, Wen

2017-12-11

In this study, a new refractive index sensor based on a metal-insulator-metal waveguide coupled with a notched ring resonator and stub is designed. The finite element method is used to study the propagation characteristics of the sensor. According to the calculation results, the transmission spectrum exhibits a typical Fano resonance shape. The phenomenon of Fano resonance is caused by the coupling between the broadband spectrum and narrowband spectrum. In the design, the broadband spectrum signal is generated by the stub, while the narrowband spectrum signal is generated by the notched ring resonator. In addition, the structural parameters of the resonators and the structure filled with media of different refractive indices are varied to study the sensing properties. The maximum achieved sensitivity of the sensor reached 1071.4 nm/RIU. The results reveal potential applications of the coupled system in the field of sensors.

Recent Advances in Radio and Optical Propagation for Modern Communications, Navigation and Detection Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-04-01

of coherent detection techniques (e.g. laser and optical heterodyning, sensitive to phase fluctuations caused by atmospheric turbulence). The...ATMOSPHERIC OPTICAL EFFECTS 2.1 Atmospheric Refraction The index of refraction n = c/v, with c = velocity of propagation in a vacuum and v ’n air , is... oscillating electrons reradiate and the net effect is to change the phase of the advancing wave. When sufficient molecules are present the moving electrons

3-D photo-patterning of refractive index structures in photosensitive thin film materials

DOEpatents

Potter, Jr., Barrett George; Potter, Kelly Simmons

2002-01-01

A method of making a three-dimensional refractive index structure in a photosensitive material using photo-patterning. The wavelengths at which a photosensitive material exhibits a change in refractive index upon exposure to optical radiation is first determined and then a portion of the surface of the photosensitive material is optically irradiated at a wavelength at which the photosensitive material exhibits a change in refractive index using a designed illumination system to produce a three-dimensional refractive index structure. The illumination system can be a micro-lenslet array, a macroscopic refractive lens array, or a binary optic phase mask. The method is a single-step, direct-write procedure to produce a designed refractive index structure.

Use of analyte-modulated modal power distribution in multimode optical fibers for simultaneous single-wavelength evanescent-wave refractometry and spectrometry.

PubMed

Potyrailo, R A; Ruddy, V P; Hieftje, G M

1999-11-01

A new method is described for the simultaneous determination of absorbance and refractive index of a sample medium. The method is based on measurement of the analyte-modulated modal power distribution (MPD) in a multimode waveguide. In turn, the MPD is quantified by the far-field spatial pattern and intensity of light, i.e., the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern (registered on a CCD camera), that emerges from a multimode optical fiber. Operationally, light that is sent down the fiber interacts with the surrounding analyte-containing medium by means of the evanescent wave at the fiber boundary. The light flux in the propagating beam and the internal reflection angles within the fiber are both affected by optical absorption connected with the analyte and by the refractive index of the analyte-containing medium. In turn, these angles are reflected in the angular divergence of the beam as it leaves the fiber. As a result, the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of that beam yields two parameters that can, together, be used to deduce refractive index and absorbance. This MPD based detection offers important advantages over traditional evanescent-wave detection strategies which rely on recording only the total transmitted optical power or its lost fraction. First, simultaneous determination of sample refractive index and absorbance is possible at a single probe wavelength. Second, the sensitivity of refractometric and absorption measurements can be controlled simply, either by adjusting the distance between the end face of the fiber and the CCD detector or by monitoring selected modal groups at the fiber output. As a demonstration of these capabilities, several weakly absorbing solutions were examined, with refractive indices in the range from 1.3330 to 1.4553 and with absorption coefficients in the range 0-16 cm-1. The new detection strategy is likely to be important in applications in which sample coloration varies and when it is necessary to compensate for variations in the refractive index of a sample.

Theoretical and experimental study of mirrorless fiber optics refractometer based on quasi-Gaussian approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdullah, M.; Krishnan, Ganesan; Saliman, Tiffany; Fakaruddin Sidi Ahmad, M.; Bidin, Noriah

2018-03-01

A mirrorless refractometer was studied and analyzed using the quasi-Gaussian beam approach. The Fresnel equation for reflectivity at the interface between two mediums with different refractive indices was used to calculate the directional reflectivity, R. Various liquid samples from 1.3325 to 1.4657 refractive indices units were used. Experimentally, a fiber bundle probe with a concentric configuration of 16 receiving fibers and a single transmitting fiber was employed to verify the developed models. The sensor performance in term of sensitivity, linear range, and resolution, were analyzed and calculated. It has been shown that the developed theoretical models are capable of providing quantitative guidance of the output of the sensor with high accuracy. The highest resolution of the sensor was 4.39  ×  10-3 refractive indices units, obtained by correlating the peak voltage along the refractive index. The resolution is sufficient for determining the specific refractive index increment of most polymer solutions, certain proteins, and also in monitoring bacterial growth. The accuracy, simplicity, and effectiveness of the proposed sensor over a long period of time while having non-contact measurements reflect a good potential for commercialization.

Capability for Fine Tuning of the Refractive Index Sensing Properties of Long-Period Gratings by Atomic Layer Deposited Al2O3 Overlays

PubMed Central

Śmietana, Mateusz; Myśliwiec, Marcin; Mikulic, Predrag; Witkowski, Bartłomiej S.; Bock, Wojtek J.

2013-01-01

This work presents an application of thin aluminum oxide (Al2O3) films obtained using atomic layer deposition (ALD) for fine tuning the spectral response and refractive-index (RI) sensitivity of long-period gratings (LPGs) induced in optical fibers. The technique allows for an efficient and well controlled deposition at monolayer level (resolution ∼ 0.12 nm) of excellent quality nano-films as required for optical sensors. The effect of Al2O3 deposition on the spectral properties of the LPGs is demonstrated experimentally and numerically. We correlated both the increase in Al2O3 thickness and changes in optical properties of the film with the shift of the LPG resonance wavelength and proved that similar films are deposited on fibers and oxidized silicon reference samples in the same process run. Since the thin overlay effectively changes the distribution of the cladding modes and thus also tunes the device's RI sensitivity, the tuning can be simply realized by varying number of cycles, which is proportional to thickness of the high-refractive-index (n > 1.6 in infrared spectral range) Al2O3 film. The advantage of this approach is the precision in determining the film properties resulting in RI sensitivity of the LPGs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an ultra-precise method for overlay deposition has been applied on LPGs for RI tuning purposes and the results have been compared with numerical simulations based on LP mode approximation.

Determination of the refractive index of microparticles by utilizing light dispersion properties of the particle and an immersion liquid.

PubMed

Niskanen, I; Räty, J; Peiponen, K E

2013-10-15

The knowledge of the refractive index of a particle is important in sensing and imaging applications, e.g., in biology, medicine and process industry. The refractive index of tiny solid particles such as microsize particles can be determined by the so-called liquid immersion technique. This study deals with three different types of interrogation methods to get the refractive index of a particle in a liquid matrix. These methods utilize thermo-optical properties and wavelength-dependent refractive index of the particle and the immersion liquids, as well as, the classical method using a set of in advance prepared set of immersion liquids with different refractive indices. The emphasis is on a method to get especially the wavelength-dependent refractive index of microparticles and exploiting different wavelength-dependences of immersion liquid and a solid particle because identification of a particle is more reliable if the refractive index of the particle is known at several wavelengths. In this study glycerol-water mixtures served as immersion liquids to obtain the refractive index of CaF2 at several discrete wavelengths in the spectral range 200-500 nm. The idea is to find the maximum value of light transmission of suspension by scanning the wavelength of a commercial spectrophotometer. The light dispersion-based method is suggested as a relatively easy, economic and fast method to determine the refractive index of a particle by a spectrophotometer at several wavelengths of light. The accuracy of the detection of the refractive index is suggested to be better than ± 0.005 refractive index units. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Towards retrievals of aerosol chemical composition from satellite observations by POLDER/PARASOL polarimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, L.; Dubovik, O.; Derimian, Y.; Lapyonok, T.; Schuster, G. L.; Ducos, F.

2016-12-01

The information about composition of aerosols has a great importance for monitoring and understanding of climate and environment dynamics. Such information can be obtained using situ measurements or chemical transport models. However, in situ sampling has limited spatial and temporal coverage, while estimations have large uncertainties. The present work enables the monitoring of aerosol chemical species from space-borne observations, providing observationally-based results with spatial and temporal coverage. Following the ideas of Schuster et al.(2005, 2009, 2016), we retrieve chemical composition directly from remote sensing measurements without intermediate retrieval of the refractive index (in contrast with Schuster's approach). This approach is expected to reduce the influence of modeling uncertainties, and to provide additional constraints in situations where remote sensing observations do not have enough spectral sensitivity to refractive index. One of principal difficulties is the identification of an adequate model for linking refractive index to chemical composition. Therefore, the initial effort of this work has focused on identifying an optimal "chemical composition to refractive index" conversion model. With that purpose, we first tested the retrieval approach using a simplified volume-weighting model and updated by the Maxwell Garnett mixing model. This concept was incorporated into the GRASP algorithm designed to retrieve an extended set of atmospheric parameters from remote sensing observations. Then a series of sensitivity tests using synthetic data of POLDER/PARASOL were conducted, and followed by inversion of real PARASOL observations. The sensitivity tests showed that these two models allow the retrieval to distinguish amongst the assumed chemical species. Results obtained from real PARASOL data demonstrated good agreement with the optical characteristics provided by AERONET (e.g., r2 of AOT 0.9). The obtained patterns of chemical component distribution agreed with known physical expectations. For example, the mass concentration of black and brown carbon in the biomass burning region was found five times higher than in the region mainly affected by dust. The mass concentration of quartz in western Africa is up to seven times higher than in southern Africa.

Metal-Organic Framework Thin Film Coated Optical Fiber Sensors: A Novel Waveguide-Based Chemical Sensing Platform.

PubMed

Kim, Ki-Joong; Lu, Ping; Culp, Jeffrey T; Ohodnicki, Paul R

2018-02-23

Integration of optical fiber with sensitive thin films offers great potential for the realization of novel chemical sensing platforms. In this study, we present a simple design strategy and high performance of nanoporous metal-organic framework (MOF) based optical gas sensors, which enables detection of a wide range of concentrations of small molecules based upon extremely small differences in refractive indices as a function of analyte adsorption within the MOF framework. Thin and compact MOF films can be uniformly formed and tightly bound on the surface of etched optical fiber through a simple solution method which is critical for manufacturability of MOF-based sensor devices. The resulting sensors show high sensitivity/selectivity to CO 2 gas relative to other small gases (H 2 , N 2 , O 2 , and CO) with rapid (

Micro-ring sensor used in the diagnosis of gastric cancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Sichao; Cheng, Qing; Lin, Rong; Su, Da; Huang, Ying

2016-01-01

To find a detecting method that can be applied to the clinical screening and diagnosis, the cascaded micro-ring sensor with Vernier effect was used to distinguish gastric cancerous and normal cells. The simulation by FDTD of the cascaded microring sensor with different refractive indexes of the analyte (normal cells and gastric cancer cells) will be presented. In the simulation, with the refractive index's change Δn=0.02 for the two different analyte, the shift of sensor's resonant wavelength is 6.71nm. And the cascaded micro-ring sensor's sensitivity S is 335.5nm/RIU, and it is much larger compared to 19nm/RIU for a single ring sensor.

Refractive-index measurement and inverse correction using optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Stritzel, Jenny; Rahlves, Maik; Roth, Bernhard

2015-12-01

We describe a novel technique for determination of the refractive index of hard biological tissue as well as nonopaque technical samples based on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Our method relies on an inverse refractive-index correction (I-RIC), which matches a measured feature geometry distorted due to refractive-index boundaries to its real geometry. For known feature geometry, the refractive index can be determined with high precision from the best match between the distorted and corrected images. We provide experimental data for refractive-index measurements on a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and on an ex vivo porcine cranial-bone, which are compared to reference measurements and previously published data. Our method is potentially capable of in vivo measurements on rigid biological tissue such as bone as, for example, is required to improve guidance in robot-aided surgical interventions and also for retrieving complex refractive-index profiles of compound materials.

Nondestructive measurement of the refractive index distribution of a glass molded lens by two-wavelength wavefronts.

PubMed

Sugimoto, Tomohiro

2016-10-01

This paper presents a nondestructive and non-exact-index-matching method for measuring the refractive index distribution of a glass molded lens with high refractivity. The method measures two-wavelength wavefronts of a test lens immersed in a liquid with a refractive index dispersion different from that of the test lens and calculates the refractive index distribution by eliminating the refractive index distribution error caused by the shape error of the test lens. The estimated uncertainties of the refractive index distributions of test lenses with n_d≈1.77 and n_d≈1.85 were 1.9×10^-5  RMS and 2.4×10^-5  RMS, respectively. I validated the proposed method by evaluating the agreement between the estimated uncertainties and experimental values.

Refractive index dispersion of swift heavy ion irradiated BFO thin films using Surface Plasmon Resonance technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paliwal, Ayushi; Sharma, Savita; Tomar, Monika; Singh, Fouran; Gupta, Vinay

2016-07-01

Swift heavy ion irradiation (SHI) is an effective technique to induce defects for possible modifications in the material properties. There is growing interest in studying the optical properties of multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films for optoelectronic applications. In the present work, BFO thin films were prepared by sol-gel spin coating technique and were irradiated using the 15 UD Pelletron accelerator with 100 MeV Au9+ ions at a fluence of 1 × 1012 ions cm-2. The as-grown films became rough and porous on ion irradiation. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technique has been identified as a highly sensitive and powerful technique for studying the optical properties of a dielectric material. Optical properties of BFO thin films, before and after irradiation were studied using SPR technique in Otto configuration. Refractive index is found to be decreasing from 2.27 to 2.14 on ion irradiation at a wavelength of 633 nm. Refractive index dispersion of BFO thin film (from 405 nm to 633 nm) before and after ion radiation was examined.

Optical fiber extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI)-based biosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elster, Jennifer L.; Jones, Mark E.; Evans, Mishell K.; Lenahan, Shannon M.; Boyce, Christopher A.; Velander, William H.; VanTassell, Roger

2000-05-01

A novel system incorporating optical fiber extrinsic Fabry- Perot interferometric (EFPI)-based sensors for rapid detection of biological targets is presented. With the appropriate configuration, the EFPI senor is able to measure key environmental parameters by monitoring the interferometric fringes resulting from an optical path differences of reflected signals. The optical fiber EFPI sensor has been demonstrated for strain, pressure, and temperature measurements and can be readily modified for refractive index measurements by allowing solutions to flow into an open cavity. The sensor allows for highly sensitive, real-time, refractive index measurements and by applying affinity coatings containing ligands within this cavity, specific binding of target molecules can be accomplished. As target molecules bind to the coating, there is an increased density within the film, causing a measurable refractive index change that correlates to the concentration of detected target molecules. This sensor platform offers enhanced sensing capabilities for clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical screening, environmental monitoring, food pathogen detection, biological warfare agent detection, and industrial bioprocessing. Promising applications also exist for process monitoring within the food/beverage, petroleum, and chemical industry.

Short communication: simultaneous analysis of reducing sugars and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde at a low concentration by high performance anion exchange chromatography with electrochemical detector, compared with HPLC with refractive index detector.

PubMed

Guan, Y-G; Yu, P; Yu, S-J; Xu, X-B; Wu, X-L

2012-11-01

A simultaneous analysis of reducing sugars and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde of the Maillard reaction products was detailed. It was based on a high performance anion exchange chromatography with electrochemical detector system and an HPLC with refractive index detector. Results showed that high performance anion exchange chromatography with electrochemical detector using a CarboPac PA-1 column (Dionex Corp., Sunnyvale, CA) was more suitable for reducing sugars and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde determination, especially for trace analysis. The lowest detectable limit of reducing sugars and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde was 0.00005 mol/L in this experiment. However, HPLC with a refractive index detector always produces a tailing peak for 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, and mannose and fructose cannot be absolutely separated. The results of the present study could provide a more sensitive means for 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde and reducing sugar detection. Copyright © 2012 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Terahertz Sensor Using Photonic Crystal Cavity and Resonant Tunneling Diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okamoto, Kazuma; Tsuruda, Kazuisao; Diebold, Sebastian; Hisatake, Shintaro; Fujita, Masayuki; Nagatsuma, Tadao

2017-09-01

In this paper, we report on a terahertz (THz) sensing system. Compared to previously reported systems, it has increased system sensitivity and reduced size. Both are achieved by using a photonic crystal (PC) cavity as a resonator and compact resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) as signal source and as detector. The measured quality factor of the PC cavity is higher than 10,000, and its resonant frequency is 318 GHz. To demonstrate the operation of the refractive index sensing system, dielectric tapes of various thicknesses are attached to the PC cavity and the change in the resonator's refractive index is measured. The figure of merit of refractive index sensing using the developed system is one order higher than that of previous studies, which used metallic metamaterial resonators. The frequency of the RTD-based source can be swept from 316 to 321 GHz by varying the RTD direct current voltage. This effect is used to realize a compact frequency tunable signal source. Measurements using a commercial signal source and detector are carried out to verify the accuracy of the data obtained using RTDs as a signal source and as a detector.

A heterodyne refractometer for air index of refraction and air density measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, H.; Picard, A.; Juncar, P.

2002-04-01

We briefly describe a heterodyne refractometer developed at the BIPM in collaboration with the BNM/INM conservatory. The heart of the refractometer, a double Fabry-Perot interferometer, is placed inside the balance case of a very sensitive 1 kg mass comparator, the FB2 balance. Comparisons between methods using refractometry and the NPL revised Edlén formulas, carried out for a period of nine months, yielded a difference in air index of refraction of 4×10-8 with a standard deviation of 1×10-8. The variation of air index of refraction was about 1.5×10-5 during the study. Precise determinations of the short-term and long-term stability of the Fabry-Perot cavity, made of Zerodur, were also achieved. For monitoring air density, results obtained with the refractometry method were compared with those deduced from two other methods: the CIPM formula for the density of moist air and the use of buoyancy artifacts. The response characteristics for the three determinations were comparable and the agreement among the air density determinations was within 1×10-5 kg m-3.

Two-dimensional interferometric characterization of laser-induced refractive index profiles in bulk Topas polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hessler, Steffen; Rosenberger, Manuel; Schmauss, Bernhard; Hellmann, Ralf

2018-01-01

In this paper we precisely determine laser-induced refractive index profiles created in cyclic olefin copolymer Topas 6017 employing a sophisticated phase shifting Mach-Zehnder interferometry approach. Beyond the usual one-dimensional modification depth measurement we highlight that for straight waveguide structures also a two-dimensional refractive index distribution can be directly obtained providing full information of a waveguide's exact cross section and its gradient refractive index contrast. Deployed as direct data input in optical waveguide simulation, the evaluated 2D refractive index profiles permit a detailed calculation of the waveguides' actual mode profiles. Furthermore, conventional one-dimensional interferometric measurements for refractive index depth profiles with varying total imposed laser fluence of a 248 nm KrF excimer laser are included to investigate the effect on refractive index modification depth. Maximum surface refractive index increase turns out to attain up to 1.86 ·10-3 enabling laser-written optical waveguide channels. Additionally, a comprehensive optical material characterization in terms of dispersion, thermo-optic coefficient and absorption measurement of unmodified and UV-modified Topas 6017 is carried out.

Real refractive indices and formation yields of secondary organic aerosol generated from photooxidation of limonene and α-pinene: the effect of the HC/NO(x) ratio.

PubMed

Kim, Hwajin; Barkey, Brian; Paulson, Suzanne E

2012-06-21

The refractive index is an important property affecting aerosol optical properties, which in turn help determine the aerosol direct effect and satellite retrieval results. Here, we investigate the real refractive indices (m(r)) of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) generated from the photooxidation of limonene and α-pinene with different HC/NO(x) ratios. Refractive indices were obtained from polar nephelometer data using parallel and perpendicular polarized 532 nm light combined with measured size distributions, and retrievals were performed using a genetic algorithm and Mie-Lorenz scattering theory. The absolute error associated with the m(r) retrieval is ±0.03, and reliable retrievals are possible for mass concentrations above 5-20 μg/m(3) depending on particle size. The limonene SOA data suggest the most important factor controlling the refractive index is the HC/NO(x) ratio; the refractive index is much less sensitive to the aerosol age or mass concentration. The refractive index ranges from about 1.34 to 1.56 for limonene and from 1.36 to 1.52 for α-pinene, and generally decreases as the HC/NO(x) ratio increases. Especially for limonene, the particle diameter is also inversely related to the HC/NO(x) ratio; the final size mode increases from 220 to 330 nm as the HC/NO(x) ratio decreases from 33 to 6. In an effort to explore the ability of models from the literature to explain the observed refractive indices, a recent limonene oxidation mechanism was combined with SOA partitioning and a structure-property relationship for estimating refractive indices of condensing species. The resulting refractive indices fell in a much narrower range (1.475 ± 0.02) of m(r) than observed experimentally. We hypothesize the experimentally observed high m(r) values are due to oligomerization and the low values to water uptake, small soluble molecules such as glyoxal and other factors, each of which is not included in the oxidation mechanism. Aerosol formation yields were measured over the mass concentration range from 6 to ∼150 μg/m(3), over which they increased steadily, and were higher for high HC/NO(x) ratio experiments.

Design of embedded system to determine liquid refractive index based on ultrasonic sensor using an ATMega328

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radiyonoa, Y.; Surantoro, S.; Pujayanto, P.; Budiharti, R.; Respati, Y. S.; Saputro, D. E.

2018-05-01

The occurrence of the broken pencil shadow into a glass of water becomes an interesting matter to be learned. The students of senior high school still find difficulty in determining liquid refractive index. To overcome this problem, it needs to develop an experimental tool to determine liquid refractive index by utilizing the newest technology. It is expected to be useful for students. This study is aimed to (1) make the design of physics learning experimental tool determinant of a liquid refractive index assisted by microcontroller based on ultrasonic sensors ATMega328 (2) explain the working principle and experimental result of liquid refractive indexing instrument assisted with ATMega328 microcontroller based ultrasonic sensor. This research used the experimental method. The result of the research shows design of physics learning experimental tool determinant of a liquid refractive index assisted by microcontroller based on ultrasonic sensors ATMega328 that has relative counting mistake of 0.36% on the measurement of aquades liquid refractive index, relative mistake of 0.18% on the 5% NaCl measurement, 0.24% on 5% glucose, and relative mistake of 0.50% on the measurement of 5 % fructose liquid refractive index. It has been created a proper device to be used in determining liquid refractive index.

Precise determination of the refractive index of suspended particles: light transmission as a function of refractive index mismatch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McClymer, J. P.

2016-08-01

Many fluids appear white because refractive index differences lead to multiple scattering. In this paper, we use safe, low-cost commercial index matching fluids to quantitatively study light transmission as a function of index mismatch, reduce multiple scattering to allow single scattering probes, and to precisely determine the index of refraction of suspended material. The transmission profile is compared with Rayleigh-Gans and Mie theory predictions. The procedure is accessible as a student laboratory project, while providing advantages over other standard methods of measuring the refractive index of an unknown nanoparticle, making it valuable to researchers.

The absorption Ångström exponent of black carbon: from numerical aspects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chao; Eddy Chung, Chul; Yin, Yan; Schnaiter, Martin

2018-05-01

The absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) is an important aerosol optical parameter used for aerosol characterization and apportionment studies. The AAE of black carbon (BC) particles is widely accepted to be 1.0, although observational estimates give quite a wide range of 0.6-1.3. With considerable uncertainties related to observations, a numerical study is a powerful method, if not the only one, to provide a better and more accurate understanding on BC AAE. This study calculates BC AAE using realistic particle geometries based on fractal aggregate and an accurate numerical optical model (namely the multiple-sphere T-matrix method), and considers bulk properties of an ensemble of BC particles following lognormal size distributions. At odds with the expectations, BC AAE is not 1.0, even when BC is assumed to have small sizes and a wavelength-independent refractive index. With a wavelength-independent refractive index, the AAE of fresh BC is approximately 1.05 and relatively insensitive to particle size. For BC with geometric mean diameters larger than 0.12 µm, BC AAE becomes smaller when BC particles are aged (compact structures or coated by other non-absorptive materials). For coated BC, we prescribe the coating fraction variation based on a laboratory study, where smaller BC cores are shown to develop larger coating fractions than those of bigger BC cores. For both compact and coated BC, the AAE is highly sensitive to particle size distribution, ranging from approximately 0.8 to even over 1.4 with wavelength-independent refractive index. When the refractive index is allowed to vary with wavelength, a feature with observational backing, the BC AAE may show an even wider range. For different BC morphologies, we derive simple empirical equations on BC AAE based on our numerical results, which can serve as a guide for the response of BC AAE to BC size and refractive index. Due to its complex influences, the effects of BC geometry is better to be discussed at certain BC properties, i.e., known size and refractive index.

Fermat's principle and the formal equivalence of local light-ray rotation and refraction at the interface between homogeneous media with a complex refractive index ratio.

PubMed

Sundar, Bhuvanesh; Hamilton, Alasdair C; Courtial, Johannes

2009-02-01

We derive a formal description of local light-ray rotation in terms of complex refractive indices. We show that Fermat's principle holds, and we derive an extended Snell's law. The change in the angle of a light ray with respect to the normal of a refractive index interface is described by the modulus of the refractive index ratio; the rotation around the interface normal is described by the argument of the refractive index ratio.

Terahertz metasurfaces with a high refractive index enhanced by the strong nearest neighbor coupling.

PubMed

Tan, Siyu; Yan, Fengping; Singh, Leena; Cao, Wei; Xu, Ningning; Hu, Xiang; Singh, Ranjan; Wang, Mingwei; Zhang, Weili

2015-11-02

The realization of high refractive index is of significant interest in optical imaging with enhanced resolution. Strongly coupled subwavelength resonators were proposed and demonstrated at both optical and terahertz frequencies to enhance the refractive index due to large induced dipole moment in meta-atoms. Here, we report an alternative design for flexible free-standing terahertz metasurface in the strong coupling regime where we experimentally achieve a peak refractive index value of 14.36. We also investigate the impact of the nearest neighbor coupling in the form of frequency tuning and enhancement of the peak refractive index. We provide an analytical circuit model to explain the impact of geometrical parameters and coupling on the effective refractive index of the metasurface. The proposed meta-atom structure enables tailoring of the peak refractive index based on nearest neighbor coupling and this property offers tremendous design flexibility for transformation optics and other index-gradient devices at terahertz frequencies.

Fiber optic refractive index and magnetic field sensors based on microhole-induced inline Mach-Zehnder interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Feifei; Jiang, Yi; Zhang, Liuchao; Jiang, Lan; Wang, Sumei

2018-04-01

A compact microhole-induced fiber optic inline Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is demonstrated for measurements of refractive index (RI) and magnetic field. Inline MZIs with different etched diameters, different interaction lengths and different sizes of microholes are fabricated and assessed. The optical transmission spectra of the inline MZIs immersed into a series of liquids are characterized and analysed. Experimental results show that liquid RI sensitivity as high as 539.8436 nm RIU-1 in the RI range of 1.3352-1.4113 RIU is achieved and also exhibits good linearity with a correlation coefficient  >93%. An inline MZI is also fabricated to be a magnetic field sensor by using magnetic fluid material. The experimental results show that this magnetic field sensor has a high sensitivity of  -275.6 pm Oe-1. The inline MZI-based fiber optic sensors possess many advantages, such as small size, simple fabrication, high sensitivity and good linearity, which has a wide application potential in chemical, biological and environmental sensing fields.

Glucose Sensor Using U-Shaped Optical Fiber Probe with Gold Nanoparticles and Glucose Oxidase

PubMed Central

Chen, Kuan-Chieh; Li, Yu-Le; Wu, Chao-Wei

2018-01-01

In this study, we proposed a U-shaped optical fiber probe fabricated using a flame heating method. The probe was packaged in glass tube to reduce human factors during experimental testing of the probe as a glucose sensor. The U-shaped fiber probe was found to have high sensitivity in detecting the very small molecule. When the sensor was dipped in solutions with different refractive indexes, its wavelength or transmission loss changed. We used electrostatic self-assembly to bond gold nanoparticles and glucose oxidase (GOD) onto the sensor’s surface. The results over five cycles of the experiment showed that, as the glucose concentration increased, the refractive index of the sensor decreased and its spectrum wavelength shifted. The best wavelength sensitivity was 2.899 nm/%, and the linearity was 0.9771. The best transmission loss sensitivity was 5.101 dB/%, and the linearity was 0.9734. Therefore, the proposed U-shaped optical fiber probe with gold nanoparticles and GOD has good potential for use as a blood sugar sensor in the future. PMID:29659536

Angle-resolved diffraction grating biosensor based on porous silicon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lv, Changwu; Li, Peng; Jia, Zhenhong, E-mail: jzhh@xju.edu.cn

2016-03-07

In this study, an optical biosensor based on a porous silicon composite structure was fabricated using a simple method. This structure consists of a thin, porous silicon surface diffraction grating and a one-dimensional porous silicon photonic crystal. An angle-resolved diffraction efficiency spectrum was obtained by measuring the diffraction efficiency at a range of incident angles. The angle-resolved diffraction efficiency of the 2nd and 3rd orders was studied experimentally and theoretically. The device was sensitive to the change of refractive index in the presence of a biomolecule indicated by the shift of the diffraction efficiency spectrum. The sensitivity of this sensormore » was investigated through use of an 8 base pair antifreeze protein DNA hybridization. The shifts of the angle-resolved diffraction efficiency spectrum showed a relationship with the change of the refractive index, and the detection limit of the biosensor reached 41.7 nM. This optical device is highly sensitive, inexpensive, and simple to fabricate. Using shifts in diffraction efficiency spectrum to detect biological molecules has not yet been explored, so this study establishes a foundation for future work.« less

Glucose Sensor Using U-Shaped Optical Fiber Probe with Gold Nanoparticles and Glucose Oxidase.

PubMed

Chen, Kuan-Chieh; Li, Yu-Le; Wu, Chao-Wei; Chiang, Chia-Chin

2018-04-16

In this study, we proposed a U-shaped optical fiber probe fabricated using a flame heating method. The probe was packaged in glass tube to reduce human factors during experimental testing of the probe as a glucose sensor. The U-shaped fiber probe was found to have high sensitivity in detecting the very small molecule. When the sensor was dipped in solutions with different refractive indexes, its wavelength or transmission loss changed. We used electrostatic self-assembly to bond gold nanoparticles and glucose oxidase (GOD) onto the sensor’s surface. The results over five cycles of the experiment showed that, as the glucose concentration increased, the refractive index of the sensor decreased and its spectrum wavelength shifted. The best wavelength sensitivity was 2.899 nm/%, and the linearity was 0.9771. The best transmission loss sensitivity was 5.101 dB/%, and the linearity was 0.9734. Therefore, the proposed U-shaped optical fiber probe with gold nanoparticles and GOD has good potential for use as a blood sugar sensor in the future.

Refractive index of liquid mixtures: theory and experiment.

PubMed

Reis, João Carlos R; Lampreia, Isabel M S; Santos, Angela F S; Moita, Maria Luísa C J; Douhéret, Gérard

2010-12-03

An innovative approach is presented to interpret the refractive index of binary liquid mixtures. The concept of refractive index "before mixing" is introduced and shown to be given by the volume-fraction mixing rule of the pure-component refractive indices (Arago-Biot formula). The refractive index of thermodynamically ideal liquid mixtures is demonstrated to be given by the volume-fraction mixing rule of the pure-component squared refractive indices (Newton formula). This theoretical formulation entails a positive change of refractive index upon ideal mixing, which is interpreted in terms of dissimilar London dispersion forces centred in the dissimilar molecules making up the mixture. For real liquid mixtures, the refractive index of mixing and the excess refractive index are introduced in a thermodynamic manner. Examples of mixtures are cited for which excess refractive indices and excess molar volumes show all of the four possible sign combinations, a fact that jeopardises the finding of a general equation linking these two excess properties. Refractive indices of 69 mixtures of water with the amphiphile (R,S)-1-propoxypropan-2-ol are reported at five temperatures in the range 283-303 K. The ideal and real refractive properties of this binary system are discussed. Pear-shaped plots of excess refractive indices against excess molar volumes show that extreme positive values of excess refractive index occur at a substantially lower mole fraction of the amphiphile than extreme negative values of excess molar volume. Analysis of these plots provides insights into the mixing schemes that occur in different composition segments. A nearly linear variation is found when Balankina's ratios between excess and ideal values of refractive indices are plotted against ratios between excess and ideal values of molar volumes. It is concluded that, when coupled with volumetric properties, the new thermodynamic functions defined for the analysis of refractive indices of liquid mixtures give important complementary information on the mixing process over the whole composition range.

Making Optical-Fiber Chemical Detectors More Sensitive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rogowski, Robert S.; Egalon, Claudio O.

1993-01-01

Calculations based on exact theory of optical fiber shown how to increase optical efficiency and sensitivity of active-cladding step-index-profile optical-fiber fluorosensor using evanescent wave coupling. Optical-fiber fluorosensor contains molecules fluorescing when illuminated by suitable light in presence of analyte. Fluorescence coupled into and launched along core by evanescent-wave interaction. Efficiency increases with difference in refractive indices.

Mechanical modulation method for ultrasensitive phase measurements in photonics biosensing.

PubMed

Patskovsky, S; Maisonneuve, M; Meunier, M; Kabashin, A V

2008-12-22

A novel polarimetry methodology for phase-sensitive measurements in single reflection geometry is proposed for applications in optical transduction-based biological sensing. The methodology uses altering step-like chopper-based mechanical phase modulation for orthogonal s- and p- polarizations of light reflected from the sensing interface and the extraction of phase information at different harmonics of the modulation. We show that even under a relatively simple experimental arrangement, the methodology provides the resolution of phase measurements as low as 0.007 deg. We also examine the proposed approach using Total Internal Reflection (TIR) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) geometries. For TIR geometry, the response appears to be strongly dependent on the prism material with the best values for high refractive index Si. The detection limit for Si-based TIR is estimated as 10(-5) in terms Refractive Index Units (RIU) change. SPR geometry offers much stronger phase response due to a much sharper phase characteristics. With the detection limit of 3.2*10(-7) RIU, the proposed methodology provides one of best sensitivities for phase-sensitive SPR devices. Advantages of the proposed method include high sensitivity, simplicity of experimental setup and noise immunity as a result of a high stability modulation.

Roughened glass slides and a spectrophotometer for the detection of the wavelength-dependent refractive index of transparent liquids.

PubMed

Niskanen, Ilpo; Räty, Jukka; Myllylä, Risto; Sutinen, Veijo; Matsuda, Kiyofumi; Homma, Kazuhiro; Silfsten, Pertti; Peiponen, Kai-Erik

2012-07-01

We describe a method to determine the wavelength-dependent refractive index of liquids by measurement of light transmittance with a spectrophotometer. The method is based on using roughened glass slides with different a priori known refractive indices and immersing the slides into the transparent liquid with unknown refractive index. Using the dispersion data on the glass material it is possible to find the index match between the liquid and the glass slide, and hence the refractive index of the liquid.

Decoupling the refractive index from the electrical properties of transparent conducting oxides via periodic superlattices.

PubMed

Caffrey, David; Norton, Emma; Coileáin, Cormac Ó; Smith, Christopher M; Bulfin, Brendan; Farrell, Leo; Shvets, Igor V; Fleischer, Karsten

2016-09-13

We demonstrate an alternative approach to tuning the refractive index of materials. Current methodologies for tuning the refractive index of a material often result in undesirable changes to the structural or optoelectronic properties. By artificially layering a transparent conducting oxide with a lower refractive index material the overall film retains a desirable conductivity and mobility while acting optically as an effective medium with a modified refractive index. Calculations indicate that, with our refractive index change of 0.2, a significant reduction of reflective losses could be obtained by the utilisation of these structures in optoelectronic devices. Beyond this, periodic superlattice structures present a solution to decouple physical properties where the underlying electronic interaction is governed by different length scales.

Sensing dynamic cytoplasm refractive index changes of adherent cells with quantitative phase microscopy using incorporated microspheres as optical probes.

PubMed

Przibilla, Sabine; Dartmann, Sebastian; Vollmer, Angelika; Ketelhut, Steffi; Greve, Burkhard; von Bally, Gert; Kemper, Björn

2012-09-01

The intracellular refractive index is an important parameter that describes the optical density of the cytoplasm and the concentration of the intracellular solutes. The refractive index of adherently grown cells is difficult to access. We present a method in which silica microspheres in living cells are used to determine the cytoplasm refractive index with quantitative phase microscopy. The reliability of our approach for refractive index retrieval is shown by data from a comparative study on osmotically stimulated adherent and suspended human pancreatic tumor cells. Results from adherent human fibro sarcoma cells demonstrate the capability of the method for sensing of dynamic refractive index changes and its usage with microfluidics.

Refractive index dependence of L3 photonic crystal nano-cavities.

PubMed

Adawi, A M; Chalcraft, A R; Whittaker, D M; Lidzey, D G

2007-10-29

We model the optical properties of L3 photonic crystal nano-cavities as a function of the photonic crystal membrane refractive index n using a guided mode expansion method. Band structure calculations revealed that a TE-like full band-gap exists for materials of refractive index as low as 1.6. The Q-factor of such cavities showed a super-linear increase with refractive index. By adjusting the relative position of the cavity side holes, the Q-factor was optimised as a function of the photonic crystal membrane refractive index n over the range 1.6 to 3.4. Q-factors in the range 3000-8000 were predicted from absorption free materials in the visible range with refractive index between 2.45 and 2.8.

Regional variation in the refractive-index of the bovine and human cornea.

PubMed

Vasudevan, Balamurali; Simpson, Trefford L; Sivak, Jacob G

2008-10-01

Given the refractive importance of the human cornea, surprisingly little attention has been directed to the study of local variation in corneal refractive-index. This in vitro and in vivo study measures the refractive-index of different portions of the bovine and human cornea. Fifty fresh bovine corneas (obtained from an abattoir) and 10 human subjects were used for the study. The refractive-index of the central, nasal, and temporal corneal epithelium was measured with a bench-top Abbe refractometer in the case of bovine corneas and with a hand-held refractometer with humans. The mean (+/-standard deviation) refractive-indices of the central, nasal, and temporal bovine corneal epithelium were 1.3760 (+/-0.003), 1.3757 (+/-0.002), and 1.3746 (+/-0.002), respectively. Refractive-indices of the anterior and posterior bovine corneal stroma were 1.3731 (+/-0.002) and 1.3708 (+/-0.004), respectively. The mean (+/-standard deviation) refractive-index in the central, nasal, and temporal periphery of the human cornea epithelium were 1.3970 (+/-0.001), 1.3946 (+/-0.001), and 1.3940 (+/-0.001), respectively. There are small local differences in the refractive-index of the bovine and human corneal epithelium and the refractive-index of the epithelium is higher than that of the anterior and posterior stroma of the bovine cornea.

Influence of stromal refractive index and hydration on corneal laser refractive surgery.

PubMed

de Ortueta, Diego; von Rüden, Dennis; Magnago, Thomas; Arba Mosquera, Samuel

2014-06-01

To evaluate the influence of the stromal refractive index and hydration on postoperative outcomes in eyes that had corneal laser refractive surgery using the Amaris laser system. Augenzentrum Recklinghausen, Recklinghausen, Germany. Comparative case series. At the 6-month follow-up, right eyes were retrospectively analyzed. The effect of the stromal refractive index and hydration on refractive outcomes was assessed using univariate linear and multilinear correlations. Sixty eyes were analyzed. Univariate linear analyses showed that the stromal refractive index and hydration were correlated with the thickness of the preoperative exposed stroma and was statistically different for laser in situ keratomileusis and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy treatments. Univariate multilinear analyses showed that the spherical equivalent (SE) was correlated with the attempted SE and stromal refractive index (or hydration). Analyses suggest overcorrections for higher stromal refractive index values and for lower hydration values. The stromal refractive index and hydration affected postoperative outcomes in a subtle, yet significant manner. An adjustment toward greater attempted correction in highly hydrated corneas and less intended correction in low hydrated corneas might help optimize refractive outcomes. Mr. Magnago and Dr. Arba-Mosquera are employees of and Dr. Diego de Ortueta is a consultant to Schwind eye-tech-solutions GmbH & Co. KG. Mr. Rüden has no financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Copyright © 2014 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of refractive index distributions in polymer using a photochemical reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kada, Takeshi; Obara, Atsushi; Watanabe, Toshiyuki; Miyata, Seizo; Liang, Chuan Xin; Machida, Hideaki; Kiso, Koichi

2000-01-01

We demonstrate that a photochemical reaction can create various distributions of refractive index in polymer. When the polymer containing a photochemically active material is irradiated by UV light, the photochemical reaction which breaks the π-conjugated system in the material and decreases its linear polarizability can reduce refractive index of the polymer. We prepared a PMMA film added DMAPN ((4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-N'-phenylnitrone) with a rate of 23 wt % by use of spin coating. Electronic structural change of DMAPN and refractive indices of the film before and after UV irradiation were evaluated by UV absorption spectra and m-line method, respectively. The UV irradiation decreased λmax at 380 nm in the absorption spectra, which is attributed to nitrone, and the refractive indices exponentially with irradiation time. The change of refractive indices reached 0.028. The refractive index profile upon depth of the film was investigated by measuring refractive indices of stacked DMAPN/PMMA films. When UV with a power of 10.7 mW/cm2 irradiated upon three stacked DMAPN/PMMA films for 35 s, variation of the refractive index change showed a quadratic profile. The refractive index profile with various irradiation time can be accounted with the combination of the chemical kinetics with the steady state approximation and Lambert-Beer's law. Thus, the photochemical reaction can be used to control the refractive index distribution in polymer.

Highly tunable refractive index visible-light metasurface from block copolymer self-assembly.

PubMed

Kim, Ju Young; Kim, Hyowook; Kim, Bong Hoon; Chang, Taeyong; Lim, Joonwon; Jin, Hyeong Min; Mun, Jeong Ho; Choi, Young Joo; Chung, Kyungjae; Shin, Jonghwa; Fan, Shanhui; Kim, Sang Ouk

2016-09-29

The refractive index of natural transparent materials is limited to 2-3 throughout the visible wavelength range. Wider controllability of the refractive index is desired for novel optical applications such as nanoimaging and integrated photonics. We report that metamaterials consisting of period and symmetry-tunable self-assembled nanopatterns can provide a controllable refractive index medium for a broad wavelength range, including the visible region. Our approach exploits the independent control of permeability and permittivity with nanoscale objects smaller than the skin depth. The precise manipulation of the interobject distance in block copolymer nanopatterns via pattern shrinkage increased the effective refractive index up to 5.10. The effective refractive index remains above 3.0 over more than 1,000 nm wavelength bandwidth. Spatially graded and anisotropic refractive indices are also obtained with the design of transitional and rotational symmetry modification.

Highly tunable refractive index visible-light metasurface from block copolymer self-assembly

PubMed Central

Kim, Ju Young; Kim, Hyowook; Kim, Bong Hoon; Chang, Taeyong; Lim, Joonwon; Jin, Hyeong Min; Mun, Jeong Ho; Choi, Young Joo; Chung, Kyungjae; Shin, Jonghwa; Fan, Shanhui; Kim, Sang Ouk

2016-01-01

The refractive index of natural transparent materials is limited to 2–3 throughout the visible wavelength range. Wider controllability of the refractive index is desired for novel optical applications such as nanoimaging and integrated photonics. We report that metamaterials consisting of period and symmetry-tunable self-assembled nanopatterns can provide a controllable refractive index medium for a broad wavelength range, including the visible region. Our approach exploits the independent control of permeability and permittivity with nanoscale objects smaller than the skin depth. The precise manipulation of the interobject distance in block copolymer nanopatterns via pattern shrinkage increased the effective refractive index up to 5.10. The effective refractive index remains above 3.0 over more than 1,000 nm wavelength bandwidth. Spatially graded and anisotropic refractive indices are also obtained with the design of transitional and rotational symmetry modification. PMID:27683077

Organic Plasmon-Emitting Diodes for Detecting Refractive Index Variation

PubMed Central

Chiu, Nan-Fu; Cheng, Chih-Jen; Huang, Teng-Yi

2013-01-01

A photo-excited organic layer on a metal thin film with a corrugated substrate was used to generate surface plasmon grating coupled emissions (SPGCEs). Directional emissions corresponded to the resonant condition of surface plasmon modes on the Au/air interface. In experimental comparisons of the effects of different pitch sizes on the plasmonic band-gap, the obtained SPGCEs were highly directional, with intensity increases as large as 10.38-fold. The FWHM emission spectrum was less than 70 nm. This method is easily applicable to detecting refractive index changes by using SP-coupled fluorophores in which wavelength emissions vary by viewing angle. The measurements and calculations in this study confirmed that the color wavelength of the SPGCE changed from 545.3 nm to 615.4 nm at certain viewing angles, while the concentration of contacting glucose increased from 10 to 40 wt%, which corresponded to a refractive index increase from 1.3484 to 1.3968. The organic plasmon-emitting diode exhibits a wider linearity range and a resolution of the experimental is 1.056 × 10−3 RIU. The sensitivity of the detection limit for naked eye of the experimental is 0.6 wt%. At a certain viewing angle, a large spectral shift is clearly distinguishable by the naked eye unaided by optoelectronic devices. These experimental results confirm the potential applications of the organic plasmon-emitting diodes in a low-cost, integrated, and disposable refractive-index sensor. PMID:23812346

Z-scan theoretical and experimental studies for accurate measurements of the nonlinear refractive index and absorption of optical glasses near damage threshold

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olivier, Thomas; Billard, Franck; Akhouayri, Hassan

2004-06-01

Self-focusing is one of the dramatic phenomena that may occur during the propagation of a high power laser beam in a nonlinear material. This phenomenon leads to a degradation of the wave front and may also lead to a photoinduced damage of the material. Realistic simulations of the propagation of high power laser beams require an accurate knowledge of the nonlinear refractive index γ. In the particular case of fused silica and in the nanosecond regime, it seems that electronic mechanisms as well as electrostriction and thermal effects can lead to a significant refractive index variation. Compared to the different methods used to measure this parmeter, the Z-scan method is simple, offers a good sensitivity and may give absolute measurements if the incident beam is accurately studied. However, this method requires a very good knowledge of the incident beam and of its propagation inside a nonlinear sample. We used a split-step propagation algorithm to simlate Z-scan curves for arbitrary beam shape, sample thickness and nonlinear phase shift. According to our simulations and a rigorous analysis of the Z-scan measured signal, it appears that some abusive approximations lead to very important errors. Thus, by reducing possible errors on the interpretation of Z-scan experimental studies, we performed accurate measurements of the nonlinear refractive index of fused silica that show the significant contribution of nanosecond mechanisms.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hidayat, Arif, E-mail: arif.hidayat.fmipa@um.ac.id; Latifah, Eny; Kurniati, Diana

This study investigated the influence of refraction index strength on the light propagation in refraction index-varied dielectric material. This dielectric material served as photonic lattice. The behavior of light propagation influenced by variation of refraction index in photonic lattice was investigated. Modes of the guiding light were determined numerically using squared-operator iteration method. It was found that the greater the strength of refraction index, the smaller the guiding modes.

Cell refractive index for cell biology and disease diagnosis: past, present and future.

PubMed

Liu, P Y; Chin, L K; Ser, W; Chen, H F; Hsieh, C-M; Lee, C-H; Sung, K-B; Ayi, T C; Yap, P H; Liedberg, B; Wang, K; Bourouina, T; Leprince-Wang, Y

2016-02-21

Cell refractive index is a key biophysical parameter, which has been extensively studied. It is correlated with other cell biophysical properties including mechanical, electrical and optical properties, and not only represents the intracellular mass and concentration of a cell, but also provides important insight for various biological models. Measurement techniques developed earlier only measure the effective refractive index of a cell or a cell suspension, providing only limited information on cell refractive index and hence hindering its in-depth analysis and correlation. Recently, the emergence of microfluidic, photonic and imaging technologies has enabled the manipulation of a single cell and the 3D refractive index of a single cell down to sub-micron resolution, providing powerful tools to study cells based on refractive index. In this review, we provide an overview of cell refractive index models and measurement techniques including microfluidic chip-based techniques for the last 50 years, present the applications and significance of cell refractive index in cell biology, hematology, and pathology, and discuss future research trends in the field, including 3D imaging methods, integration with microfluidics and potential applications in new and breakthrough research areas.

Ultraviolet refractometry using field-based light scattering spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Fu, Dan; Choi, Wonshik; Sung, Yongjin; Oh, Seungeun; Yaqoob, Zahid; Park, YongKeun; Dasari, Ramachandra R.; Feld, Michael S.

2010-01-01

Accurate refractive index measurement in the deep ultraviolet (UV) range is important for the separate quantification of biomolecules such as proteins and DNA in biology. This task is demanding and has not been fully exploited so far. Here we report a new method of measuring refractive index using field-based light scattering spectroscopy, which is applicable to any wavelength range and suitable for both solutions and homogenous objects with well-defined shape such as microspheres. The angular scattering distribution of single microspheres immersed in homogeneous media is measured over the wavelength range 260 to 315 nm using quantitative phase microscopy. By least square fitting the observed scattering distribution with Mie scattering theory, the refractive index of either the sphere or the immersion medium can be determined provided that one is known a priori. Using this method, we have measured the refractive index dispersion of SiO2 spheres and bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions in the deep UV region. Specific refractive index increments of BSA are also extracted. Typical accuracy of the present refractive index technique is ≤0.003. The precision of refractive index measurements is ≤0.002 and that of specific refractive index increment determination is ≤0.01 mL/g. PMID:20372622

Refraction index sensor based on phase resonances in a subwavelength structure with double period.

PubMed

Skigin, Diana C; Lester, Marcelo

2016-10-01

In this paper, we numerically demonstrate a refraction index sensor based on phase resonance excitation in a subwavelength-slit structure with a double period. The sensor consists of a metal layer with subwavelength slots arranged in a bi-periodic form, separated from a high refraction index medium. Between the metallic structure and the incident medium, a dielectric waveguide is formed whose refraction index is going to be determined. Variations in the refraction index of the waveguide are detected as shifts in the peaks of transmitted intensity originated by resonant modes supported by the compound metallic structure. At normal incidence, the spectral position of these resonant peaks exhibits a linear or a quadratic dependence with the refraction index, which permits us to obtain the unknown refraction index value with a high precision for a wide range of wavelengths. Since the operating principle of the sensor is due to the morphological resonances of the slits' structure, this device can be scaled to operate in different wavelength ranges while keeping similar characteristics.

Method of determining effects of heat-induced irregular refractive index on an optical system.

PubMed

Song, Xifa; Li, Lin; Huang, Yifan

2015-09-01

The effects of an irregular refractive index on optical performance are examined. A method was developed to express a lens's irregular refractive index distribution. An optical system and its mountings were modeled by a thermomechanical finite element (FE) program in the predicted operating temperature range, -45°C-50°C. FE outputs were elaborated using a MATLAB optimization routine; a nonlinear least squares algorithm was adopted to determine which gradient equation best fit each lens's refractive index distribution. The obtained gradient data were imported into Zemax for sequential ray-tracing analysis. The root mean square spot diameter, modulation transfer function, and diffraction ensquared energy were computed for an optical system under an irregular refractive index and under thermoelastic deformation. These properties are greatly reduced by the irregular refractive index effect, which is one-third to five-sevenths the size of the thermoelastic deformation effect. Thus, thermal analyses of optical systems should consider not only thermoelastic deformation but also refractive index irregularities caused by inhomogeneous temperature.

Age-dependence of the average and equivalent refractive indices of the crystalline lens

PubMed Central

Charman, W. Neil; Atchison, David A.

2013-01-01

Lens average and equivalent refractive indices are required for purposes such as lens thickness estimation and optical modeling. We modeled the refractive index gradient as a power function of the normalized distance from lens center. Average index along the lens axis was estimated by integration. Equivalent index was estimated by raytracing through a model eye to establish ocular refraction, and then backward raytracing to determine the constant refractive index yielding the same refraction. Assuming center and edge indices remained constant with age, at 1.415 and 1.37 respectively, average axial refractive index increased (1.408 to 1.411) and equivalent index decreased (1.425 to 1.420) with age increase from 20 to 70 years. These values agree well with experimental estimates based on different techniques, although the latter show considerable scatter. The simple model of index gradient gives reasonable estimates of average and equivalent lens indices, although refinements in modeling and measurements are required. PMID:24466474

Holographic Optical Elements with Ultra-High Spatial Frequencies.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

optical film thickness is equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of the incident radiation and the film’s index of refraction is...Am amount of photoresist material removed by developer N diffractive order number n index of refraction nx index of refraction -- x direction ny index ...since a material with the required index of refraction is usually hard to find4 7 . For example, there is no inorganic material available for

Easy-to-Fabricate and High-Sensitivity LSPR Type Specific Protein Detection Sensor Using AAO Nano-Pore Size Control

PubMed Central

Kim, Sae-Wan; Lee, Jae-Sung; Lee, Sang-Won; Kang, Byoung-Ho; Kwon, Jin-Beom; Kim, Ok-Sik; Kim, Ju-Seong; Kim, Eung-Soo; Kwon, Dae-Hyuk; Kang, Shin-Won

2017-01-01

In this study, we developed a pore size/pore area-controlled optical biosensor-based anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanostructure. As the pore size of AAO increases, the unit cell of AAO increases, which also increases the non-pore area to which the antibody binds. The increase in the number of antibodies immobilized on the surface of the AAO enables effective detection of trace amounts of antigen, because increased antigen-antibody bonding results in a larger surface refractive index change. High sensitivity was thus achieved through amplification of the interference wave of two vertically-incident reflected waves through the localized surface plasmon resonance phenomenon. The sensitivity of the fabricated sensor was evaluated by measuring the change in wavelength with the change in the refractive index of the device surface, and sensitivity was increased with increasing pore-size and non-pore area. The sensitivity of the fabricated sensor was improved and up to 11.8 ag/mL serum amyloid A1 antigen was detected. In addition, the selectivity of the fabricated sensor was confirmed through a reaction with a heterogeneous substance, C-reactive protein antigen. By using hard anodization during fabrication of the AAO, the fabrication time of the device was reduced and the AAO chip was fabricated quickly and easily. PMID:28406469

A Magnetic Field Sensor Based on a Magnetic Fluid-Filled FP-FBG Structure

PubMed Central

Xia, Ji; Wang, Fuyin; Luo, Hong; Wang, Qi; Xiong, Shuidong

2016-01-01

Based on the characteristic magnetic-controlled refractive index property, in this paper, a magnetic fluid is used as a sensitive medium to detect the magnetic field in the fiber optic Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity. The temperature compensation in fiber Fabry-Perot magnetic sensor is demonstrated and achieved. The refractive index of the magnetic fluid varies with the applied magnetic field and external temperature, and a cross-sensitivity effect of the temperature and magnetic field occurs in the Fabry-Perot magnetic sensor and the accuracy of magnetic field measurements is affected by the thermal effect. In order to overcome this problem, we propose a modified sensor structure. With a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) written in the insert fiber end of the Fabry-Perot cavity, the FBG acts as a temperature compensation unit for the magnetic field measurement and it provides an effective solution to the cross-sensitivity effect. The experimental results show that the sensitivity of magnetic field detection improves from 0.23 nm/mT to 0.53 nm/mT, and the magnetic field measurement resolution finally reaches 37.7 T. The temperature-compensated FP-FBG magnetic sensor has obvious advantages of small volume and high sensitivity, and it has a good prospect in applications in the power industry and national defense technology areas. PMID:27136564

A Magnetic Field Sensor Based on a Magnetic Fluid-Filled FP-FBG Structure.

PubMed

Xia, Ji; Wang, Fuyin; Luo, Hong; Wang, Qi; Xiong, Shuidong

2016-04-29

Based on the characteristic magnetic-controlled refractive index property, in this paper, a magnetic fluid is used as a sensitive medium to detect the magnetic field in the fiber optic Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity. The temperature compensation in fiber Fabry-Perot magnetic sensor is demonstrated and achieved. The refractive index of the magnetic fluid varies with the applied magnetic field and external temperature, and a cross-sensitivity effect of the temperature and magnetic field occurs in the Fabry-Perot magnetic sensor and the accuracy of magnetic field measurements is affected by the thermal effect. In order to overcome this problem, we propose a modified sensor structure. With a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) written in the insert fiber end of the Fabry-Perot cavity, the FBG acts as a temperature compensation unit for the magnetic field measurement and it provides an effective solution to the cross-sensitivity effect. The experimental results show that the sensitivity of magnetic field detection improves from 0.23 nm/mT to 0.53 nm/mT, and the magnetic field measurement resolution finally reaches 37.7 T. The temperature-compensated FP-FBG magnetic sensor has obvious advantages of small volume and high sensitivity, and it has a good prospect in applications in the power industry and national defense technology areas.

Enhancing sensitivity of biconical tapered fiber sensors with multiple passes through the taper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohoon, Gregory; Boyter, Chris; Errico, Michael; Vandervoort, Kurt; Salik, Ertan

2010-03-01

A single biconical fiber taper is a simple and low-cost yet powerful sensor. With a distinct strength in refractive index (RI) sensing, biconical tapered fiber sensors can find their place in handheld sensor platforms, especially as biosensors that are greatly needed in health care, environmental protection, food safety, and biodefense. We report doubling of sensitivity for these sensors with two passes through the tapered region, which becomes possible through the use of sensitive and high-dynamic-range photodetectors. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we measured transmission through the taper when it was immersed in isopropyl alcohol-water mixtures of varying concentrations, in which a thin gold layer at the tip of the fiber acted as a mirror enabling two passes through the tapered region. This improved the sensitivity from 0.43 dB/vol % in the single-pass case to 0.78 dB/vol % with two passes through the taper. The refractive index detection limit was estimated to be ~1.2×10-5 RI units (RIU) and ~0.6×10-5 RIU in the single- and double-pass schemes, respectively. We predict that further enhancement of sensitivity may be achieved with a higher number of passes through the taper.

Decoupling the refractive index from the electrical properties of transparent conducting oxides via periodic superlattices

PubMed Central

Caffrey, David; Norton, Emma; Coileáin, Cormac Ó; Smith, Christopher M.; Bulfin, Brendan; Farrell, Leo; Shvets, Igor V.; Fleischer, Karsten

2016-01-01

We demonstrate an alternative approach to tuning the refractive index of materials. Current methodologies for tuning the refractive index of a material often result in undesirable changes to the structural or optoelectronic properties. By artificially layering a transparent conducting oxide with a lower refractive index material the overall film retains a desirable conductivity and mobility while acting optically as an effective medium with a modified refractive index. Calculations indicate that, with our refractive index change of 0.2, a significant reduction of reflective losses could be obtained by the utilisation of these structures in optoelectronic devices. Beyond this, periodic superlattice structures present a solution to decouple physical properties where the underlying electronic interaction is governed by different length scales. PMID:27623228

Refractive index variance of cells and tissues measured by quantitative phase imaging.

PubMed

Shan, Mingguang; Kandel, Mikhail E; Popescu, Gabriel

2017-01-23

The refractive index distribution of cells and tissues governs their interaction with light and can report on morphological modifications associated with disease. Through intensity-based measurements, refractive index information can be extracted only via scattering models that approximate light propagation. As a result, current knowledge of refractive index distributions across various tissues and cell types remains limited. Here we use quantitative phase imaging and the statistical dispersion relation (SDR) to extract information about the refractive index variance in a variety of specimens. Due to the phase-resolved measurement in three-dimensions, our approach yields refractive index results without prior knowledge about the tissue thickness. With the recent progress in quantitative phase imaging systems, we anticipate that using SDR will become routine in assessing tissue optical properties.

3-dimensional dark traps for low refractive index bio-cells using a single optical fiber Bessel beam.

PubMed

Zhang, Yu; Tang, Xiaoyun; Zhang, Yaxun; Su, Wenjie; Liu, Zhihai; Yang, Xinghua; Zhang, Jianzhong; Yang, Jun; Oh, Kyunghwan; Yuan, Libo

2018-06-15

We proposed and experimentally demonstrated 3-dimensional dark traps for low refractive index bio-cells using a single optical fiber Bessel beam. The Bessel beam was produced by concatenating single-mode fiber and a step index multimode fiber, which was then focused by a high refractive index glass microsphere integrated on the fiber end facet. The focused Bessel beam provided two dark fields along the axial direction, where stable trapping of low refractive index bio-cells was realized in a high refractive index liquid bath. The all-fiber and seamlessly integrated structure of the proposed scheme can find ample potential as a micro-optical probe in in situ characterization and manipulation of multiple bio-cells with refractive indices lower than that of the liquid bath.

Fiber-optic epoxy composite cure sensor. I. Dependence of refractive index of an autocatalytic reaction epoxy system at 850 nm on temperature and extent of cure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lam, Kai-Yuen; Afromowitz, Martin A.

1995-09-01

We discuss the behavior of the refractive index of a typical epoxy-aromatic diamine system. Near 850 nm the index of refraction is found to be largely controlled by the density of the epoxy. Models are derived to describe its dependence on temperature and extent of cure. Within the range of temperatures studied, the refractive index decreases linearly with increasing temperature. In addition, as the epoxy is cured, the refractive index increases linearly with conversion to the gel point. >From then on, shrinkage in the volume of the epoxy is restricted by local viscosity. Therefore the linear relationship between the refractive index and the extent of cure does not hold beyond the gel point.

Simultaneous identification of the low-field-induced tiny variation of complex refractive index for anisotropic and opaque magnetic-fluid thin film by a stable heterodyne Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

PubMed

Hong, Chin-Yih; Chieh, Jen-Jie; Yang, Shieh-Yueh; Yang, Hong-Chang; Horng, Herng-Er

2009-10-10

We use a heterodyne Mach-Zehnder interferometer to simultaneously and simply measure the complex refractive index by only normal incidence on the specimen, instead of using a complicated measurement procedure or instrument that only measures the real or imaginary part of the complex refractive index. To study the tiny variation of the complex refractive index, the small complex refractive-index variation of a rare-concentration magnetic-fluid thin film, due to a weak field of less than 200 Oe, was processed by this interferometer. We also present the wavelength trend of the complex refractive index of magnetic fluids to verify the appearance of the slight change in a small wavelength range.

Change in refractive index of muscle tissue during laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy.

PubMed

Chen, Na; Chen, Meimei; Liu, Shupeng; Guo, Qiang; Chen, Zhenyi; Wang, Tingyun

2014-01-01

This paper presents a long-period fiber-grating (LPG) based Michelson interferometric refractometry to monitor the change in refractive index of porcine muscle during laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT). As the wavelength of RI interferometer alters with the change in refractive index around the probe, the LPG based refractometry is combined with LITT system to measure the change in refractive index of porcine muscle when irradiated by laser. The experimental results show the denaturation of tissue alters the refractive index significantly and the LPG sensor can be applied to monitor the tissue state during the LITT.

Ultrafast transient grating radiation to optical image converter

DOEpatents

Stewart, Richard E; Vernon, Stephen P; Steel, Paul T; Lowry, Mark E

2014-11-04

A high sensitivity transient grating ultrafast radiation to optical image converter is based on a fixed transmission grating adjacent to a semiconductor substrate. X-rays or optical radiation passing through the fixed transmission grating is thereby modulated and produces a small periodic variation of refractive index or transient grating in the semiconductor through carrier induced refractive index shifts. An optical or infrared probe beam tuned just below the semiconductor band gap is reflected off a high reflectivity mirror on the semiconductor so that it double passes therethrough and interacts with the radiation induced phase grating therein. A small portion of the optical beam is diffracted out of the probe beam by the radiation induced transient grating to become the converted signal that is imaged onto a detector.

Controlling the shapes and sizes of metallic nanoantennas for detection of biological molecules using hybridization phase of plasmon resonances and photonic lattice modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutha, Rithvik R.; Sharp, Christina; Wing, Waylin J.; Sadeghi, Seyed M.

2018-02-01

Chemical sensing based on Localized Surface Plasmonic Resonances (LSPR) and the ultra-sharp optical features of surface lattice resonances (SLR) of arrays of metallic nanoantennas have attracted much attention. Recently we studied biosensing based on the transition between LSPR and SLR (hybridization phase), demonstrating significantly higher refractive index sensitivity than each of these resonances individually. In this contribution we study the impact of size and shape of the metallic nanoantennas on the hybridization process and the way they influence application of this process for biosensing, wherein miniscule variation of the refractive index of the environment leads to dramatic changes in the spectral properties of the arrays.

Highly sensitive detection of naphthalene in solvent vapor using a functionalized PBG refractive index sensor.

PubMed

Girschikofsky, Maiko; Rosenberger, Manuel; Belle, Stefan; Brutschy, Malte; Waldvogel, Siegfried R; Hellmann, Ralf

2012-01-01

We report an optical refractive index sensor system based on a planar Bragg grating which is functionalized by substituted γ-cyclodextrin to determine low concentrations of naphthalene in solvent vapor. The sensor system exhibits a quasi-instantaneous shift of the Bragg wavelength and is therefore capable for online detection. The overall shift of the Bragg wavelength reveals a linear relationship to the analyte concentration with a gradient of 12.5 ± 1.5 pm/ppm. Due to the spectral resolution and repeatability of the interrogation system, this corresponds to acquisition steps of 80 ppb. Taking into account the experimentally detected signal noise a minimum detection limit of 0.48 ± 0.05 ppm is deduced.

In-line photonic microcells based on the elliptical microfibers for refractive index sensors applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Wa; Liu, Xuejing; Jin, Wei

2017-10-01

We report the fabrication of in-line photonic microcells (PMCs) by encapsulating tapered elliptical microfibers (MFs) inside glass tubes. The encapsulation does not change the optical property of the MF but protects the elliptical MF from external disturbance and contamination and makes the micro-laboratory robust. Such micro-laboratory can be easily integrated into standard fiber-optic circuits with low loss, making the elliptical MF-based devices more practical for real-world applications. Evanescent field sensing is realized by fabricating micro-channel on the PMC for ingress/egress of sample liquids/gas. Based on the encapsulated elliptical MF PMCs, we demonstrated RI sensitivity of 2024 nm per refractive index unit (nm/RIU) in gaseous environment and 21231 nm/RIU in water.

Plasmonic Refractive Index Sensor with High Figure of Merit Based on Concentric-Rings Resonator

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhaojian; Yang, Junbo; He, Xin; Zhang, Jingjing; Huang, Jie; Chen, Dingbo; Han, Yunxin

2018-01-01

A plasmonic refractive index (RI) sensor based on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide coupled with concentric double rings resonator (CDRR) is proposed and investigated numerically. Utilizing the novel supermodes of the CDRR, the FWHM of the resonant wavelength can be modulated, and a sensitivity of 1060 nm/RIU with high figure of merit (FOM) 203.8 is realized in the near-infrared region. The unordinary modes, as well as the influence of structure parameters on the sensing performance, are also discussed. Such plasmonic sensor with simple framework and high optical resolution could be applied to on-chip sensing systems and integrated optical circuits. Besides, the special cases of bio-sensing and triple rings are also discussed. PMID:29300331

Influence of the apex angle of a hollow prism made from an ordinary commercial glass plate as a simple refractometer to the accuracy of the refractive index measurement of the edible oil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Idris, N.; Maswati; Yusibani, E.

2018-05-01

The influence of the apex angle of a hollow prism used as a simple refractometer to the accuracy of a refractive index measurement of the edible oil samples was studied. The hollow prism was made from an ordinary commercial glass plate with a thickness of 2 mm. The apex angle of the constructed hollow prism was varied. The edible oil sample used in this study was palm oil, namely the packaged, branded oil sample and the bulk oil sample. For measuring the refractive index, the oil sample was filled in the constructed hollow prism, and then a helium-neon laser beam was passed through the oil sample at a certain angle of incidence. The angle of minimum deviation of the transmitted laser He-Ne beam was measured and then was used for calculating the refractive index of the oil sample. The refractive index measurement was made using the hollow prism with different apex angles, ranging from 300 to 600. The measurement accuracy was estimated by comparing the refractive index measured using the hollow prisms to that of obtained using a standard Abbe refractometer. It was found that the refractive index of the edible oil can be measured accurately by using the hollow prism. It was also found that the accuracy of the refractive index measurement significantly changes with the apex angle of the hollow prism. The refractive index values measured using this simple refractometer deviate up to 3,49% from the refractive index value measured using the standard Abbe refractometer, especially when the apex angle of the prism is 30°. The measurement results with high accuracies obtained when using the hollow prisms with apex angles of 450 and 600. The optimum apex angle for the present constructed hollow prism is 450. The refractive index obtained using the hollow prism with the apex angle of 450 is 1,4623 and 1,4438 for the bulk oil and the packed, branded oil samples, respectively. This result suggests that the apex angle of the prism used affects largely the accuracy of the refractive index measurement.

On the refractive index of sodium iodide solutions for index matching in PIV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Kunlun; Katz, Joseph

2014-04-01

Refractive index matching has become a popular technique for facilitating applications of modern optical diagnostic techniques, such as particle image velocimetry, in complex systems. By matching the refractive index of solid boundaries with that of the liquid, unobstructed optical paths can be achieved for illumination and image acquisition. In this research note, we extend previously provided data for the refractive index of aqueous solutions of sodium iodide (NaI) for concentrations reaching the temperature-dependent solubility limit. Results are fitted onto a quadratic empirical expression relating the concentration to the refractive index. Temperature effects are also measured. The present range of indices, 1.333-1.51, covers that of typical transparent solids, from silicone elastomers to several recently introduced materials that could be manufactured using rapid prototyping. We also review briefly previous measurements of the refractive index, viscosity, and density of NaI solutions, as well as prior research that has utilized this fluid.

The Use of Index-Matched Beads in Optical Particle Counters

PubMed Central

Hu, Zhishang; Ripple, Dean C

2014-01-01

In this paper, we demonstrate the use of 2-pyridinemethanol (2P) aqueous solutions as a refractive index matching liquid. The high refractive index and low viscosity of 2P-water mixtures enables refractive index matching of beads that cannot be index matched with glycerol-water or sucrose-water solutions, such as silica beads that have the refractive index of bulk fused silica or of polymethylmethacrylate beads. Suspensions of beads in a nearly index-matching liquid are a useful tool to understand the response of particle counting instruments to particles of low optical contrast, such as aggregated protein particles. Data from flow imaging and light obscuration instruments are presented for bead diameters ranging from 6 µm to 69 µm, in a matrix liquid spanning the point of matched refractive index. PMID:26601049

Integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer on the end facet of multicore fiber for refractive index sensing application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Yanwen; Zhang, Siyao; Feng, Shengfei; Wang, Xinke; Sun, Wenfeng; Ye, Jiasheng; Han, Peng; Zhang, Yan

2018-01-01

A sensitive, real-time seven core optical fiber based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) sensor for liquid refractive index detection is proposed, fabricated and characterized. A trapezoid body with an inverted wedge shape groove in the center is used to design the MZI. The two ends of the trapezoid body play the roles of micro-prisms, and the middle parts of the trapezoid body and the groove play the roles of reference and sensing arms. A series of performance tests were carried out by immersing the sensor in different kinds of solutions to verify the universal applicability of the sensor. The MZI sensor is as small as only 43 μm × 8 μm, and at the same time with sensitivity of 1616 nm/RIU. Nominally, we realized a completely integrated optical sensing system. And, this system actually could be the building block of more powerful integrated chemical sensing chip for health, security and industry application.

Au-Graphene Hybrid Plasmonic Nanostructure Sensor Based on Intensity Shift

PubMed Central

Alharbi, Raed; Irannejad, Mehrdad; Yavuz, Mustafa

2017-01-01

Integrating plasmonic materials, like gold with a two-dimensional material (e.g., graphene) enhances the light-material interaction and, hence, plasmonic properties of the metallic nanostructure. A localized surface plasmon resonance sensor is an effective platform for biomarker detection. They offer a better bulk surface (local) sensitivity than a regular surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor; however, they suffer from a lower figure of merit compared to that one in a propagating surface plasmon resonance sensors. In this work, a decorated multilayer graphene film with an Au nanostructures was proposed as a liquid sensor. The results showed a significant improvement in the figure of merit compared with other reported localized surface plasmon resonance sensors. The maximum figure of merit and intensity sensitivity of 240 and 55 RIU−1 (refractive index unit) at refractive index change of 0.001 were achieved which indicate the capability of the proposed sensor to detect a small change in concentration of liquids in the ng/mL level which is essential in early-stage cancer disease detection. PMID:28106850

Radiation impact on the characteristics of optical glasses test results on a selected set of materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fruit, Michel; Gussarov, Andrei; Berghmans, Francis; Doyle, Dominic; Ulbrich, Gerd

2017-11-01

It is well known within the Space optics community that radiation may significantly affect transmittance of glasses. To overcome this drawback, glass manufacturers have developed Cerium doped counterparts of classical glasses. This doped glasses display much less transmittance sensitivity to radiation. Still, the impact of radiation on refractive index is less known and may affect indifferently classical or Cerium doped glasses. ESTEC has initialised an R&D program with the aim of establishing a comprehensive data base gathering radiation sensitivity data, called Dose coefficients, for all the glass optical parameters (transmittance / refractive index / compaction……). The first part of this study, to define the methodology for such a data base, is run by ASTRIUM SAS in co-operation with SCK CEN. This covers theoretical studies associated to testing of a selected set of classical and "radiation hardened" glasses. It is proposed here to present first the theoretical backgrounds of this study and then to give results which have been obtained so far.

A subwavelength metal-grating assisted sensor of Kretschmann style for investigating the sample with high refractive index

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu-Feng, Li; Wei, Peng; Ya-Li, Zhao; Qiao, Wang; Ji-Lin, Wei

2016-03-01

In this paper, a subwavelength metal-grating assisted sensor of Kretschmann style that is capable of detecting the sample with a refractive index higher than that of the substrate is proposed. The sensor configuration is similar to the traditional Kretschmann structure, but the metal film is pattered into a grating. As a TM-polarized laser beam impinges from the substrate, a resonant dip point in reflectance curve is produced at a certain incident angle. Our studies indicate that the sensing sensitivity and resolution are affected by the grating’s gap and period, and after these parameters have been optimized, a sensing sensitivity of 51.484°/RIU is obtained with a slightly changing resolution. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61137005 and 61178067), the Science Foundation of Shanxi Province, China (Grant No. 2013021004-3/2014021021-1), the Pre-studied Project on Weapon Equipment, China (Grant No. 201262401090404), and the Specialized Research Foundation for Doctor of School, China (Grant No. 20122027).

Cysteine sensing by plasmons of silver nanocubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elfassy, Eitan, E-mail: eitan.elfassi@gmail.com; Mastai, Yitzhak, E-mail: Yitzhak.Mastai@biu.ac.il; Salomon, Adi, E-mail: adi.salomon@biu.ac.il

2016-09-15

Noble metal nanoparticles are considered to be valuable nanostructures in the field of sensors due to their spectral response sensitivity to small changes in the surrounding refractive index which enables them to detect a small amount of molecules. In this research, we use silver nanocubes of about 50 nm length to detect low concentrations of cysteine, a semi-essential amino acid. Following cysteine adsorption onto the nanocubes, a redshift in the plasmonic modes was observed, enabling the detection of cysteine down to 10 µM and high sensitivity of about 125 nm/RIU (refractive index units). Furthermore, we found that multilayer adsorption ofmore » cysteine leads to the stabilization of the silver nanocubes. The cysteine growth onto the nanocubes was also characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). - Highlights: • Silver nanocubes (50 nm length) are used to detect low concentrations of cysteine. • A redshift in the plasmonic modes was observed following cysteine adsorption onto the nanocubes. • The cysteine growth onto the nanocubes is also characterized by TEM.« less

A simple method to measure critical angles for high-sensitivity differential refractometry.

PubMed

Zilio, S C

2012-01-16

A total internal reflection-based differencial refractometer, capable of measuring the real and imaginary parts of the complex refractive index in real time, is presented. The device takes advantage of the phase difference acquired by s- and p-polarized light to generate an easily detectable minimum at the reflected profile. The method allows to sensitively measuring transparent and turbid liquid samples.

Polarization mode beating techniques for high-sensitivity intracavity sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosales-Garcia, Andrea

Several industries, including semiconductor, space, defense, medical, chemical and homeland security, demand precise and accurate measurements in the nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. Optical interferometers have been widely investigated due to its dynamic-range, non-contact and high-precision features. Although commercially available interferometers can have sub-nanometer resolution, the practical accuracy exceeds the nanometer range. The fast development of nanotechnology requires more sensitive, reliable, compact and lower cost alternatives than those in existence. This work demonstrates a compact, versatile, accurate and cost-effective fiber laser sensor based on intracavity polarization mode beating (PMB) techniques for monitoring intracavity phase changes with very high sensitivity. Fiber resonators support two orthogonal polarization modes that can behave as two independent lasing channels within the cavity. The fiber laser incorporates an intracavity polarizing beamsplitter that allows for adjusting independently the polarization modes. The heterodyne detection of the laser output produces a beating (PMB) signal, whose frequency is a function of the phase difference between the polarization modes. The optical phase difference is transferred from the optical frequency to a much lower frequency and thus electronic methods can be used to obtain very precise measurements. Upon changing the pathlength of one mode, changes iu the PMB frequency can be effectively measured. Furthermore, since the polarization nodes share the same cavity, the PMB technique provides a simple means to achieve suppression of common mode noise and laser source instabilities. Frequency changes of the PMB signal are evaluated as a function of displacement, intracavity pressure and air density. Refractive index changes of 10 -9 and sub-nanometer displacement measurements are readily attained. Increased refractive index sensitivity and sub-picometer displacement can be reached owing to the high finesse and resolution of the system. Experimental changes in the refractive index of air as a function of pressure are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. An alternative fiber laser configuration, which incorporates non-reciprocal elements, allows measuring the optical activity of enantiomeric mixtures using PMB techniques. The sensitivity attained through PMB techniques demonstrates a potential method for ultra-sensitive biochemical sensing and explosive detection.

Low-Coherence Reflectometry for Refractive Index Measurements of Cells in Micro-Capillaries.

PubMed

Carpignano, Francesca; Rigamonti, Giulia; Mazzini, Giuliano; Merlo, Sabina

2016-10-11

The refractive index of cells provides insights into their composition, organization and function. Moreover, a good knowledge of the cell refractive index would allow an improvement of optical cytometric and diagnostic systems. Although interferometric techniques undoubtedly represent a good solution for quantifying optical path variation, obtaining the refractive index of a population of cells non-invasively remains challenging because of the variability in the geometrical thickness of the sample. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of infrared low-coherence reflectometry for non-invasively quantifying the average refractive index of cell populations gently confined in rectangular glass micro-capillaries. A suspension of human red blood cells in plasma is tested as a reference. As a use example, we apply this technique to estimate the average refractive index of cell populations belonging to epithelial and hematological families.

Low-Coherence Reflectometry for Refractive Index Measurements of Cells in Micro-Capillaries

PubMed Central

Carpignano, Francesca; Rigamonti, Giulia; Mazzini, Giuliano; Merlo, Sabina

2016-01-01

The refractive index of cells provides insights into their composition, organization and function. Moreover, a good knowledge of the cell refractive index would allow an improvement of optical cytometric and diagnostic systems. Although interferometric techniques undoubtedly represent a good solution for quantifying optical path variation, obtaining the refractive index of a population of cells non-invasively remains challenging because of the variability in the geometrical thickness of the sample. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of infrared low-coherence reflectometry for non-invasively quantifying the average refractive index of cell populations gently confined in rectangular glass micro-capillaries. A suspension of human red blood cells in plasma is tested as a reference. As a use example, we apply this technique to estimate the average refractive index of cell populations belonging to epithelial and hematological families. PMID:27727172

Refractive index measurement based on confocal method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Zhe; Xu, XiPing; Yang, JinHua; Qiao, Yang; Liu, Yang

2017-10-01

The development of transparent materials is closed to optoelectronic technology. It plays an increasingly important role in various fields. It is not only widely used in optical lens, optical element, optical fiber grating, optoelectronics, but also widely used in the building material, pharmaceutical industry with vessel, aircraft windshield and daily wear glasses.Regard of solving the problem of refractive index measurement in optical transparent materials. We proposed that using the polychromatic confocal method to measuring the refractive index of transparent materials. In this article, we describes the principle of polychromatic confocal method for measuring the refractive index of glass,and sketched the optical system and its optimization. Then we establish the measurement model of the refractive index, and set up the experimental system. In this way, the refractive index of the glass has been calibrated for refractive index experiment. Due to the error in the experimental process, we manipulated the experiment data to compensate the refractive index measurement formula. The experiment taking the quartz glass for instance. The measurement accuracy of the refractive index of the glass is +/-1.8×10-5. This method is more practical and accurate, especially suitable for non-contact measurement occasions, which environmental requirements is not high. Environmental requirements are not high, the ordinary glass production line up to the ambient temperature can be fully adapted. There is no need for the color of the measured object that you can measure the white and a variety of colored glass.

Application of refractometry to quality assurance monitoring of parenteral nutrition solutions.

PubMed

Chang, Wei-Kuo; Chao, You-Chen; Yeh, Ming-Kung

2008-01-01

Parenteral nutrition (PN) solution contains various concentrations of dextrose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins, electrolytes, and trace elements. Incorrect preparation of PN solution could lead to patient death. In this study we used the refractive index as a quality assurance tool to monitor the preparation of PN solution. Refractive indices of single nutrient components and PN solutions consisting of various concentrations of dextrose, amino acids, electrolytes, and lipids were measured. A mathematical equation and its linear plot were generated then used to predict the refractive index of the PN solution. The best-fit refractive index for PN solution (i.e., the predicted refractive index)=0.9798x(% dextrose)+1.2889x(% amino acids)+1.1017x(% lipids)+0.9440x(% sum of the electrolytes)+0.5367 (r2=0.99). This equation was validated by comparing the measured refractive indices of 500 clinical PN solutions to their predicted refractive indices. We found that 2 of the 500 prepared samples (0.4%) had less than the predicted refractive index (<95%). Refractive index can be used as a reliable quality assurance tool for monitoring PN preparation. Such information can be obtained at the bedside and used to confirm the accuracy of the PN solution composition.

Metal–Organic Framework Thin Film Coated Optical Fiber Sensors: A Novel Waveguide-Based Chemical Sensing Platform

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Ki-Joong; Lu, Ping; Culp, Jeffrey T.

Integration of optical fiber with sensitive thin films offers great potential for the realization of novel chemical sensing platforms. In this study, we present a simple design strategy and high performance of nanoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) based optical gas sensors, which enables detection of a wide range of concentrations of small molecules based upon extremely small differences in refractive indices as a function of analyte adsorption within the MOF framework. Thin and compact MOF films can be uniformly formed and tightly bound on the surface of etched optical fiber through a simple solution method which is critical for manufacturability ofmore » MOF-based sensor devices. The resulting sensors show high sensitivity/selectivity to CO 2 gas relative to other small gases (H 2, N 2, O 2, and CO) with rapid (< tens of seconds) response time and excellent reversibility, which can be well correlated to the physisorption of gases into a nanoporous MOF. We propose a refractive index based sensing mechanism for the MOF-integrated optical fiber platform which results in an amplification of inherent optical absorption present within the MOF-based sensing layer with increasing values of effective refractive index associated with adsorption of gases.« less

Metal–Organic Framework Thin Film Coated Optical Fiber Sensors: A Novel Waveguide-Based Chemical Sensing Platform

DOE PAGES

Kim, Ki-Joong; Lu, Ping; Culp, Jeffrey T.; ...

2018-01-18

Integration of optical fiber with sensitive thin films offers great potential for the realization of novel chemical sensing platforms. In this study, we present a simple design strategy and high performance of nanoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) based optical gas sensors, which enables detection of a wide range of concentrations of small molecules based upon extremely small differences in refractive indices as a function of analyte adsorption within the MOF framework. Thin and compact MOF films can be uniformly formed and tightly bound on the surface of etched optical fiber through a simple solution method which is critical for manufacturability ofmore » MOF-based sensor devices. The resulting sensors show high sensitivity/selectivity to CO 2 gas relative to other small gases (H 2, N 2, O 2, and CO) with rapid (< tens of seconds) response time and excellent reversibility, which can be well correlated to the physisorption of gases into a nanoporous MOF. We propose a refractive index based sensing mechanism for the MOF-integrated optical fiber platform which results in an amplification of inherent optical absorption present within the MOF-based sensing layer with increasing values of effective refractive index associated with adsorption of gases.« less

Determination of refractive index of a simple negative, positive, or zero power lens using wedged plated interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shukla, R. P.; Perera, G. M.; George, M. C.; Venkateswarlu, P.

1990-01-01

A nondestructive technique for measuring the refractive index of a negative lens using a wedged plate interferometer is described. The method can be also used for measuring the refractive index of convex or zero power lenses. Schematic diagrams are presented for the use of a wedged plate interferometer for measuring the refractive index of a concave lens and of a convex lens.

Thermal nonlinear optical response of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin under aggregation conditions versus that in the absence of aggregation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rasouli, Saifollah; Sakha, Fereshteh; Mojarrad, Aida G.; Zakavi, Saeed

2018-05-01

In this work, measurement of thermally induced nonlinear refractive index of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) at different concentrations in 1,2-dicoloroethane using a double-grating interferometer set-up in a pump-probe configuration is reported. The formation of aggregates of H2TPP at concentrations greater than ca. 5 × 10-5 M was evident by deviation from Beer's law. An almost focused pump beam passes through the solution. A part of the pump beam energy is absorbed by the sample and therefore a thermal lens is generated in the sample. An expanded probe beam propagates through the sample and indicates the sample refractive index changes. Just after the sample a band-pass filter cuts off the pump beam from the path but the distorted probe beam passes through a double-grating interferometer consisting of two similar diffraction gratings with a few centimetres distance. A CCD camera is installed after the interferometer in which on its sensitive area two diffraction orders of the gratings are overlying and producing interference pattern. The refractive index changes of the sample are obtained from the phase distribution of the successive interference patterns recorded at different times after turning on of the pump beam using Fourier transform method. In this study, for different concentrations of H2TPP in 1,2-dichloroethane solution the thermal nonlinear refractive index is determined. Also, we present the measurement of the temperature changes induced by the pump beam in the solution. We found that value of nonlinear refractive index increased by increasing the concentration up to a concentration of 5 × 10-4 M and then decreased at higher concentrations. In addition, we have investigated the stability of the observed thermal nonlinearity after a period of two weeks from the sample preparation.

Experimental verification and simulation of negative index of refraction using Snell's law.

PubMed

Parazzoli, C G; Greegor, R B; Li, K; Koltenbah, B E C; Tanielian, M

2003-03-14

We report the results of a Snell's law experiment on a negative index of refraction material in free space from 12.6 to 13.2 GHz. Numerical simulations using Maxwell's equations solvers show good agreement with the experimental results, confirming the existence of negative index of refraction materials. The index of refraction is a function of frequency. At 12.6 GHz we measure and compute the real part of the index of refraction to be -1.05. The measurements and simulations of the electromagnetic field profiles were performed at distances of 14lambda and 28lambda from the sample; the fields were also computed at 100lambda.

Investigation of the refractive index repeatability for tantalum pentoxide coatings, prepared by physical vapor film deposition techniques.

PubMed

Stenzel, O; Wilbrandt, S; Wolf, J; Schürmann, M; Kaiser, N; Ristau, D; Ehlers, H; Carstens, F; Schippel, S; Mechold, L; Rauhut, R; Kennedy, M; Bischoff, M; Nowitzki, T; Zöller, A; Hagedorn, H; Reus, H; Hegemann, T; Starke, K; Harhausen, J; Foest, R; Schumacher, J

2017-02-01

Random effects in the repeatability of refractive index and absorption edge position of tantalum pentoxide layers prepared by plasma-ion-assisted electron-beam evaporation, ion beam sputtering, and magnetron sputtering are investigated and quantified. Standard deviations in refractive index between 4*10^-4 and 4*10^-3 have been obtained. Here, lowest standard deviations in refractive index close to our detection threshold could be achieved by both ion beam sputtering and plasma-ion-assisted deposition. In relation to the corresponding mean values, the standard deviations in band-edge position and refractive index are of similar order.

Determination of the refractive index of glucose-ethanol-water mixtures using spectroscopic refractometry near the critical angle.

PubMed

Sobral, H; Peña-Gomar, M

2015-10-01

A spectroscopic refractometer was used to investigate the dispersion curves of ethanol and D-glucose solutions in water near the critical angle; here, the reflectivity was measured using a white source. Dispersion curves were obtained in the 320-1000 nm wavelength range with a resolution better than 10(-4) for the refractive index, n. The differential refractive index is measured as a function of wavelength, and a simple expression is proposed to obtain the refractive index of the glucose-ethanol-water ternary system. Using this expression, combined with the experimental differential refractive index values, the concentrations of individual components can be calculated.

Optical negative refraction by four-wave mixing in thin metallic nanostructures.

PubMed

Palomba, Stefano; Zhang, Shuang; Park, Yongshik; Bartal, Guy; Yin, Xiaobo; Zhang, Xiang

2011-10-30

The law of refraction first derived by Snellius and later introduced as the Huygens-Fermat principle, states that the incidence and refracted angles of a light wave at the interface of two different materials are related to the ratio of the refractive indices in each medium. Whereas all natural materials have a positive refractive index and therefore exhibit refraction in the positive direction, artificially engineered negative index metamaterials have been shown capable of bending light waves negatively. Such a negative refractive index is the key to achieving a perfect lens that is capable of imaging well below the diffraction limit. However, negative index metamaterials are typically lossy, narrow band, and require complicated fabrication processes. Recently, an alternative approach to obtain negative refraction from a very thin nonlinear film has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated in the microwave region. However, such approaches use phase conjugation, which makes optical implementations difficult. Here, we report a simple but different scheme to demonstrate experimentally nonlinear negative refraction at optical frequencies using four-wave mixing in nanostructured metal films. The refractive index can be designed at will by simply tuning the wavelengths of the interacting waves, which could have potential impact on many important applications, such as superlens imaging.

Image Information Obtained Using a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) Camera During an Immersion Liquid Evaporation Process for Measuring the Refractive Index of Solid Particles.

PubMed

Niskanen, Ilpo; Sutinen, Veijo; Thungström, Göran; Räty, Jukka

2018-06-01

The refractive index is a fundamental physical property of a medium, which can be used for the identification and purity issues of all media. Here we describe a refractive index measurement technique to determine simultaneously the refractive index of different solid particles by monitoring the transmittance of light from a suspension using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. An important feature of the measurement is the liquid evaporation process for the refractive index matching of the solid particle and the immersion liquid; this was realized by using a pair of volatile and non-volatile immersion liquids. In this study, refractive indices of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) and barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) were determined using the proposed method.

Mixed effects modelling for glass category estimation from glass refractive indices.

PubMed

Lucy, David; Zadora, Grzegorz

2011-10-10

520 Glass fragments were taken from 105 glass items. Each item was either a container, a window, or glass from an automobile. Each of these three classes of use are defined as glass categories. Refractive indexes were measured both before, and after a programme of re-annealing. Because the refractive index of each fragment could not in itself be observed before and after re-annealing, a model based approach was used to estimate the change in refractive index for each glass category. It was found that less complex estimation methods would be equivalent to the full model, and were subsequently used. The change in refractive index was then used to calculate a measure of the evidential value for each item belonging to each glass category. The distributions of refractive index change were considered for each glass category, and it was found that, possibly due to small samples, members of the normal family would not adequately model the refractive index changes within two of the use types considered here. Two alternative approaches to modelling the change in refractive index were used, one employed more established kernel density estimates, the other a newer approach called log-concave estimation. Either method when applied to the change in refractive index was found to give good estimates of glass category, however, on all performance metrics kernel density estimates were found to be slightly better than log-concave estimates, although the estimates from log-concave estimation prossessed properties which had some qualitative appeal not encapsulated in the selected measures of performance. These results and implications of these two methods of estimating probability densities for glass refractive indexes are discussed. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gradient polymer network liquid crystal with a large refractive index change.

PubMed

Ren, Hongwen; Xu, Su; Wu, Shin-Tson

2012-11-19

A simple approach for preparing gradient polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) with a large refractive index change is demonstrated. To control the effective refractive index at a given cell position, we applied a voltage to a homogeneous cell containing LC/diacrylate monomer mixture to generate the desired tilt angle and then stabilize the LC orientation with UV-induced polymer network. By varying the applied voltage along with the cells' movement, a PNLC with a gradient refractive index distribution is obtained. In comparison with conventional approaches using patterned photomask or electrode, our method offers following advantages: large refractive index change, freedom to design specific index profile, and large panel capability. Potential applications include tunable-focus lenses, prism gratings, phase modulators, and other adaptive photonic devices.

Theoretical study of polarization insensitivity of carrier-induced refractive index change of multiple quantum well.

PubMed

Miao, Qingyuan; Zhou, Qunjie; Cui, Jun; He, Ping-An; Huang, Dexiu

2014-12-29

Characteristics of polarization insensitivity of carrier-induced refractive index change of 1.55 μm tensile-strained multiple quantum well (MQW) are theoretically investigated. A comprehensive MQW model is proposed to effectively extend the application range of previous models. The model considers the temperature variation as well as the nonuniform distribution of injected carrier in MQW. Tensile-strained MQW is expected to achieve polarization insensitivity of carrier-induced refractive index change over a wide wavelength range as temperature varies from 0°C to 40°C, while the magnitude of refractive index change keeps a large value (more than 3 × 10^-3). And that the polarization insensitivity of refractive index change can maintain for a wide range of carrier concentration. Multiple quantum well with different material and structure parameters is anticipated to have the similar polarization insensitivity of refractive index change, which shows the design flexibility.

A novel C-shaped, gold nanoparticle coated, embedded polymer waveguide for localized surface plasmon resonance based detection.

PubMed

Prabhakar, Amit; Mukherji, Soumyo

2010-12-21

In this study, a novel embedded optical waveguide based sensor which utilizes localized surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles coated on a C-shaped polymer waveguide is being reported. The sensor, as designed, can be used as an analysis chip for detection of minor variations in the refractive index of its microenvironment, which makes it suitable for wide scale use as an affinity biosensor. The C-shaped waveguide coupled with microfluidic channel was fabricated by single step patterning of SU8 on an oxidized silicon wafer. The absorbance due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of SU8 waveguide bound gold nano particle (GNP) was found to be linear with refractive index changes between 1.33 and 1.37. A GNP coated C-bent waveguide of 200 μ width with a bend radius of 1 mm gave rise to a sensitivity of ~5 ΔA/RIU at 530 nm as compared to the ~2.5 ΔA/RIU (refractive index units) of the same dimension bare C-bend SU8 waveguide. The resolution of the sensor probe was ~2 × 10(-4) RIU.

Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit couplings effects on electromagnetically induced transparency of a lens-shaped quantum dot: External electric and magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zamani, A.; Setareh, F.; Azargoshasb, T.; Niknam, E.; Mohammadhosseini, E.

2017-06-01

In this article the spin of electron as well as simultaneous effects of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions are considered for a lens-shaped GaAs quantum dot and the influences of applied electric field and Zeeman effect on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) of this system are investigated. To do so, the absorption, refractive index as well as the group velocity of the probe light pulse are presented and discussed. Study of the absorption and refractive index reveals that, at a particular frequency of probe field, absorption diminishes, refractive index becomes unity and so the EIT occurs. Furthermore, the investigation of group velocity show that, around such frequency the probe propagation is sub-luminal, which shifts to super-luminal for higher and lower frequencies. Our results illustrate that the EIT frequency, transparency window and sub(super)-luminal frequency intervals are strongly sensitive to applied fields in the presence of spin-orbit couplings. It is found that, in comparison with the investigations with negligence of spin, the EIT behavior under the effects of applied fields are quite different.

Narrow groove plasmonic nano-gratings for surface plasmon resonance sensing

PubMed Central

Dhawan, Anuj; Canva, Michael; Vo-Dinh, Tuan

2011-01-01

We present a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) configuration based on narrow groove (sub-15 nm) plasmonic nano-gratings such that normally incident radiation can be coupled into surface plasmons without the use of prism-coupling based total internal reflection, as in the classical Kretschmann configuration. This eliminates the angular dependence requirements of SPR-based sensing and allows development of robust miniaturized SPR sensors. Simulations based on Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA) were carried out to numerically calculate the reflectance - from different gold and silver nano-grating structures - as a function of the localized refractive index of the media around the SPR nano-gratings as well as the incident radiation wavelength and angle of incidence. Our calculations indicate substantially higher differential reflectance signals, on localized change of refractive index in the narrow groove plasmonic gratings, as compared to those obtained from conventional SPR-based sensing systems. Furthermore, these calculations allow determination of the optimal nano-grating geometric parameters - i. e. nanoline periodicity, spacing between the nanolines, as well as the height of the nanolines in the nano-grating - for highest sensitivity to localized change of refractive index, as would occur due to binding of a biomolecule target to a functionalized nano-grating surface. PMID:21263620

High-quality Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on a microcavity in single-multi-single mode fiber structure for refractive index sensing.

PubMed

Liu, Yi; Wu, Guoqiang; Gao, Renxi; Qu, Shiliang

2017-02-01

A fiber inline Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based on a microcavity with two symmetric openings in single-multi-single mode fiber (SMSF) structure is proposed. By using the finite difference beam propagation method (FD-BPM), the interference spectrum simulation result shows that the MZI can still have high-quality interference even if the microcavity deviates along the radial direction for 3 μm. Therefore, it allows a larger fabrication tolerance and tremendously decreases the fabrication difficulty. Then a microcavity with two symmetric openings in SMSF was fabricated by using femtosecond laser-induced water breakdown. The insertion loss of the microcavity immerged in water is only -8  dB, and the MZ interference peak contrast in the transmission spectrum reaches more than 30 dB. The MZI based on the microcavity in SMSF can be used as a practical liquid refractive index sensor as its high-quality interference spectrum, ultrahigh sensitivity (9756.75 nm/RIU), high refractive index resolution (2×10^-5  RIU), good linearity (99.93%), and low-temperature crosstalk (0.04 nm/°C).

Method and apparatus for determining peak temperature along an optical fiber

DOEpatents

Fox, Richard J.

1985-01-01

The invention relates to a new method and new apparatus for determining the hottest temperature or the coldest temperature prevailing along the length of an optical-fiber light guide. The invention is conducted with an optical fiber capable of supporting multidiode propagation of light and comprising a core, a cladding, and a jacket. The core is selected to have (1) a higher refractive index than the core and the cladding and (2) a relatively high negative temperature coefficient of refractive index. A light beam capable of establishing substantially single-mode propagation in the core is launched into an end thereof at an angle to the axis. The angle is increased to effect the onset of light refraction from the core into the cladding. The value of the launch angle corresponding to the onset is determined and then used to establish the refractive index of the core corresponding to the onset angle. The maximum temperature prevailing along the fiber then is determined from the (1) refractive index so determined and (2) the temperature coefficient of refractive index for the core. The invention is based on the finding that the launch angle corresponding to the onset of refraction into the cladding is uniquely determined by the maximum value of the ratio of the core refractive index to the cladding refractive index, which maximum occurs at the hottest point along the fiber.

The eye lens: age-related trends and individual variations in refractive index and shape parameters.

PubMed

Pierscionek, Barbara; Bahrami, Mehdi; Hoshino, Masato; Uesugi, Kentaro; Regini, Justyn; Yagi, Naoto

2015-10-13

The eye lens grows throughout life by cell accrual on its surface and can change shape to adjust the focussing power of the eye. Varying concentrations of proteins in successive cell layers create a refractive index gradient. The continued growth of the lens and age-related changes in proteins render it less able to alter shape with loss of capacity by the end of the sixth decade of life. Growth and protein ageing alter the refractive index but as accurate measurement of this parameter is difficult, the nature of such alterations remains uncertain. The most accurate method to date for measuring refractive index in intact lenses has been developed at the SPring-8 synchrotron. The technique, based on Talbot interferometry, has an X-ray source and was used to measure refractive index in sixty-six human lenses, aged from 16 to 91 years. Height and width were measured for forty-five lenses. Refractive index contours show decentration in some older lenses but individual variations mask age-related trends. Refractive index profiles along the optic axis have relatively flat central sections with distinct micro-fluctuations and a steep gradient in the cortex but do not exhibit an age-related trend. The refractive index profiles in the equatorial aspect show statistical significance with age, particularly for lenses below the age of sixty that had capacity to alter shape in vivo. The maximum refractive index in the lens centre decreases slightly with age with considerable scatter in the data and there are age-related variations in sagittal thickness and equatorial height.

The eye lens: age-related trends and individual variations in refractive index and shape parameters

PubMed Central

Pierscionek, Barbara; Bahrami, Mehdi; Hoshino, Masato; Uesugi, Kentaro; Regini, Justyn; Yagi, Naoto

2015-01-01

The eye lens grows throughout life by cell accrual on its surface and can change shape to adjust the focussing power of the eye. Varying concentrations of proteins in successive cell layers create a refractive index gradient. The continued growth of the lens and age-related changes in proteins render it less able to alter shape with loss of capacity by the end of the sixth decade of life. Growth and protein ageing alter the refractive index but as accurate measurement of this parameter is difficult, the nature of such alterations remains uncertain. The most accurate method to date for measuring refractive index in intact lenses has been developed at the SPring-8 synchrotron. The technique, based on Talbot interferometry, has an X-ray source and was used to measure refractive index in sixty-six human lenses, aged from 16 to 91 years. Height and width were measured for forty-five lenses. Refractive index contours show decentration in some older lenses but individual variations mask age-related trends. Refractive index profiles along the optic axis have relatively flat central sections with distinct micro-fluctuations and a steep gradient in the cortex but do not exhibit an age-related trend. The refractive index profiles in the equatorial aspect show statistical significance with age, particularly for lenses below the age of sixty that had capacity to alter shape in vivo. The maximum refractive index in the lens centre decreases slightly with age with considerable scatter in the data and there are age-related variations in sagittal thickness and equatorial height. PMID:26416418

Very low-refractive-index optical thin films consisting of an array of SiO2 nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xi, J.-Q.; Kim, Jong Kyu; Schubert, E. F.; Ye, Dexian; Lu, T.-M.; Lin, Shawn-Yu; Juneja, Jasbir S.

2006-03-01

The refractive-index contrast in dielectric multilayer structures, optical resonators, and photonic crystals is an important figure of merit that creates a strong demand for high-quality thin films with a low refractive index. A SiO2 nanorod layer with low refractive index of n=1.08, to our knowledge the lowest ever reported in thin-film materials, is grown by oblique-angle electron-beam deposition of SiO2. A single-pair distributed Bragg reflector employing a SiO2 nanorod layer is demonstrated to have enhanced reflectivity, showing the great potential of low-refractive-index films for applications in photonic structures and devices.

Metamaterials with gradient negative index of refraction.

PubMed

Pinchuk, Anatoliy O; Schatz, George C

2007-10-01

We propose a new metamaterial with a gradient negative index of refraction, which can focus a collimated beam of light coming from a distant object. A slab of the negative refractive index metamaterial has a focal length that can be tuned by changing the gradient of the negative refractive index. A thin metal film pierced with holes of appropriate size or spacing between them can be used as a metamaterial with the gradient negative index of refraction. We use finite-difference time-domain calculations to show the focusing of a plane electromagnetic wave passing through a system of equidistantly spaced holes in a metal slab with decreasing diameters toward the edges of the slab.

Equivalent refractive-index structure constant of non-Kolmogorov turbulence.

PubMed

Li, Yujie; Zhu, Wenyue; Wu, Xiaoqing; Rao, Ruizhong

2015-09-07

The relationship between the non-Kolmogorov refractive-index structure constant and the Kolmogorov refractive-index structure constant is derived by using the refractive-index structure function and the variance of refractive-index fluctuations. It shows that the non-Kolmogorov structure constant is proportional to the Kolmogorov structure constant and the scaling factor depends on the outer scale and the spectral power law. For a fixed Kolmogorov structure constant, the non-Kolmogorov structure constant increases with a increasing outer scale for the power law less than 11/3, the trend is opposite for the power law greater than 11/3. This equivalent relation provides a way of obtaining the non-Kolmogorov structure constant by using the Kolmogorov structure constant.

Photo-Induced Self-Condensation, A Technique For Fabricating Organic Lightguide Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franke, H.; Heuer, W.

1986-11-01

Planar lightguides have been fabricated from mixtures of the polymer PMMA with benzoin type photoinitiators. Using conventional UV-photolithography 2 dimensional refractive index patterns were recorded in the polymer films. Thickness and refractive index of the organic lightguides were determined by m-line spectroscopy. The achieved refractive index changes increased with increasing photoinitiator concentrations. For high concentrations (< 70 %) the film refractive index could be increased via UV exposure by Δn = 0.03. Thermal treatment at below 100°C caused the out diffusion of the unexposed photoinitiator and completion of the photochemically induced reaction in the exposed parts of the film. Thus refractive index patterns (Δn < 0.05) could be developed and fixed.

Refractive index and temperature sensing in anisotropic silver nanostructures with stable photo-physical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biswas, Subrata; Kumbhakar, Pathik

2018-01-01

In this report, we have demonstrated the refractive index and temperature-sensing abilities of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-protected silver nanostructures of triangular, connected and plate-like shapes. Interestingly, these nanostructures even after 2 and ½ years of syntheses showed plasmonic-sensing ability of temperature in the temperature range of 283-333 K. Also, refractive index (R.I.) sensing has been demonstrated in the aged samples and obtained the highest R.I. sensitivity of 306 nm/RIU in one of the sample. The synthesized samples have been kept in dark (inside desiccators) intentionally for the extended period of 2 and ½ years after synthesis and monitored intermittently their UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) emission characteristics to check the functionally of the aged silver nanostructures. It has been found the samples remain well dispersed in different solvents and can forbid agglomeration even in 0.25 M NaCl solution. We have also demonstrated here fabrication of a flexible and transparent thin film of the synthesized samples in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and investigated its low power continuous-wave (CW) nonlinear optical properties using spatial self-phase modulation (SSPM) technique. The nonlinear refractive index ( n 2) value of the film has been determined to be 5.6 × 10- 6 cm2/W at the He-Ne laser wavelength of 632.8 nm. In this report we have demonstrated temperature and R.I. sensing and also it has been demonstrated that the synthesized samples remain functional even after 2 and ½ years of synthesis. Also, samples may find potential applications in nonlinear optical phase modulation devices.

Computational diffraction tomographic microscopy with transport of intensity equation using a light-emitting diode array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiaji; Chen, Qian; Zhang, Jialin; Zuo, Chao

2017-10-01

Optical diffraction tomography (ODT) is an effective label-free technique for quantitatively refractive index imaging, which enables long-term monitoring of the internal three-dimensional (3D) structures and molecular composition of biological cells with minimal perturbation. However, existing optical tomographic methods generally rely on interferometric configuration for phase measurement and sophisticated mechanical systems for sample rotation or beam scanning. Thereby, the measurement is suspect to phase error coming from the coherent speckle, environmental vibrations, and mechanical error during data acquisition process. To overcome these limitations, we present a new ODT technique based on non-interferometric phase retrieval and programmable illumination emitting from a light-emitting diode (LED) array. The experimental system is built based on a traditional bright field microscope, with the light source replaced by a programmable LED array, which provides angle-variable quasi-monochromatic illumination with an angular coverage of +/-37 degrees in both x and y directions (corresponding to an illumination numerical aperture of ˜ 0.6). Transport of intensity equation (TIE) is utilized to recover the phase at different illumination angles, and the refractive index distribution is reconstructed based on the ODT framework under first Rytov approximation. The missing-cone problem in ODT is addressed by using the iterative non-negative constraint algorithm, and the misalignment of the LED array is further numerically corrected to improve the accuracy of refractive index quantification. Experiments on polystyrene beads and thick biological specimens show that the proposed approach allows accurate refractive index reconstruction while greatly reduced the system complexity and environmental sensitivity compared to conventional interferometric ODT approaches.

Optical diffraction tomography microscopy with transport of intensity equation using a light-emitting diode array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiaji; Chen, Qian; Zhang, Jialin; Zhang, Zhao; Zhang, Yan; Zuo, Chao

2017-08-01

Optical diffraction tomography (ODT) is an effective label-free technique for quantitatively refractive index imaging, which enables long-term monitoring of the internal three-dimensional (3D) structures and molecular composition of biological cells with minimal perturbation. However, existing optical tomographic methods generally rely on interferometric configuration for phase measurement and sophisticated mechanical systems for sample rotation or beam scanning. Thereby, the measurement is suspect to phase error coming from the coherent speckle, environmental vibrations, and mechanical error during data acquisition process. To overcome these limitations, we present a new ODT technique based on non-interferometric phase retrieval and programmable illumination emitting from a light-emitting diode (LED) array. The experimental system is built based on a traditional bright field microscope, with the light source replaced by a programmable LED array, which provides angle-variable quasi-monochromatic illumination with an angular coverage of ±37 degrees in both x and y directions (corresponding to an illumination numerical aperture of ∼0.6). Transport of intensity equation (TIE) is utilized to recover the phase at different illumination angles, and the refractive index distribution is reconstructed based on the ODT framework under first Rytov approximation. The missing-cone problem in ODT is addressed by using the iterative non-negative constraint algorithm, and the misalignment of the LED array is further numerically corrected to improve the accuracy of refractive index quantification. Experiments on polystyrene beads and thick biological specimens show that the proposed approach allows accurate refractive index reconstruction while greatly reduced the system complexity and environmental sensitivity compared to conventional interferometric ODT approaches.

Recovering refractive index correlation function from measurement of tissue scattering phase function (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Jeremy D.

2016-03-01

Numerous methods have been developed to quantify the light scattering properties of tissue. These properties are of interest in diagnostic and screening applications due to sensitivity to changes in tissue ultrastructure and changes associated with disease such as cancer. Tissue is considered a weak scatterer because that the mean free path is much larger than the correlation length. When this is the case, all scattering properties can be calculated from the refractive index correlation function Bn(r). Direct measurement of Bn(r) is challenging because it requires refractive index measurement at high resolution over a large tissue volume. Instead, a model is usually assumed. One particularly useful model, the Whittle-Matern function includes several realistic function types such as mass fractal and exponential. Optical scattering properties for weakly scattering media can be determined analytically from Bn(r) by applying the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye (RGD) or Born Approximation, and so measured scattering properties are used to fit parameters of the model function. Direct measurement of Bn(r) would provide confirmation that the function is a good representation of tissue or help in identifying the length scale at which changes occur. The RGD approximation relates the scattering phase function to the refractive index correlation function through a Fourier transform. This can be inverted without approximation, so goniometric measurement of the scattering can be converted to Bn(r). However, geometric constraints of the measurement of the phase function, angular resolution, and wavelength result in a band limited measurement of Bn(r). These limits are discussed and example measurements are described.

Formation of bulk refractive index structures

DOEpatents

Potter, Jr., Barrett George; Potter, Kelly Simmons; Wheeler, David R.; Jamison, Gregory M.

2003-07-15

A method of making a stacked three-dimensional refractive index structure in photosensitive materials using photo-patterning where first determined is the wavelength at which a photosensitive material film exhibits a change in refractive index upon exposure to optical radiation, a portion of the surfaces of the photosensitive material film is optically irradiated, the film is marked to produce a registry mark. Multiple films are produced and aligned using the registry marks to form a stacked three-dimensional refractive index structure.

Complex refractive index of starch acetate used as a biodegradable pigment and filler of paper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karvinen, Petri; Oksman, Antti; Silvennoinen, Raimo; Mikkonen, Hannu

2007-05-01

Complex refractive index of strongly depolarizing starch acetate is investigated as a function of bulk package density, which is compulsory parameter in analysis of light scattering from nanoscale starch acetate pigments and fillers. The measurements were made using a laser-goniometer and spectrophotometer to gain data for refractive index analysis according to the Brewster's law and Fresnel equations. The real part of refractive index was verified by microscopic immersion method.

Improved retroreflection method for measuring the refractive index of liquids.

PubMed

Shao, Duo; Tian, Linghao; Chen, Jingfei; Chen, Xianfeng

2010-06-01

We propose a new method for measuring the refractive index of liquids with high precision; the method is based on use of the optical fiber end face. As an example, we investigated the refractive index of sugar solution under varying conditions tens of times. The results show that this method has the advantage of higher stability and repeatability. The concentration and the temperature-dependent refractive index of the sugar solution is also experimentally studied.

Nonscanning Moiré deflectometry for measurement of nonlinear refractive index and absorption coefficient of liquids.

PubMed

Farahani, Shahrzad Shahrabi; Madanipour, Khosro; Koohian, Ata

2017-05-01

In this work, a nonscanning measurement technique is presented for determining the nonlinear refractive index and absorption coefficient of liquid media based on Moiré deflectometry. In the proposed method two lasers are used: a low power, wide beam as probe and a high power with specific wavelength as a pump. Interaction of the pump laser beam with the nonlinear sample changes the refractive index, which leads to change in convergence/divergence of the collimated incident probe laser beam. The induced deflection is monitored by Moiré deflectometry. If the pump laser has a Gaussian intensity profile, the refractive index profile of the sample is Gaussian, too. Measuring the deflection angle of the probe beam by Moiré fringes deflection, and by using the inverse Abel transform integral, the refractive index profile and nonlinear refractive index can be determined. This method is fast, easy, and insensitive to environmental noise and allows real-time measurement. Also, the refractive index profile of the interacted medium with pump laser can be achieved by this technique. As a liquid sample, a DCJ dye in water solution was studied. The value of nonlinear refractive index, n₂, and absorption coefficient, α, were obtained -2.54×10^-4  cm² w^-1 and 1.368  cm^-1, respectively.

Estimation of the refractive index of rigid contact lenses on the basis of back vertex power measurements.

PubMed

Pearson, Richard

2011-03-01

To assess the possibility of estimating the refractive index of rigid contact lenses on the basis of measurements of their back vertex power (BVP) in air and when immersed in liquid. First, a spreadsheet model was used to quantify the magnitude of errors arising from simulated inaccuracies in the variables required to calculate refractive index. Then, refractive index was calculated from in-air and in-liquid measurements of BVP of 21 lenses that had been made in three negative BVPs from materials with seven different nominal refractive index values. The power measurements were made by two operators on two occasions. Intraobserver reliability showed a mean difference of 0.0033±0.0061 (t = 0.544, P = 0.59), interobserver reliability showed a mean difference of 0.0043±0.0061 (t = 0.707, P = 0.48), and the mean difference between the nominal and calculated refractive index values was -0.0010±0.0111 (t = -0.093, P = 0.93). The spreadsheet prediction that low-powered lenses might be subject to greater errors in the calculated values of refractive index was substantiated by the experimental results. This method shows good intra and interobserver reliabilities and can be used easily in a clinical setting to provide an estimate of the refractive index of rigid contact lenses having a BVP of 3 D or more.

Quantum Sensing Beyond the Shot-Noise Limit with Plasmonic Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dowran, Mohammadjavad; Kumar, Ashok; Lawrie, Benjamin; Pooser, Raphael; Marino, Alberto

2017-04-01

The use of quantum resources offers the possibility of enhancing the sensitivity of a device beyond the shot noise limit and promises to revolutionize the field of metrology through the development of quantum enhanced sensors. In particular, plasmonic sensors, which are widely used in bio-chemical sensing applications, provide a unique opportunity to bring such an enhancement to real-life devices. Resonance plasmonic sensors respond to changes in refractive index through a shift of their characteristic transmission spectrum. We show that the use of quantum squeezed states to probe plasmonic sensors can enhance their sensitivity by lowering the noise floor and allowing the detection of smaller changes in refractive index. In our experiment, we use one of the beams of a two-mode squeezed state generated via four-wave-mixing in Rb atoms to probe the sensor. A squeezing level of 4 dB is obtained after transduction through the plasmonic sensor, which consists of a triangular nano-hole array in a thin silver film and exhibits a sensitivity of the order of 10-10 RIU /√{ Hz} . The use of quantum states leads to 40 % enhancement in the sensitivity of the plasmonic sensor with respect to the shot noise limit. Work supported by the W.M. Keck Foundation.

Modified Kramers-Kronig relations and sum rules for meromorphic total refractive index

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peiponen, Kai-Erik; Saarinen, Jarkko J.; Vartiainen, Erik M.

2003-08-01

Modified Kramers-Kronig relations and corresponding sum rules are shown to hold for the total refractive index that can be presented as a sum of complex linear and nonlinear refractive indices, respectively. It is suggested that a self-action process, involving the degenerate third-order nonlinear susceptibility, can yield a negative total refractive index at some spectral range.

Surface plasmon optical sensor with enhanced sensitivity using top ZnO thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Ming; Li, Ge; Jiang, Dongmei; Cheng, Wenjuan; Ma, Xueming

2012-05-01

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is one of the most sensitive label-free detection methods and has been used in a wide range of chemical and biochemical sensing. Upon using a 200 nm top layer of dielectric film with a high value of the real part ɛ' of the dielectric function, on top of an SPR sensor in the Kretschmann configuration, the sensitivity is improved. The refractive index effect of dielectric film on sensitivity is usually ignored. Dielectric films with different refractive indices were prepared by radio frequency magnetron (RF) sputtering and measured with spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The imaginary part ɛ'' of the top nanolayer permittivity needs to be small enough in order to reduce the losses and get sharper dips. The stability of the sensor is also improved because the nanolayer is protecting the Ag film from interacting with the environment. The response curves of the Ag/ZnO chips were obtained by using SPR sensor. Theoretical analysis of the sensitivity of the SPR sensors with different ZnO film refractive indices is presented and studied. Both experimental and simulation results show that the Ag/ZnO films exhibit an enhanced SPR over the pure Ag film with a narrower full width at half maximum (FWHM). It shows that the top ZnO layer is effective in enhancing the surface plasmon resonance and thus its sensitivity.

Effect of oxygen plasma modification on refractive index sensing with micro-cavity in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debowska, Anna K.; Dominik, Magdalena; Koba, Marcin; Janik, Monika; Bock, Wojtek; Śmietana, Mateusz

2016-12-01

A micro-cavity in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer (μIMZI) is an optical sensing structure fabricated in an optical fiber. Its design allows for refractive index sensing of liquid and gas in picoliter volumes, making it suitable for biochemical and medical sensing where measured material is often scarce. The fabricated structures show satisfactory levels of sensitivity, from about 400 nm/RIU in the near-water range of solutions (nD 1.336+/-0.003 RIU) to about 16 000 nm/RIU for solutions in approximate range from nD = 1.35 RIU to nD = 1.4 RIU. The structures were subjected to oxygen plasma, the process which was supposed to modify physical parameters of the structures, i.e., cavity surface wettability and roughness, and in consequence their sensitivity. As a result of the oxygen plasma modification we have observed a improved wettability of the structure surface, what makes it easier to introduce liquid into the cavity and simplifies the measurement process. In the case where the plasma processing is preceded by biological layer deposition, the bottom surface of the structure is smoothed and slightly deepened, causing a shift in the transmission spectrum and change in sensitivity.

Transition between bulk and surface refractive index sensitivity of micro-cavity in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer induced by thin film deposition.

PubMed

Śmietana, Mateusz; Janik, Monika; Koba, Marcin; Bock, Wojtek J

2017-10-16

In this work we discuss the refractive index (RI) sensitivity of a micro-cavity in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer in the form of a cylindrical hole (40-50 μm in diameter) fabricated in a standard single-mode optical fiber using a femtosecond laser. The surface of the micro-cavity was coated with up to 400 nm aluminum oxide thin film using the atomic layer deposition method. Next, the film was progressively chemically etched and the influence on changes in the RI of liquid in the micro-cavity was determined at different stages of the experiment, i.e., at different thicknesses of the film. An effect of transition between sensitivity to the film thickness (surface) and the RI of liquid in the cavity (bulk) is demonstrated for the first time. We have found that depending on the interferometer working conditions determined by thin film properties, the device can be used for investigation of phenomena taking place at the surface, such as in case of specific label-free biosensing applications, or for small-volume RI analysis as required in analytical chemistry.

Surface plasmon resonance sensing in gaseous media with optical fiber gratings.

PubMed

González-Vila, Álvaro; Ioannou, Andreas; Loyez, Médéric; Debliquy, Marc; Lahem, Driss; Caucheteur, Christophe

2018-05-15

Surface plasmon resonance excitation with optical fiber gratings has been typically studied in aqueous solutions. This work describes the procedure to excite a plasmon wave in gaseous media and perform refractive index measurements in these environments. Grating photo-inscription with 193 nm excimer laser radiation allows us to obtain slightly tilted fiber Bragg gratings exhibiting a cladding mode resonance comb along several hundreds of nanometers. Their refractive index sensitive range extends from gases to liquids, so operation in both media is compared. We demonstrate that the thickness of the metal coating required for surface plasmon excitation in gases is roughly one third of the one usually used for liquids. The developed platforms exhibit a temperature insensitive response of 78 nm/RIU when tested with different gases.

Effective holographic recordings in the photopolymer nanocomposites with functionalized silica nanoparticle and polyurethane matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Samsook; Lee, Muncheul; Kim, Byung Kyu

2011-11-01

Effective holographic nanocomposites were developed by the surface-functionalized silica nanoparticles and two acrylate monomers/polyurethane (PU) matrix polymer. The functionalization was done with silane compounds carrying long alkyl chain or vinyl group. We evaluated the holographic nanocomposite films by the diffraction efficiency, volume shrinkage, optical loss, and the film morphology. It was found that acrylate monomers/PU system gave higher diffraction efficiency than those of two monomers due to the high refractive index mismatch between the acrylate-rich and PU-rich regions. With the modification of silica particle, up to 35% of particle loading was possible to give a maximum diffraction efficiency of 93.6% for a film of 20 μm in thickness, along with improved refractive index modulation and the sensitivity.

Linear and nonlinear magneto-optical properties of an off-center single dopant in a spherical core/shell quantum dot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feddi, E.; Talbi, A.; Mora-Ramos, M. E.; El Haouari, M.; Dujardin, F.; Duque, C. A.

2017-11-01

Using the effective mass approximation and a variational procedure, we have investigated the nonlinear optical absorption coefficient and the relative refractive index changes associated to a single dopant confined in core/shell quantum dots considering the influences of the core/shell dimensions, externally applied magnetic field, and dielectric mismatch. The results show that the optical absorption coefficient and the coefficients of relative refractive index change depend strongly on the core/shell sizes and they are blue shifted when the spatial confinement increases so this effect is magnified by higher structural dimensions. Additionally, it is obtained that both studied optical properties are sensitive to the dielectric environment in such a way that their amplitudes are very affected by the local field corrections.

Predicting of the refractive index of haemoglobin using the Hybrid GA-SVR approach.

PubMed

Oyehan, Tajudeen A; Alade, Ibrahim O; Bagudu, Aliyu; Sulaiman, Kazeem O; Olatunji, Sunday O; Saleh, Tawfik A

2018-04-30

The optical properties of blood play crucial roles in medical diagnostics and treatment, and in the design of new medical devices. Haemoglobin is a vital constituent of the blood whose optical properties affect all of the optical properties of human blood. The refractive index of haemoglobin has been reported to strongly depend on its concentration which is a function of the physiology of biological cells. This makes the refractive index of haemoglobin an essential non-invasive bio-marker of diseases. Unfortunately, the complexity of blood tissue makes it challenging to experimentally measure the refractive index of haemoglobin. While a few studies have reported on the refractive index of haemoglobin, there is no solid consensus with the data obtained due to different measuring instruments and the conditions of the experiments. Moreover, obtaining the refractive index via an experimental approach is quite laborious. In this work, an accurate, fast and relatively convenient strategy to estimate the refractive index of haemoglobin is reported. Thus, the GA-SVR model is presented for the prediction of the refractive index of haemoglobin using wavelength, temperature, and the concentration of haemoglobin as descriptors. The model developed is characterised by an excellent accuracy and very low error estimates. The correlation coefficients obtained in these studies are 99.94% and 99.91% for the training and testing results, respectively. In addition, the result shows an almost perfect match with the experimental data and also demonstrates significant improvement over a recent mathematical model available in the literature. The GA-SVR model predictions also give insights into the influence of concentration, wavelength, and temperature on the RI measurement values. The model outcome can be used not only to accurately estimate the refractive index of haemoglobin but also could provide a reliable common ground to benchmark the experimental refractive index results. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparable change in stromal refractive index of cat and human corneas following blue-IRIS.

PubMed

Wozniak, Kaitlin T; Gearhart, Sara M; Savage, Daniel E; Ellis, Jonathan D; Knox, Wayne H; Huxlin, Krystel R

2017-05-01

Blue intratissue refractive index shaping (blue-IRIS) is a method with potential to correct ocular refraction noninvasively in humans. To date, blue-IRIS has only ever been applied to cat corneas and hydrogels. To test the comparability of refractive index change achievable in cat and human tissues, we used blue-IRIS to write identical phase gratings in ex vivo feline and human corneas. Femtosecond pulses (400 nm) were focused ? 300 ?? ? m below the epithelial surface of excised cat and human corneas and scanned to write phase gratings with lines ? 1 ?? ? m wide, spaced 5 ?? ? m apart, using a scan speed of 5 ?? mm / s . Additional cat corneas were used to test writing at 3 and 7 ?? mm / s in order to document speed dependence of the refractive index change magnitude. The first-order diffraction efficiency was immediately measured and used to calculate the refractive index change attained. Our data show that blue-IRIS induces comparable refractive index changes in feline and human corneas, an essential requirement for further developing its use as a clinical vision correction technique.

Comparable change in stromal refractive index of cat and human corneas following blue-IRIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wozniak, Kaitlin T.; Gearhart, Sara M.; Savage, Daniel E.; Ellis, Jonathan D.; Knox, Wayne H.; Huxlin, Krystel R.

2017-05-01

Blue intratissue refractive index shaping (blue-IRIS) is a method with potential to correct ocular refraction noninvasively in humans. To date, blue-IRIS has only ever been applied to cat corneas and hydrogels. To test the comparability of refractive index change achievable in cat and human tissues, we used blue-IRIS to write identical phase gratings in ex vivo feline and human corneas. Femtosecond pulses (400 nm) were focused ˜300 μm below the epithelial surface of excised cat and human corneas and scanned to write phase gratings with lines ˜1 μm wide, spaced 5 μm apart, using a scan speed of 5 mm/s. Additional cat corneas were used to test writing at 3 and 7 mm/s in order to document speed dependence of the refractive index change magnitude. The first-order diffraction efficiency was immediately measured and used to calculate the refractive index change attained. Our data show that blue-IRIS induces comparable refractive index changes in feline and human corneas, an essential requirement for further developing its use as a clinical vision correction technique.

Finite element approximation of the radiative transport equation in a medium with piece-wise constant refractive index

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lehtikangas, O., E-mail: Ossi.Lehtikangas@uef.fi; Tarvainen, T.; Department of Computer Science, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT

2015-02-01

The radiative transport equation can be used as a light transport model in a medium with scattering particles, such as biological tissues. In the radiative transport equation, the refractive index is assumed to be constant within the medium. However, in biomedical media, changes in the refractive index can occur between different tissue types. In this work, light propagation in a medium with piece-wise constant refractive index is considered. Light propagation in each sub-domain with a constant refractive index is modeled using the radiative transport equation and the equations are coupled using boundary conditions describing Fresnel reflection and refraction phenomena onmore » the interfaces between the sub-domains. The resulting coupled system of radiative transport equations is numerically solved using a finite element method. The approach is tested with simulations. The results show that this coupled system describes light propagation accurately through comparison with the Monte Carlo method. It is also shown that neglecting the internal changes of the refractive index can lead to erroneous boundary measurements of scattered light.« less

REFRACTOMETRY AS A TOOL IN DIABETIC STUDIES

PubMed Central

Kavitha, S.; Murthy, V.R.

2006-01-01

The refractive index as well as molar refraction, is the true index of purity of substance and plays a vital role in solution chemistry. A small addition of a foreign substance either in solid state of liquid form is going to effect the refractive index. As such the variation of refractive indices in pure glucose solution as a function of concentration is studied in detail and this principle is extended to the study of the refractive indices of urine solution of diabetic patients. The refractive indices are measured by spectrometry and abbe refractometry. A detailed study of variation of refractive indices of urine samples containing different sugar concentrations, of patients of different age groups revealed that the increase in refractive index follows a linear scale and can be explained by the equation, n=no [l+0.00251og (a s)1/4] [l+0.031og0.011C]. These study provided an opportunity to project refractometry as an effective tool in diagnosing the diabetic level of a patient by making use of a simple calibration curve of increment in refractive index ‘Δn, as a function of level of the disease. PMID:22557211

Effect of TiCl4 treatment on the refractive index of nanoporous TiO2 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jeeyoung; Lee, Myeongkyu

2015-12-01

We investigate the effect of TiCl4 treatment on the refractive index of a nanoporous TiO2 film. A nanoparticulate TiO2 film prepared on a glass substrate was immersed in a TiCl4 aqueous solution. The subsequent reaction of TiCl4 with H2O produces TiO2 and thus modifies the density and the refractive index of the film. With increasing TiCl4 concentration, the refractive index initially increased and then declined after being maximized (n = 2.02 at 633 nm) at 0.08 M concentration. A refractive index change as large as 0.45 could be obtained with the TiCl4 treatment, making it possible to achieve diffraction efficiency exceeding 80% in a diffraction grating-embedded TiO2 film. For high TiCl4 concentrations of 0.32 M and 0.64 M, the refractive index remained nearly unchanged. This was attributed to the limited permeability of high-viscosity TiCl4 solutions into the nanoporous films. The measured pore size distributions were in good agreement with the results of a diffraction analysis and refractive index measurement.

Iodine insertion and dispersion of refractive index in organic single crystal semiconductor.

PubMed

Kwon, Seonho; Bae, Junwan; Lee, I J

2018-02-20

Insertion of halogens such as bromine or iodine affects the electronic polarizability of ions and the local field inside the medium, and thus modifies the refractive index. Acquiring precise knowledge of the dispersion of refractive index and ultimately tailoring conventional semiconductors for wide-range refractive index control have been a vital issue to resolve before realizing advanced organic optoelectronic devices. In this report, dispersions of the refractive index of a single crystal tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene [C 10 H 12 Se 4 ] (TMTSF) are thoroughly studied from broadband interference modulations of photoluminescence (PL) spectra at various temperatures and doping levels. A large enhancement of the refractive index, more than 20% of the intrinsic value, is achieved with inclusion of a small composition of iodide ions, while the structural and optical properties remain mostly intact. Nearly temperature independent dispersion of the refractive index suggests that, unlike most polymers in which the thermal expansion coefficient dominates over the change of polarizability with temperature, the latter enhances significantly and may become more or less comparable to the thermal expansion coefficient given by 1.71 × 10 -4 /K, when single crystal TMTSF is doped by iodine.

[Modeling and Simulation of Spectral Polarimetric BRDF].

PubMed

Ling, Jin-jiang; Li, Gang; Zhang, Ren-bin; Tang, Qian; Ye, Qiu

2016-01-01

Under the conditions of the polarized light, The reflective surface of the object is affected by many factors, refractive index, surface roughness, and so the angle of incidence. For the rough surface in the different wavelengths of light exhibit different reflection characteristics of polarization, a spectral polarimetric BRDF based on Kirchhof theory is proposee. The spectral model of complex refraction index is combined with refraction index and extinction coefficient spectral model which were got by using the known complex refraction index at different value. Then get the spectral model of surface roughness derived from the classical surface roughness measuring method combined with the Fresnel reflection function. Take the spectral model of refraction index and roughness into the BRDF model, then the spectral polarimetirc BRDF model is proposed. Compare the simulation results of the refractive index varies with wavelength, roughness is constant, the refraction index and roughness both vary with wavelength and origin model with other papers, it shows that, the spectral polarimetric BRDF model can show the polarization characteristics of the surface accurately, and can provide a reliable basis for the application of polarization remote sensing, and other aspects of the classification of substances.

Reconstruction-free sensitive wavefront sensor based on continuous position sensitive detectors.

PubMed

Godin, Thomas; Fromager, Michael; Cagniot, Emmanuel; Brunel, Marc; Aït-Ameur, Kamel

2013-12-01

We propose a new device that is able to perform highly sensitive wavefront measurements based on the use of continuous position sensitive detectors and without resorting to any reconstruction process. We demonstrate experimentally its ability to measure small wavefront distortions through the characterization of pump-induced refractive index changes in laser material. In addition, it is shown using computer-generated holograms that this device can detect phase discontinuities as well as improve the quality of sharp phase variations measurements. Results are compared to reference Shack-Hartmann measurements, and dramatic enhancements are obtained.

Measurement and design of refractive corrections using ultrafast laser-induced intra-tissue refractive index shaping in live cats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brooks, Daniel R.; Wozniak, Kaitlin T.; Knox, Wayne; Ellis, Jonathan D.; Huxlin, Krystel R.

2018-02-01

Intra-Tissue Refractive Index Shaping (IRIS) uses a 405 nm femtosecond laser focused into the stromal region of the cornea to induce a local refractive index change through multiphoton absorption. This refractive index change can be tailored through scanning of the focal region and variations in laser power to create refractive structures, such as gradient index lenses for visual refractive correction. Previously, IRIS was used to create 2.5 mm wide, square, -1 D cylindrical refractive structures in living cats. In the present work, we first wrote 400 μm wide bars of refractive index change at varying powers in enucleated cat globes using a custom flexure-based scanning system. The cornea and surrounding sclera were then removed and mounted into a wet cell. The induced optical phase change was measured with a Mach- Zehnder Interferometer (MZI), and appeared as fringe displacement, whose magnitude was proportional to the refractive index change. The interferograms produced by the MZI were analyzed with a Fourier Transform based algorithm in order to extract the phase change. This provided a phase change versus laser power calibration, which was then used to design the scanning and laser power distribution required to create -1.5 D cylindrical Fresnel lenses in cat cornea covering an area 6 mm in diameter. This prescription was inscribed into the corneas of one eye each of two living cats, under surgical anesthesia. It was then verified in vivo by contrasting wavefront aberration measurements collected pre- IRIS with those obtained over six months post-IRIS using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor.

Comparison of sensor structures for the signal amplification of surface plasmon resonance immunoassay using enzyme precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chih-Tsung; Thierry, Benjamin

2015-12-01

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensing has been successfully applied for the label-free detection of a broad range of bioanalytes ranging from bacteria, cell, exosome, protein and nucleic acids. When it comes to the detection of small molecules or analytes found at low concentration, amplification schemes are desirable to enhance binding signals and in turn increase sensitivity. A number of SPR signal amplification schemes have been developed and validated; however, little effort has been devoted to understanding the effect of the SPR sensor structures on the amplification of binding signals and therefore on the overall sensing performance. The physical phenomenon of long-range SPR (LRSPR) relies on the propagation of coupled surface plasmonic waves on the opposite sides of a nanoscale-thick noble metal film suspended between two dielectrics with similar refractive indices. Importantly, as compared with commonly used conventional SPR (cSPR), LRSPR is not only characterized by a longer penetration depth of the plasmonic waves in the analyzed medium but also by a greater sensitivity to bulk refractive index changes. In this work, an immunoassay signal amplification platform based on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) catalyzed precipitation was utilized to investigate the sensing performance with regards to cSPR and LRSPR. The enzymatic precipitation of 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB)/H2O2 was used to amplify SPR signals. The structure-function relationship of cSPR and LRSPR sensors is presented for both standard refractometric measurements and the enzymatic precipitation scheme. Experimental data shows that despite its inherent higher sensitivity to bulk refractive index changes and higher figure of merit, LRSPR was characterized by a lower angular sensitivity in the model enzymatic amplification scheme used here.

Refractive index sensor based on optical fiber end face using pulse reference-based compensation technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bian, Qiang; Song, Zhangqi; Zhang, Xueliang; Yu, Yang; Chen, Yuzhong

2018-03-01

We proposed a refractive index sensor based on optical fiber end face using pulse reference-based compensation technique. With good compensation effect of this compensation technique, the power fluctuation of light source, the change of optic components transmission loss and coupler splitting ratio can be compensated, which largely reduces the background noise. The refractive index resolutions can achieve 3.8 × 10-6 RIU and1.6 × 10-6 RIU in different refractive index regions.

Optical Properties of Si, Ge, GaAs, GaSb, InAs, and InP at Elevated Temperatures

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-01

transmitted, and an absorbed (or scattered) component. The reflectance can be defined in terms of the index of refraction of the media on either side...of the interface. If the index of refraction of the material is n and the material is surrounded by air (nair ≈ 1), then the reflectance for near...the absorption coefficient and t is the sample thickness. 9 Since R depends on the refractive index and the refractive index depends on the

Response to Comment on "Is the nuclear refractive index lower than cytoplasm? Validation of phase measurements and implications for light scattering technologies": A Comment on "How a phase image of a cell with nucleus refractive index smaller than that of the cytoplasm should look like?", e201800033.

PubMed

Steelman, Zachary A; Eldridge, Will J; Wax, Adam

2018-06-01

Recently, Maxim A. Yurkin commented on our paper "Is the nuclear refractive index lower than cytoplasm? Validation of phase measurements and implications for light scattering technologies" as well as on a complementary study "Cell nuclei have lower refractive index and mass density than cytoplasm" from Schürmann et al. In his comment, Yurkin concluded that quantitative phase images of cells with nuclei that are less optically dense than the cytoplasm must exhibit a characteristic concavity, the absence of which is evidence against our conclusion of a less-dense nucleus. In this response, we suggest that Yurkin's conclusion is reached through an oversimplification of the spatial refractive index distribution within cells, which does not account for high index inclusions such as the nucleolus. We further cite recent studies in 3-dimensional refractive index imaging, in which the preponderance of studies supports our conclusion. Finally, we comment on the current state of knowledge regarding subcellular refractive index distributions in living cells. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Multi-parameter optimization of monolithic high-index contrast grating reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marciniak, Magdalena; Gebski, Marcin; Dems, Maciej; Wasiak, Michał; Czyszanowski, Tomasz

2016-03-01

Conventional High-index Contrast Gratings (HCG) consist of periodically distributed high refractive index stripes surrounded by low index media. Practically, such low/high index stack can be fabricated in several ways however low refractive index layers are electrical insulators of poor thermal conductivities. Monolithic High-index Contrast Gratings (MHCGs) overcome those limitations since they can be implemented in any material with a real refractive index larger than 1.75 without the need of the combination of low and high refractive index materials. The freedom of use of various materials allows to provide more efficient current injection and better heat flow through the mirror, in contrary to the conventional HCGs. MHCGs can simplify the construction of VCSELs, reducing their epitaxial design to monolithic wafer with carrier confinement and active region inside and etched stripes on both surfaces in post processing. We present numerical analysis of MHCGs using a three-dimensional, fully vectorial optical model. We investigate possible designs of MHCGs using multidimensional optimization of grating parameters for different refractive indices.

Analysis of the hologram recording on the novel chloride photo-thermo-refractive glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanov, S. A.; Nikonorov, N. V.; Dubrovin, V. D.; Krykova, V. A.

2017-05-01

In this research, we present new holographic material based on fluoride photo-thermo-refractive glass(PTR) - chloride PTR glass. One of the benefit of this type of PTR glass is positive refractive index change. During this work, for the first-time volume Bragg gratings were recorded in this kind of material. The first experiments revealed that such gratings are mixed i.e. possess both absorption and phase components. Complex analysis shows that both refractive index and absorption coefficient are modulated inside the grating structure. We found out that at first there is no strict dependence of the refractive index change from dosage, but as we continue the process of thermal treatment - dependence is appear. Exposure influence on the refractive index change for this glass differs from fluoride one and shows some sort of saturation after the exposure of 4-6 J/cm2 . We distinguished refractive index change and absorption coefficient change and observed both behavior with increasing thermal treatment time. We found out that the increase of thermal treatment time results in the significant refractive index change. At the same time the absorption does `not practically change. It was found that maximum modulation of refractive index is comparable with fluoride PTR glass and achieves value of 1600 ppm. The modulation of absorption is equal to induced absorption caused by silver nanoparticles and depends from reading wavelength. Our study shows that almost all absorption is modulated inside the grating.

Wafer-scale plasmonic and photonic crystal sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

George, M. C.; Liu, J.-N.; Farhang, A.; Williamson, B.; Black, M.; Wangensteen, T.; Fraser, J.; Petrova, R.; Cunningham, B. T.

2015-08-01

200 mm diameter wafer-scale fabrication, metrology, and optical modeling results are reviewed for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors based on 2-D metallic nano-dome and nano-hole arrays (NHA's) as well as 1-D photonic crystal sensors based on a leaky-waveguide mode resonance effect, with potential applications in label free sensing, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and surface-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (SEFS). Potential markets include micro-arrays for medical diagnostics, forensic testing, environmental monitoring, and food safety. 1-D and 2-D nanostructures were fabricated on glass, fused silica, and silicon wafers using optical lithography and semiconductor processing techniques. Wafer-scale optical metrology results are compared to FDTD modeling and presented along with application-based performance results, including label-free plasmonic and photonic crystal sensing of both surface binding kinetics and bulk refractive index changes. In addition, SEFS and SERS results are presented for 1-D photonic crystal and 2-D metallic nano-array structures. Normal incidence transmittance results for a 550 nm pitch NHA showed good bulk refractive index sensitivity, however an intensity-based design with 665 nm pitch was chosen for use as a compact, label-free sensor at both 650 and 632.8 nm wavelengths. The optimized NHA sensor gives an SPR shift of about 480 nm per refractive index unit when detecting a series of 0-40% glucose solutions, but according to modeling shows about 10 times greater surface sensitivity when operating at 532 nm. Narrow-band photonic crystal resonance sensors showed quality factors over 200, with reasonable wafer-uniformity in terms of both resonance position and peak height.

Novel label-free biosensing technology for monitoring of aqueous solutions (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kehl, Florian; Bielecki, Robert; Follonier, Stephane; Dorokhin, Denis

2016-03-01

Waste water, drinking water and other industrial water sources are more and more/increasingly polluted with a large variety of contaminants, such as pesticides or residuals of pharmaceuticals. These compounds can impact human and animal organisms and lead to serious health issues. Today, in order to analyze the presence and quantity of the abovementioned micropollutants, samples are typically sent to specialized centralized laboratories and their processing may take up to several days. In order to meet the demand for continuous and consistent monitoring of aqueous solutions we propose a novel label-free technology system comprising proprietary chip and reader device designs. The core of the system is constituted by a planar-grated-waveguide (PGW) chip. Label-free biosensors, based on PGWs are sensitive to effective refractive index changes caused by the adsorption of biomolecules (micropollutants) onto the sensor surface or due to refractive index changes of the bulk solution. The presented reader device operates with a novel readout concept based on a scanning MEMS mirror for the angular interrogation of input grating couplers at a high repetition rate. The reader has fully integrated optics, electronics and fluidics and at the same time consumes limited energy (portable, field use ready). In the recent experiments, the effectiveness of the technology has been demonstrated with various liquids and bioassays showing (i) an excellent refractometric sensitivity with a limit of detection towards effective refractive index changes of ▵neff < 2 x 10-7, and (ii) the capability to perform affinity measurements for large (<150 kDa) and small (<250 Da) molecules.

Considerations on Circuit Design and Data Acquisition of a Portable Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensing System.

PubMed

Chang, Keke; Chen, Ruipeng; Wang, Shun; Li, Jianwei; Hu, Xinran; Liang, Hao; Cao, Baiqiong; Sun, Xiaohui; Ma, Liuzheng; Zhu, Juanhua; Jiang, Min; Hu, Jiandong

2015-08-19

The aim of this study was to develop a circuit for an inexpensive portable biosensing system based on surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. This portable biosensing system designed for field use is characterized by a special structure which consists of a microfluidic cell incorporating a right angle prism functionalized with a biomolecular identification membrane, a laser line generator and a data acquisition circuit board. The data structure, data memory capacity and a line charge-coupled device (CCD) array with a driving circuit for collecting the photoelectric signals are intensively focused on and the high performance analog-to-digital (A/D) converter is comprehensively evaluated. The interface circuit and the photoelectric signal amplifier circuit are first studied to obtain the weak signals from the line CCD array in this experiment. Quantitative measurements for validating the sensitivity of the biosensing system were implemented using ethanol solutions of various concentrations indicated by volume fractions of 5%, 8%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%, respectively, without a biomembrane immobilized on the surface of the SPR sensor. The experiments demonstrated that it is possible to detect a change in the refractive index of an ethanol solution with a sensitivity of 4.99838 × 10(5) ΔRU/RI in terms of the changes in delta response unit with refractive index using this SPR biosensing system, whereby the theoretical limit of detection of 3.3537 × 10(-5) refractive index unit (RIU) and a high linearity at the correlation coefficient of 0.98065. The results obtained from a series of tests confirmed the practicality of this cost-effective portable SPR biosensing system.

Refractive index inversion based on Mueller matrix method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Huaxi; Wu, Wenyuan; Huang, Yanhua; Li, Zhaozhao

2016-03-01

Based on Stokes vector and Jones vector, the correlation between Mueller matrix elements and refractive index was studied with the result simplified, and through Mueller matrix way, the expression of refractive index inversion was deduced. The Mueller matrix elements, under different incident angle, are simulated through the expression of specular reflection so as to analyze the influence of the angle of incidence and refractive index on it, which is verified through the measure of the Mueller matrix elements of polished metal surface. Research shows that, under the condition of specular reflection, the result of Mueller matrix inversion is consistent with the experiment and can be used as an index of refraction of inversion method, and it provides a new way for target detection and recognition technology.

Study of optical nonlinearities in Se-Te-Bi thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Ambika; Yadav, Preeti; Kumari, Anshu

2014-04-01

The present work reports the nonlinear refractive index of Se85-xTe15Bix thin films calculated by Ticha and Tichy relation. The nonlinear refractive index of Chalcogenide amorphous semiconductor is well correlated with the linear refractive index and WDD parameters which in turn depend on the density and molar volume of the system. The density of the system is calculated theoretical as well as experimentally by using Archimedes principle. The linear refractive index and WDD parameters are calculated using single transmission spectra in the spectral range of 400-1500 nm. It is observed that linear as well as nonlinear refractive index increases with Bi content. The results are analyzed on the basis of increasing polarizability due to larger radii of Bi.

Numerical simulations of negative-index refraction in wedge-shaped metamaterials.

PubMed

Dong, Z G; Zhu, S N; Liu, H; Zhu, J; Cao, W

2005-07-01

A wedge-shaped structure made of split-ring resonators (SRR) and wires is numerically simulated to evaluate its refraction behavior. Four frequency bands, namely, the stop band, left-handed band, ultralow-index band, and positive-index band, are distinguished according to the refracted field distributions. Negative phase velocity inside the wedge is demonstrated in the left-handed band and the Snell's Law is conformed in terms of its refraction behaviors in different frequency bands. Our results confirmed that negative index of refraction indeed exists in such a composite metamaterial and also provided a convincing support to the results of previous Snell's Law experiments.

Determination of average refractive index of spin coated DCG films for HOE fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, T. J.; Campbell, Eugene W.; Kostuk, Raymond K.

1993-01-01

The refractive index of holographic emulsions is an important parameter needed for designing holographic optical elements (HOE's). Theoretical calculations of the accuracy required for the refractive index and thickness of emulsions needed to meet predetermined Bragg angle conditions are presented. A modified interferometric method is used to find average refractive index of the unexposed and the developed dichromated gelatin holographic films. Slanted transmission HOE's are designed considering the index and thickness variations, and used to verify the index measurement results. The Brewster angle method is used to measure surface index of the unexposed and the developed films. The differences between average index and surface index are discussed. Theoretical calculation of the effects of index variation on diffraction efficiency, and experimental results for index modulation variation caused by process changes are also presented.

Fourier plane colorimetric sensing using broadband imaging of surface plasmons and application to biosensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arora, P.; Krishnan, A., E-mail: ananthk@iitm.ac.in; Experimental Optics Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600036

We demonstrate an optical technique for refractive index and thickness sensing of sub-wavelength-thick dielectric analytes. The technique utilizes the broadband, multimode, directional leakage radiation arising from the excitation of hybrid mode surface plasmons (SP) on low aspect ratio periodic plasmonic substrates with period ≈λ. The approach requires relaxed fabrication tolerances compared to extra ordinary transmission-based sensing techniques, wherein minor shifts in the fabricated dimensions result in a very large change from the designed resonant wavelength. We show that refractive index perturbations due to about 10-nm-thick dielectric can be captured optically by the usage of carefully designed plasmonic substrates, a halogenmore » lamp source, free-space optical components, polarizers, and a low-end, consumer-grade charge coupled device camera. The plasmonic substrates were designed for converting the signature of hybrid mode SP excitation into a transmission peak by utilizing a thin homogeneous metal layer sandwiched between the periodic plasmonic structures and the substrate. The resonance is highly sensitive to the refractive index and thickness of the analyte superstrate. The excitation of hybrid mode SP results in a polarization rotation of 90° of the leaked radiation at resonant wavelength. In order to eliminate the problem of image registration (i.e., placing the same feature in the same pixel of the image, for comparison before and after a change in refractive index) for sensing, we perform the color analysis in the Fourier plane. The change in color of the bright emitted spot with highest momentum, corresponding to the leakage of fundamental SP mode, was used to measure the changes in refractive index, whereas the number and color of spots of lower momenta, corresponding to higher-order Fabry Perot modes, was used to measure the variation in thickness. We further show that the Fourier plane analysis can also be used to sense the index of thicker dielectrics, where real plane image analysis may fail to sense index perturbations, simply due to superposition of different modes in the real plane images of such substrates. Control experiments and analysis revealed a refractive index resolution of 10{sup –5} RIU. The results were correlated with simulations to establish the physical origin of the change in the fundamental mode and higher-order modes due to the refractive index and thickness of analyte. As a demonstration of an application and to test the limits of sensing, the substrates were used to image the surface functionalization using 2-nm-thick 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and immobilization of 7-nm-thick mouse anti-human IgG antibody. In biological systems, where a priori knowledge about a process step is available, where accurate chemical composition testing is not necessary or possible, the presented method could be used to study the surface changes using a label-free sensing mechanism.« less

Fourier plane colorimetric sensing using broadband imaging of surface plasmons and application to biosensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arora, P.; Krishnan, A.

2015-12-01

We demonstrate an optical technique for refractive index and thickness sensing of sub-wavelength-thick dielectric analytes. The technique utilizes the broadband, multimode, directional leakage radiation arising from the excitation of hybrid mode surface plasmons (SP) on low aspect ratio periodic plasmonic substrates with period ≈λ. The approach requires relaxed fabrication tolerances compared to extra ordinary transmission-based sensing techniques, wherein minor shifts in the fabricated dimensions result in a very large change from the designed resonant wavelength. We show that refractive index perturbations due to about 10-nm-thick dielectric can be captured optically by the usage of carefully designed plasmonic substrates, a halogen lamp source, free-space optical components, polarizers, and a low-end, consumer-grade charge coupled device camera. The plasmonic substrates were designed for converting the signature of hybrid mode SP excitation into a transmission peak by utilizing a thin homogeneous metal layer sandwiched between the periodic plasmonic structures and the substrate. The resonance is highly sensitive to the refractive index and thickness of the analyte superstrate. The excitation of hybrid mode SP results in a polarization rotation of 90° of the leaked radiation at resonant wavelength. In order to eliminate the problem of image registration (i.e., placing the same feature in the same pixel of the image, for comparison before and after a change in refractive index) for sensing, we perform the color analysis in the Fourier plane. The change in color of the bright emitted spot with highest momentum, corresponding to the leakage of fundamental SP mode, was used to measure the changes in refractive index, whereas the number and color of spots of lower momenta, corresponding to higher-order Fabry Perot modes, was used to measure the variation in thickness. We further show that the Fourier plane analysis can also be used to sense the index of thicker dielectrics, where real plane image analysis may fail to sense index perturbations, simply due to superposition of different modes in the real plane images of such substrates. Control experiments and analysis revealed a refractive index resolution of 10-5 RIU. The results were correlated with simulations to establish the physical origin of the change in the fundamental mode and higher-order modes due to the refractive index and thickness of analyte. As a demonstration of an application and to test the limits of sensing, the substrates were used to image the surface functionalization using 2-nm-thick 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and immobilization of 7-nm-thick mouse anti-human IgG antibody. In biological systems, where a priori knowledge about a process step is available, where accurate chemical composition testing is not necessary or possible, the presented method could be used to study the surface changes using a label-free sensing mechanism.

Measurement of Refractive Index Using a Michelson Interferometer.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fendley, J. J.

1982-01-01

Describes a novel and simple method of measuring the refractive index of transparent plates using a Michelson interferometer. Since it is necessary to use a computer program when determining the refractive index, undergraduates could be given the opportunity of writing their own programs. (Author/JN)

String and Sticky Tape Experiments: Refractive Index of Liquids.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edge, R. D., Ed.

1979-01-01

Describes a simple method of measuring the refractive index of a liquid using a paper cup, a liquid, a pencil, and a ruler. Uses the ratio between the actual depth and the apparent depth of the cup to calculate the refractive index. (GA)

Simulation of imperfections in plastic lenses - transferring local refractive index changes into surface shape modifications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arasa, Josep; Pizarro, Carles; Blanco, Patricia

2016-06-01

Injection molded plastic lenses have continuously improved their performance regarding optical quality and nowadays are as usual as glass lenses in image forming devices. However, during the manufacturing process unavoidable fluctuations in material density occur, resulting in local changes in the distribution of refractive index, which degrade the imaging properties of the polymer lens. Such material density fluctuations correlate to phase delays, which opens a path for their mapping. However, it is difficult to transfer the measured variations in refractive index into conventional optical simulation tool. Thus, we propose a method to convert the local variations in refractive index into local changes of one surface of the lens, which can then be described as a free-form surface, easy to introduce in conventional simulation tools. The proposed method was tested on a commercial gradient index (GRIN) lens for a set of six different object positions, using the MTF sagittal and tangential cuts to compare the differences between the real lens and a lens with homogenous refractive index, and the last surface converted into a free-form shape containing the internal refractive index changes. The same procedure was used to reproduce the local refractive index changes of an injected plastic lens with local index changes measured using an in-house built polariscopic arrangement, showing the capability of the method to provide successful results.

Effect of temperature rise and hydrostatic pressure on microbending loss and refractive index change in double-coated optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seraji, Faramarz E.; Toutian, Golnoosh

This paper presents an analysis of the effect of temperature rise and hydrostatic pressure on microbending loss, refractive index change, and stress components of a double-coated optical fiber by considering coating material parameters such as Young's modulus and the Poisson ratio. It is shown that, when temperature rises, the microbending loss and refractive index changes would decrease with increase of thickness of primary coating layer and will increase after passing through a minima. Increase of thickness of secondary coating layer causes the microbending loss and refractive index changes to decrease. We have shown that the temperature rise affecting the fiber makes the microbending loss and refractive index decrease, linearly. At a particular temperature, the microbending loss takes negative values, due to tensile pressure applied on the fiber. The increase of Young's modulus and the Poisson ratio of primary coating would lower the microbending loss and refractive index change whereas in the secondary coating layer, the condition reverses.

Frequency comb calibrated frequency-sweeping interferometry for absolute group refractive index measurement of air.

PubMed

Yang, Lijun; Wu, Xuejian; Wei, Haoyun; Li, Yan

2017-04-10

The absolute group refractive index of air at 194061.02 GHz is measured in real time using frequency-sweeping interferometry calibrated by an optical frequency comb. The group refractive index of air is calculated from the calibration peaks of the laser frequency variation and the interference signal of the two beams passing through the inner and outer regions of a vacuum cell when the frequency of a tunable external cavity diode laser is scanned. We continuously measure the refractive index of air for 2 h, which shows that the difference between measured results and Ciddor's equation is less than 9.6×10^-8, and the standard deviation of that difference is 5.9×10^-8. The relative uncertainty of the measured refractive index of air is estimated to be 8.6×10^-8. The data update rate is 0.2 Hz, making it applicable under conditions in which air refractive index fluctuates fast.

Using a laser source to measure the refractive index of glass beads and Debye theory analysis.

PubMed

Li, Shui-Yan; Qin, Shuang; Li, Da-Hai; Wang, Qiong-Hua

2015-11-20

Using a monochromatic laser beam to illuminate a homogeneous glass bead, some rainbows will appear around it. This paper concentrates on the study of the scattering intensity distribution and the method of measuring the refractive index for glass beads based on the Debye theory. It is found that the first rainbow due to the scattering superposition of backward light of the low-refractive-index glass beads can be explained approximately with the diffraction, the external reflection plus the one internal reflection, while the second rainbow of high-refractive-index glass beads is due to the contribution from the diffraction, the external reflection, the direct transmission, and the two internal reflections. The scattering intensity distribution is affected by the refractive index, the radius of the glass bead, and the incident beam width. The effects of the refractive index and the glass bead size on the first and second minimum deviation angle position are analyzed in this paper. The results of the measurements agree very well with the specifications.

Figure of Merit Enhancement of a Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Using a Low-Refractive-Index Porous Silica Film

PubMed Central

Meng, Qing-Qing; Zhao, Xin; Lin, Cheng-You; Chen, Shu-Jing; Ding, Ying-Chun; Chen, Zhao-Yang

2017-01-01

In this paper; the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor with a porous silica film was studied. The effect of the thickness and porosity of the porous silica film on the performance of the sensor was analyzed. The results indicated that the figure of merit (FOM) of an SPR sensor can be enhanced by using a porous silica film with a low-refractive-index. Particularly; the FOM of an SPR sensor with 40 nm thick 90% porosity porous silica film; whose refractive index is 1.04 was improved by 311% when compared with that of a traditional SPR sensor. Furthermore; it was found that the decrease in the refractive index or the increase in the thickness of the low-refractive-index porous silica film can enlarge the FOM enhancement. It is believed that the proposed SPR sensor with a low-refractive-index porous silica film will be helpful for high-performance SPR sensors development. PMID:28796155

Figure of Merit Enhancement of a Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Using a Low-Refractive-Index Porous Silica Film.

PubMed

Meng, Qing-Qing; Zhao, Xin; Lin, Cheng-You; Chen, Shu-Jing; Ding, Ying-Chun; Chen, Zhao-Yang

2017-08-10

In this paper; the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor with a porous silica film was studied. The effect of the thickness and porosity of the porous silica film on the performance of the sensor was analyzed. The results indicated that the figure of merit (FOM) of an SPR sensor can be enhanced by using a porous silica film with a low-refractive-index. Particularly; the FOM of an SPR sensor with 40 nm thick 90% porosity porous silica film; whose refractive index is 1.04 was improved by 311% when compared with that of a traditional SPR sensor. Furthermore; it was found that the decrease in the refractive index or the increase in the thickness of the low-refractive-index porous silica film can enlarge the FOM enhancement. It is believed that the proposed SPR sensor with a low-refractive-index porous silica film will be helpful for high-performance SPR sensors development.

Database and new models based on a group contribution method to predict the refractive index of ionic liquids.

PubMed

Wang, Xinxin; Lu, Xingmei; Zhou, Qing; Zhao, Yongsheng; Li, Xiaoqian; Zhang, Suojiang

2017-08-02

Refractive index is one of the important physical properties, which is widely used in separation and purification. In this study, the refractive index data of ILs were collected to establish a comprehensive database, which included about 2138 pieces of data from 1996 to 2014. The Group Contribution-Artificial Neural Network (GC-ANN) model and Group Contribution (GC) method were employed to predict the refractive index of ILs at different temperatures from 283.15 K to 368.15 K. Average absolute relative deviations (AARD) of the GC-ANN model and the GC method were 0.179% and 0.628%, respectively. The results showed that a GC-ANN model provided an effective way to estimate the refractive index of ILs, whereas the GC method was simple and extensive. In summary, both of the models were accurate and efficient approaches for estimating refractive indices of ILs.

Determination of effective complex refractive index of a turbid liquid with surface plasmon resonance phase detection.

PubMed

Yingying, Zhang; Jiancheng, Lai; Cheng, Yin; Zhenhua, Li

2009-03-01

The dependence of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phase difference curve on the complex refractive index of a sample in Kretschmann configuration is discussed comprehensively, based on which a new method is proposed to measure the complex refractive index of turbid liquid. A corresponding experiment setup was constructed to measure the SPR phase difference curve, and the complex refractive index of turbid liquid was determined. By using the setup, the complex refractive indices of Intralipid solutions with concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% are obtained to be 1.3377+0.0005 i, 1.3427+0.0028 i, 1.3476+0.0034 i, and 1.3496+0.0038 i, respectively. Furthermore, the error analysis indicates that the root-mean-square errors of both the real and the imaginary parts of the measured complex refractive index are less than 5x10(-5).

Method and apparatus for determining peak temperature along an optical fiber

DOEpatents

Fox, R.J.

1982-07-29

The invention relates to a new method and new apparatus for determining the hottest temperature or the coldest temperature prevailing along the length of an optical-fiber light guide. The invention is conducted with an optical fiber capable of supporting multidiode propagation of light and comprising a core, a cladding, and a jacket. The core is selected to have (1) a higher refractive index than the core and the cladding and (2) a relatively high negative temperature coefficient of refractive index. A light beam capable of establishing substantially single-mode propagation in the core is launched into an end thereof at an angle to the axis. The angle is increased to effect the onset of light fraction from the core into the cladding. The value of the launch angle corresponding to the onset is determined and then used to establish the refractive index of the core corresponding to the onset angle. The maximum temperature prevailing along the fiber then is determined from the (1) refractive index so determined and (2) the temperature coefficient of refractive index for the core. The invention is based on the finding that the launch angle corresponding to the onset of refraction into the cladding is uniquely determined by the maximum value of the ratio of the core refractive index to the cladding refractive index, which maximum occurs at the hottest point along the fiber.

High Dynamic Range (Δn) Two-Stage Photopolymers via Enhanced Solubility of a High Refractive Index Acrylate Writing Monomer.

PubMed

Alim, Marvin D; Glugla, David J; Mavila, Sudheendran; Wang, Chen; Nystrom, Philip D; Sullivan, Amy C; McLeod, Robert R; Bowman, Christopher N

2018-01-10

Holographic photopolymers capable of high refractive index modulation (Δn) on the order of 10 -2 are integral for the fabrication of functional holographic optical elements that are useful in a myriad of optical applications. In particular, to address the deficiency of suitable high refractive index writing monomers for use in two-stage holographic formulations, here we report a novel high refractive index writing monomer, 1,3-bis(phenylthio)-2-propyl acrylate (BPTPA), simultaneously possessing enhanced solubility in a low refractive index (n = 1.47) urethane matrix. When examined in comparison to a widely used high refractive index monomer, 2,4,6-tribromophenyl acrylate, BPTPA exhibited superior solubility in a stage 1 urethane matrix of approximately 50% with a 20% higher refractive index increase per unit amount of the writing monomer for stage 2 polymerizations. Formulations with 60 wt % loading of BPTPA exhibit a peak-to-mean holographic Δn ≈ 0.029 without obvious deficiencies in transparency, color, or scatter. To the best of our knowledge, this value is the highest reported in the peer-reviewed literature for a transmission hologram. The capabilities and versatility of BPTPA-based formulations are demonstrated at varying length scales via demonstrative refractive index gradient structure examples including direct laser write, projection mask lithography of a 1″ diameter Fresnel lens, and ∼100% diffraction efficiency volume transmission holograms with a 1 μm fringe spacing in 11 μm thick samples.

Rapid assessment of mid-infrared refractive index anisotropy using a prism coupler: chemical vapor deposited ZnS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qiao, Hong; Lipschultz, Kristen A.; Anheier, Norman C.

2012-04-01

A state-of-the-art mid-infrared prism coupler was used to study the refractive index properties of forward-looking-infrared (FLIR) grade zinc sulfide samples prepared with unique planar grain orientations and locations with respect to the CVD growth axis. This study was motivated by prior photoluminescence and x-ray diffraction measurements that suggested refractive index may vary according to grain orientation. Measurements were conducted to provide optical dispersion and thermal index (dn/dT) data at discrete laser wavelengths between 0.633 and 10.591 {mu}m at two temperature set points (30 C and 90 C). Refractive index measurements between samples exhibited an average standard deviation comparable to themore » uncertainty of the prism coupler measurement (0.0004 refractive index units), suggesting that the variation in refractive index as a function of planar grain orientation and CVD deposition time is negligible, and should have no impact on subsequent optical designs. Measured dispersion data at mid-infrared wavelengths was found to agree well with prior published measurements.« less

Refractive index, molar refraction and comparative refractive index study of propylene carbonate binary liquid mixtures.

PubMed

Wankhede, Dnyaneshwar Shamrao

2012-06-01

Refractive indices (n) have been experimentally determined for the binary liquid-liquid mixtures of Propylene carbonate (PC) (1) with benzene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene and p-xylene (2) at 298.15, 303.15 and 308.15 K over the entire mole fraction range. The experimental values of n are utilised to calculate deviation in refractive index (Δn), molar refraction (R) and deviation in molar refraction (ΔR). A comparative study of Arago-Biot (A-B), Newton (NW), Eyring and John (E-J) equations for determining refractive index of a liquid has been carried out to test their validity for all the binary mixtures over the entire composition range at 298.15 K. Comparison of various mixing relations is represented in terms of average deviation (AVD). The Δn and ΔR values have been fitted to Redlich-Kister equation at 298.15 K and standard deviations have been calculated. The results are discussed in terms of intermolecular interactions present amongst the components.

Determination of refractive index, size, and concentration of nonabsorbing colloidal nanoparticles from measurements of the complex effective refractive index.

PubMed

Márquez-Islas, Roberto; Sánchez-Pérez, Celia; García-Valenzuela, Augusto

2014-02-01

We describe a method for obtaining the refractive index (RI), size, and concentration of nonabsorbing nanoparticles in suspension from relatively simple optical measurements. The method requires measuring the complex effective RI of two dilute suspensions of the particles in liquids of different refractive indices. We describe the theoretical basis of the proposed method and provide experimental results validating the procedure.

Method of producing optical quality glass having a selected refractive index

DOEpatents

Poco, John F.; Hrubesh, Lawrence W.

2000-01-01

Optical quality glass having a selected refractive index is produced by a two stage drying process. A gel is produced using sol-gel chemistry techniques and first dried by controlled evaporation until the gel volume reaches a pre-selected value. This pre-selected volume determines the density and refractive index of the finally dried gel. The gel is refilled with solvent in a saturated vapor environment, and then dried again by supercritical extraction of the solvent to form a glass. The glass has a refractive index less than the full density of glass, and the range of achievable refractive indices depends on the composition of the glass. Glasses having different refractive indices chosen from an uninterrupted range of values can be produced from a single precursor solution.

Bi-Tapered Fiber Sensor Using a Supercontinuum Light Source for a Broad Spectral Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia Mina, Diego Felipe

We describe the fabrication bi-tapered optical fiber sensors designed for shorter wavelength operation and we study their optical properties. The new sensing system designed and built for the project is a specialty optical fiber that is single-mode in the visible/near infrared wavelength region of interest. In fabricating the tapered fiber we control the taper parameters, such as the down-taper and up-taper rate, shape and length, and the fiber waist diameter and length. The sensing is mode is via the electromagnetic field, which is evanescent outside the optical fiber and is confined close to the fiber's surface (within a couple hundred nanometers). The fiber sensor system has multiple advantages as a compact, simple device with an ability to detected tiny changes in the refractive index. We developed a supercontinuum light source to provide a wide spectral wavelength range from visible to near IR. The source design was based on coupling light from a femtosecond laser in a photonic crystal fiber designed for high nonlinearity. The output light was efficiently coupled into the bi-tapered fiber sensor and good signal to noise was achieved across the wavelength region. The bi-tapered fiber starts and ends with a single mode fiber in the waist region there are many modes with different propagation constants that couple to the environment outside the fiber. The signals have a strong periodic component as the wavelength is scanned; we exploit the periodicity in the signal using a discrete Fourier transform analysis to correlate signal phase changes with the refractive index changes in the local environment. For small index changes we also measure a strong correlation with the dominant Fourier amplitude component. Our experiments show that our phase-based signal processing technique works well at shorter wavelengths and we extract a new feature, the Fourier amplitude, to measure the refractive index difference. We conducted experiments using aqueous medium with controlled refractive index, such as water-glycerol mixtures. We find sensitivity to changes in the refractive index close to 0.00002 in so-called Refractive Index Units (RIUs). That is smaller than reported in recent literature, but by no means a limiting value. The technique is not limited to aqueous solutions surrounding the fiber, but it can also be adapted to study volatile organic compounds. Future improvements in the fiber sensing system are discussed, including adding thin films to the surface for label-free detection and to draw the electromagnetic field to the fiber's surface.

Angularly symmetric splitting of a light beam upon reflection and refraction at an air-dielectric plane boundary: comment.

PubMed

Andersen, Torben B

2016-05-01

In a recent paper, conditions for achieving equal and opposite angular deflections of a light beam by reflection and refraction at an interface between air and a dielectric were determined [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A32, 2436 (2015)JOAOD60740-323210.1364/JOSAA.32.002436]. The paper gives plots of angles of incidence and refraction as a function of the prism refractive index as well as plots of reflectances and incident linear-polarization azimuth angles as functions of the refractive index. We show here that it is possible to express these quantities as simple algebraic functions of the refractive index.

Experimental determination of refractive index of condensed reflectin in squid iridocytes.

PubMed

Ghoshal, Amitabh; DeMartini, Daniel G; Eck, Elizabeth; Morse, Daniel E

2014-06-06

Loliginid squid dynamically tune the structural iridescence of cells in their skin for active camouflage and communication. Bragg reflectors in these cells consist of membrane-bound lamellae periodically alternating with low refractive index extracellular spaces; neuronal signalling induces condensation of the reflectin proteins that fill the lamellae, consequently triggering the expulsion of water. This causes an increase in refractive index within the lamellae, activating reflectance, with the change in lamellar thickness and spacing progressively shifting the wavelength of reflected light. We used micro-spectrophotometry to measure the functionally relevant refractive index of the high-index lamellae of the Bragg reflectors containing the condensed reflectins in chemically fixed dermal iridocytes of the squid, Doryteuthis opalescens. Our high-magnification imaging spectrometer allowed us to obtain normalized spectra of optically distinct sections of the individual, subcellular, multi-layer Bragg stacks. Replacement of the extracellular fluid with liquids of increasing refractive index allowed us to measure the reflectivity of the Bragg stacks as it decreased progressively to 0 when the refractive index of the extracellular medium exactly matched that of the reflectin-filled lamellae, thus allowing us to directly measure the refractive index of the reflectin-filled lamellae as ncondensed lamellae ≈ 1.44. The measured value of the physiologically relevant ncondensed lamellae from these bright iridocytes falls within the range of values that we recently determined by an independent optical method and is significantly lower than values previously reported for dehydrated and air-dried reflectin films. We propose that this directly measured value for the refractive index of the squid's Bragg lamellae containing the condensed reflectins is most appropriate for calculations of reflectivity in similar reflectin-based high-index layers in other molluscs.

Experimental determination of refractive index of condensed reflectin in squid iridocytes

PubMed Central

Ghoshal, Amitabh; DeMartini, Daniel G.; Eck, Elizabeth; Morse, Daniel E.

2014-01-01

Loliginid squid dynamically tune the structural iridescence of cells in their skin for active camouflage and communication. Bragg reflectors in these cells consist of membrane-bound lamellae periodically alternating with low refractive index extracellular spaces; neuronal signalling induces condensation of the reflectin proteins that fill the lamellae, consequently triggering the expulsion of water. This causes an increase in refractive index within the lamellae, activating reflectance, with the change in lamellar thickness and spacing progressively shifting the wavelength of reflected light. We used micro-spectrophotometry to measure the functionally relevant refractive index of the high-index lamellae of the Bragg reflectors containing the condensed reflectins in chemically fixed dermal iridocytes of the squid, Doryteuthis opalescens. Our high-magnification imaging spectrometer allowed us to obtain normalized spectra of optically distinct sections of the individual, subcellular, multi-layer Bragg stacks. Replacement of the extracellular fluid with liquids of increasing refractive index allowed us to measure the reflectivity of the Bragg stacks as it decreased progressively to 0 when the refractive index of the extracellular medium exactly matched that of the reflectin-filled lamellae, thus allowing us to directly measure the refractive index of the reflectin-filled lamellae as ncondensed lamellae ≈ 1.44. The measured value of the physiologically relevant ncondensed lamellae from these bright iridocytes falls within the range of values that we recently determined by an independent optical method and is significantly lower than values previously reported for dehydrated and air-dried reflectin films. We propose that this directly measured value for the refractive index of the squid's Bragg lamellae containing the condensed reflectins is most appropriate for calculations of reflectivity in similar reflectin-based high-index layers in other molluscs. PMID:24694894

Note: Index of refraction measurement using the Fresnel equations.

PubMed

McClymer, J P

2014-08-01

The real part of the refractive index is measured from 1.30 to above 3.00 without the use of index matching fluids. This approach expands upon the Brewster angle technique as both S and P polarized lights are used and the full Fresnel equations fitted to the data to extract the index of refraction using nonlinear curve fitting.

Options for refractive index and viscosity matching to study variable density flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clément, Simon A.; Guillemain, Anaïs; McCleney, Amy B.; Bardet, Philippe M.

2018-02-01

Variable density flows are often studied by mixing two miscible aqueous solutions of different densities. To perform optical diagnostics in such environments, the refractive index of the fluids must be matched, which can be achieved by carefully choosing the two solutes and the concentration of the solutions. To separate the effects of buoyancy forces and viscosity variations, it is desirable to match the viscosity of the two solutions in addition to their refractive index. In this manuscript, several pairs of index matched fluids are compared in terms of viscosity matching, monetary cost, and practical use. Two fluid pairs are studied in detail, with two aqueous solutions (binary solutions of water and a salt or alcohol) mixed into a ternary solution. In each case: an aqueous solution of isopropanol mixed with an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) and an aqueous solution of glycerol mixed with an aqueous solution of sodium sulfate (Na_2SO_4). The first fluid pair allows reaching high-density differences at low cost, but brings a large difference in dynamic viscosity. The second allows matching dynamic viscosity and refractive index simultaneously, at reasonable cost. For each of these four solutes, the density, kinematic viscosity, and refractive index are measured versus concentration and temperature, as well as wavelength for the refractive index. To investigate non-linear effects when two index-matched, binary solutions are mixed, the ternary solutions formed are also analyzed. Results show that density and refractive index follow a linear variation with concentration. However, the viscosity of the isopropanol and NaCl pair deviates from the linear law and has to be considered. Empirical correlations and their coefficients are given to create index-matched fluids at a chosen temperature and wavelength. Finally, the effectiveness of the refractive index matching is illustrated with particle image velocimetry measurements performed for a buoyant jet in a linearly stratified environment. The creation of the index-matched solutions and linear stratification in a large-scale experimental facility are detailed, as well as the practical challenges to obtain precise refractive index matching.

Construction of Lines of Constant Density and Constant Refractive Index for Ternary Liquid Mixtures.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tasic, Aleksandar Z.; Djordjevic, Bojan D.

1983-01-01

Demonstrates construction of density constant and refractive index constant lines in triangular coordinate system on basis of systematic experimental determinations of density and refractive index for both homogeneous (single-phase) ternary liquid mixtures (of known composition) and the corresponding binary compositions. Background information,…

Plasmas with an index of refraction greater than 1.

PubMed

Nilsen, Joseph; Scofield, James H

2004-11-15

Over the past decade, x-ray lasers in the wavelength range 14-47 nm have been used for interferometry of plasmas. As in optical interferometry of plasmas, the experimental analysis assumed that the index of refraction is due only to free electrons. This makes the index of refraction less than 1. Recent experiments in A1 plasmas have shown fringe lines bending the wrong way as though the electron density were negative. We show how the bound electrons can dominate the index of refraction in many plasmas and make the index greater than 1 or enhance the index such that one would greatly overestimate the density of the plasma using interferometry.

Reflectivity of a disordered monolayer estimated by graded refractive index and scattering models.

PubMed

Diamant, Ruth; Garcí-Valenzuela, Augusto; Fernández-Guasti, Manuel

2012-09-01

Reflectivity of a random monolayer, consisting of transparent spherical particles, is estimated using a graded refractive index model, an effective medium approach, and two scattering models. Two cases, a self-standing film and one with a substrate, are considered. Neither the surrounding medium nor the substrate are absorbing materials. Results at normal incidence, with different particle sizes, covering ratios and refractive indexes, are compared. The purpose of this work is to find under which circumstances, for reflectivity at normal incidence, a particle monolayer behaves as a graded refractive index film.

Refractive index modulation in LiNbO3: MgO slab through Lamb wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, Suraj; Sharma, Gaurav; Yadav, Gulab Chand; Singh, Vivek

2018-05-01

Present theoretical analysis deals with inducing refractive index contrast in Y-Z LiNbO3:MgO plate via GHz Lamb wave perturbation for photonic applications. Dispersion curves for Lamb wave in plate are plotted by employing displacement potential technique. Selecting wave parameters from dispersion curve, fundamental symmetric Lamb mode (S0) is excited in slab for 6GHz frequency. Produced displacement field by propagating S0 mode and thus developed strain is estimated to calculate refractive index modulation by applying photo-elastic relations. Modulated refractive index is of sinusoidal nature with period of modulation dependence on Lamb's wavelength. This plate having periodically modulated refractive index can be used as photonic crystal for different applications with acoustically tunable photonic band gap.

Methods for prediction of refractive index in glasses for the infrared

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCloy, John S.

2011-06-01

It is often useful to obtain custom glasses that meet particular requirements of refractive index and dispersion for highend optical design and applications. In the case of infrared glasses, limited experimental data are available due to difficulties in processing of these glasses and also measuring refractive indices accurately. This paper proposes methods to estimate refractive index and dispersion as a function of composition for selected infrared-transmitting glasses. Methods for refractive index determination are reviewed and evaluated, including Gladstone-Dale, Wemple- DiDomenico single oscillator, Optical basicity, and Lorentz-Lorenz total polarizability. Various estimates for a set of PbO-Bi2O3-Ga2O3 (heavy metal oxide) and As-S (chalcogenide) glasses will be compared with measured values of index and dispersion.

Simultaneous measurements of absorption spectrum and refractive index in a microfluidic system.

PubMed

Helseth, Lars Egil

2012-02-13

The characterization of dyes in various solvents requires determination of the absorption spectrum of the dye as well as the refractive index of the solvent. Typically, the refractive index of the solvent and the absorption spectrum of the solute are measured using separate experimental setups where significant liquid volumes are required. In this work the first optical measurement system that is able to do simultaneous measurements of the refractive index of the solvent and the spectral properties of the solute in a microscopic volume is presented. The laser dye Rhodamine 6G in glycerol is investigated, and the refractive index of the solution is monitored using the interference pattern of the light scattered off the channel, while its spectral properties is found by monitoring reflected light from the channel.

Refractive index and absorption detector for liquid chromatography based on Fabry-Perot interferometry

DOEpatents

Yeung, E.S.; Woodruff, S.D.

1984-06-19

A refractive index and absorption detector are disclosed for liquid chromatography. It is based in part on a Fabry-Perot interferometer and is used for the improved detection of refractive index and absorption. It includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer having a normally fixed first partially reflecting mirror and a movable second partially reflecting mirror. A chromatographic flow-cell is positioned between the mirrors along the optical axis of a monochromatic laser beam passing through the interferometer. A means for deriving information about the interference fringes coming out of the interferometer is used with a mini-computer to compute the refractive index of the specimen injected into the flow cell. The minicomputer continuously scans the interferometer for continuous refractive index readings and outputs the continuous results of the scans on a chart recorder. The absorption of the specimen can concurrently be scanned by including a second optical path for an excitation laser which will not interfere with the first laser, but will affect the specimen so that absorption properties can be detected. By first scanning for the refractive index of the specimen, and then immediately adding the excitation laser and subsequently scanning for the refractive index again, the absorption of the specimen can be computed and recorded. 10 figs.

Refractive index and absorption detector for liquid chromatography based on Fabry-Perot interferometry

DOEpatents

Yeung, Edward S.; Woodruff, Steven D.

1984-06-19

A refractive index and absorption detector for liquid chromatography. It is based in part on a Fabry-Perot interferometer and is used for the improved detection of refractive index and absorption. It includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer having a normally fixed first partially reflecting mirror and a movable second partially reflecting mirror. A chromatographic flow-cell is positioned between the mirrors along the optical axis of a monochromatic laser beam passing through the interferometer. A means for deriving information about the interference fringes coming out of the interferometer is used with a mini-computer to compute the refractive index of the specimen injected into the flow cell. The minicomputer continuously scans the interferometer for continuous refractive index readings and outputs the continuous results of the scans on a chart recorder. The absorption of the specimen can concurrently be scanned by including a second optical path for an excitation laser which will not interfere with the first laser, but will affect the specimen so that absorption properties can be detected. By first scanning for the refractive index of the specimen, and then immediately adding the excitation laser and subsequently scanning for the refractive index again, the absorption of the specimen can be computed and recorded.

Recovering fluorophore concentration profiles from confocal images near lateral refractive index step changes.

PubMed

Jonášová, Eleonóra Parelius; Bjørkøy, Astrid; Stokke, Bjørn Torger

2016-12-01

Optical aberrations due to refractive index mismatches occur in various types of microscopy due to refractive differences between the sample and the immersion fluid or within the sample. We study the effects of lateral refractive index differences by fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy due to glass or polydimethylsiloxane cuboids and glass cylinders immersed in aqueous fluorescent solution, thereby mimicking realistic imaging situations in the proximity of these materials. The reduction in fluorescence intensity near the embedded objects was found to depend on the geometry and the refractive index difference between the object and the surrounding solution. The observed fluorescence intensity gradients do not reflect the fluorophore concentration in the solution. It is suggested to apply a Gaussian fit or smoothing to the observed fluorescence intensity gradient and use this as a basis to recover the fluorophore concentration in the proximity of the refractive index step change. The method requires that the reference and sample objects have the same geometry and refractive index. The best results were obtained when the sample objects were also used for reference since small differences such as uneven surfaces will result in a different extent of aberration.

Tapered GRIN fiber microsensor.

PubMed

Beltrán-Mejía, Felipe; Biazoli, Claudecir R; Cordeiro, Cristiano M B

2014-12-15

The sensitivity of an optical fiber microsensor based on inter-modal interference can be considerably improved by tapering a short extension of the multimode fiber. In the case of Graded Index fibers with a parabolic refractive index profile, a meridional ray exhibits a sinusoidal path. When these fibers are tapered, the period of the propagated beam decrease down-taper and increase up-taper. We take advantage of this modulation -along with the enhanced overlap between the evanescent field and the external medium- to substantially increase the sensitivity of these devices by tuning the sensor's maximum sensitivity wavelength. Moreover, the extension of this device is reduced by one order of magnitude, making it more propitious for reduced space applications. Numerical and experimental results demonstrate the success and feasibility of this approach.

Seeing the Invisible with Schlieren Imaging

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lekholm, Ville; Ramme, Goran; Thornell, Greger

2011-01-01

Schlieren imaging is a method for visualizing differences in refractive index as caused by pressure or temperature non-uniformities within a medium, or as caused by the mixing of two fluids. It is an inexpensive yet powerful and straightforward tool for sensitive and high-resolution visualization of otherwise invisible phenomena. In this article,…

Novel approach for the refractive index gradient measurement in microliter volumes using fiber-optic technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Synovec, Robert E.; Renn, Curtiss N.

1991-07-01

The refractive index gradient (RIG) of hydrodynamically controlled profiles can be universally, yet sensitively, measured by carefully probing the radial RIG passing through a z-configuration flow cell. Fiber optic technology is applied in order to provide a narrow, collimated probe beam (100 micrometers diameter) that is deflected by a RIG and measured by a position sensitive detector. The fiber optic construction allows one to probe very small volumes (1 (mu) L to 3 (mu) L) amenable to microbore liquid chromatography ((mu) LC). The combination of (mu) LC and RIG detection is very useful for the analysis of trace quantities (ng injected amounts) of chemical species that are generally difficult to measure, i.e., species that are not amenable to absorbance detection or related techniques. Furthermore, the RIG detector is compatible with conventional mobile phase gradient and thermal gradient (mu) LC, unlike traditional RI detectors. A description of the RIG detector coupled with (mu) LC for the analysis of complex polymer samples is reported. Also, exploration into using the RIG detector for supercritical fluid chromatography is addressed.

Development of flexible plasmonic plastic sensor using nanograting textured laminating film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumari, Sudha; Mohapatra, Saswat; Moirangthem, Rakesh S.

2017-02-01

The work presented in this paper describes the development of a cost-effective, flexible plasmonic plastic sensor using gold-coated nanograting nanoimprinted on a laminating plastic. The fabrication of plasmonic plastic sensor involved the transfer of nanograting pattern from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer stamp to laminating plastic via thermal nanoimprint lithography, and subsequent gold film deposition. Gold-coated nanograting sample acted as a plasmonic chip, which exhibited surface plasmon resonance (SPR) mode in reflectance spectra under the white light illumination. The theoretical calculation was performed to study and analyze the excited SPR mode on the plasmonic chip. Further, the bulk refractive index sensitivity was demonstrated with respect to changing surrounding dielectric medium giving a value about 800  ±  27 nm/RIU (refractive index unit). In addition, the surface binding sensitivity upon adsorption of bovine serum albumin protein on the sensor surface was approximately 4.605 nm/(ng/mm2).We believe that our proposed low-cost plastic based plasmonic sensing device could be a potential candidate for the label-free and high-throughput screening of biological molecules.

Concentric core optical fiber with multiple-mode signal transmission

DOEpatents

Muhs, J.D.

1997-05-06

A concentric core optical fiber provides for the simultaneous but independent transmission of signals over a single optical fiber. The concentric optical fiber is constructed of a single-mode or multimode inner optical fiber defined by a core and a cladding of a lower index of refraction than the core and an outer optical fiber defined by additional cladding concentrically disposed around the cladding and of an index of refraction lower than the first mentioned cladding whereby the latter functions as the core of the outer optical fiber. By employing such an optical fiber construction with a single-mode inner core or optical fiber, highly sensitive interferometric and stable less sensitive amplitude based sensors can be placed along the same length of a concentric core optical fiber. Also, by employing the concentric core optical fiber secure telecommunications can be achieved via the inner optical fiber since an intrusion of the concentric optical fiber will first cause a variation in the light being transmitted through the outer optical fiber and this variation of light being used to trigger a suitable alarm indicative of the intrusion. 3 figs.

Flow-through micro-capillary refractive index sensor based on T/R spectral shift monitoring.

PubMed

Rigamonti, Giulia; Guardamagna, Marco; Bello, Valentina; Marconi, Stefania; Auricchio, Ferdinando; Merlo, Sabina

2017-10-01

We present a flow-through refractive index sensor for measuring the concentration of glucose solutions based on the application of rectangular glass micro-capillaries, with channel depth of 50 µm and 30 µm. A custom designed and 3D printed polymeric shell protects the tiny capillaries, ensuring an easier handling and interconnection with the macro-fluidic path. By illuminating the capillary with broadband radiation centered at λ~1.55 µm, both the transmitted (T) and reflected (R) optical spectrum from the capillary are detected with an optical spectrum analyzer, exploiting an all-fiber setup. Monitoring the spectral shift of the ratio T/R in response to increasing concentration of glucose solutions in water we have obtained sensitivities up to 530.9 nm/RIU and limit of detection in the range of 10 -5 -10 -4 RIU. Experimental results are in agreement with the theoretically predicted principle of operation. After the demonstration of amplitude detection at a single wavelength, we finally discuss the impact of the capillary parameters on the sensitivity.

Concentric core optical fiber with multiple-mode signal transmission

DOEpatents

Muhs, Jeffrey D.

1997-01-01

A concentric core optical fiber provides for the simultaneous but independent transmission of signals over a single optical fiber. The concentric optical fiber is constructed of a single-mode or multimode inner optical fiber defined by a core and a cladding of a lower index of refraction than the core and an outer optical fiber defined by additional cladding concentrically disposed around the cladding and of an index of refraction lower than the first mentioned cladding whereby the latter functions as the core of the outer optical fiber. By employing such an optical fiber construction with a single-mode inner core or optical fiber, highly sensitive interferometric and stable less sensitive amplitude based sensors can be placed along the same length of a concentric core optical fiber. Also, by employing the concentric core optical fiber secure telecommunications can be achieved via the inner optical fiber since an intrusion of the concentric optical fiber will first cause a variation in the light being transmitted through the outer optical fiber and this variation of light being used to trigger a suitable alarm indicative of the intrusion.

Liquid refractive index sensing independent of opacity using an optofluidic diffraction sensor.

PubMed

Xu, Zhida; Han, Kevin; Khan, Ibrahim; Wang, Xinhao; Liu, G Logan

2014-10-15

We have implemented a multifunctional optofluidic sensor that can monitor changes in the refractive index and pressure of biofluid simultaneously and can detect free-solution molecular interaction in situ. In this Letter, we demonstrate two major improvements of this sensor proven by both simulation and experiments. One improvement is the broader measurement range of refractive index by making the diffraction grating with high-index polymer. The other improvement is the separation of refractive index sensing from opacity sensing by using the relative power ratio of diffraction orders. This simple, compact and low-cost multifunctional optofluidic sensor has the potential to be used for in situ biofluid monitoring.

Refractive index sensing in the visible/NIR spectrum using silicon nanopillar arrays.

PubMed

Visser, D; Choudhury, B Dev; Krasovska, I; Anand, S

2017-05-29

Si nanopillar (NP) arrays are investigated as refractive index sensors in the visible/NIR wavelength range, suitable for Si photodetector responsivity. The NP arrays are fabricated by nanoimprint lithography and dry etching, and coated with thin dielectric layers. The reflectivity peaks obtained by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations show a linear shift with coating layer thickness. At 730 nm wavelength, sensitivities of ~0.3 and ~0.9 nm/nm of SiO 2 and Si 3 N 4 , respectively, are obtained; and the optical thicknesses of the deposited surface coatings are determined by comparing the experimental and simulated data. The results show that NP arrays can be used for sensing surface bio-layers. The proposed method could be useful to determine the optical thickness of surface coatings, conformal and non-conformal, in NP-based optical devices.

Nanonewton optical force trap employing anti-reflection coated, high-refractive-index titania microspheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jannasch, Anita; Demirörs, Ahmet F.; van Oostrum, Peter D. J.; van Blaaderen, Alfons; Schäffer, Erik

2012-07-01

Optical tweezers are exquisite position and force transducers and are widely used for high-resolution measurements in fields as varied as physics, biology and materials science. Typically, small dielectric particles are trapped in a tightly focused laser and are often used as handles for sensitive force measurements. Improvement to the technique has largely focused on improving the instrument and shaping the light beam, and there has been little work exploring the benefit of customizing the trapped object. Here, we describe how anti-reflection coated, high-refractive-index core-shell particles composed of titania enable single-beam optical trapping with an optical force greater than a nanonewton. The increased force range broadens the scope of feasible optical trapping experiments and will pave the way towards more efficient light-powered miniature machines, tools and applications.

Erbium-doped fiber ring laser based on few-mode-singlemode-few-mode fiber structure for refractive index measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jingxuan; Wang, Muguang; Liang, Xiao; Dong, Yue; Xiao, Han; Jian, Shuisheng

2017-08-01

A novel Erbium-doped fiber ring cavity laser sensor for refractive index (RI) measurement based on a special designed few-mode-singlemode-few-mode structure is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The few-mode fiber is a home-made concentric ring core fiber (CRCF) which can only support two scalar modes. Thus a stable mode interference occurs which functions as a sensing head and band-pass filter to select the lasing wavelength simultaneously. A sensitivity of -45.429 nm/RIU is obtained in the range of 1.333-1.363. High optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) of ∼45 dB and narrow 3-dB bandwidth of ∼0.1 nm indicate that the fiber ring laser sensing system has a high resolution and accuracy RI measurement.

Theoretical analyses of resonant frequency shift in anomalous dispersion enhanced resonant optical gyroscopes.

PubMed

Lin, Jian; Liu, Jiaming; Zhang, Hao; Li, Wenxiu; Zhao, Lu; Jin, Junjie; Huang, Anping; Zhang, Xiaofu; Xiao, Zhisong

2016-12-12

Rigorous expressions of resonant frequency shift (RFS) in anomalous dispersion enhanced resonant optical gyroscopes (ADEROGs) are deduced without making approximation, which provides a precise theoretical guidance to achieve ultra-sensitive ADEROGs. A refractive index related modification factor is introduced when considering special theory of relativity (STR). We demonstrate that the RFS will not be "infinitely large" by using critical anomalous dispersion (CAD) and negative modification does not exist, which make the mechanism of anomalous dispersion enhancement clear and coherent. Although step change of RFS will happen when the anomalous dispersion condition varies, the amplification of RFS is limited by attainable variation of refractive index in practice. Moreover, it is shown that the properties of anomalous dispersion will influence not only the amplification of RFS, but also the detection range of ADEROGs.

Plasmon induced transparency and refractive index sensing in a new type of graphene-based plasmonic waveguide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Di; Tian, Jinping; Li, Lu; Yang, Rongcao

2018-04-01

The plasmon induced transparency (PIT) effect is investigated in a graphene-based waveguide, which is composed of a graphene bus waveguide side-coupled with a graphene strip directly and a graphene ring indirectly. Conventional numerical simulations based on finite element method (FEM) are used to study the transmission properties through optimizing the relevant parameters, and it is proved that the simulation results agree well with the analytical results. Then as one of the potential application branches of the PIT-like effect, the property of refractive index sensing with a higher sensitivity of 4160 nm/RIU is further studied. The result can help to deepen the understanding of PIT-like effect and nano sensor, and it would be also beneficial for the studies and applications of nanoscale graphene-based optical devices.

In-line optofluidic refractive index sensing in a side-channel photonic crystal fiber.

PubMed

Zhang, Nan; Humbert, Georges; Wu, Zhifang; Li, Kaiwei; Shum, Perry Ping; Zhang, Nancy Meng Ying; Cui, Ying; Auguste, Jean-Louis; Dinh, Xuan Quyen; Wei, Lei

2016-11-28

An in-line optofluidic refractive index (RI) sensing platform is constructed by splicing a side-channel photonic crystal fiber (SC-PCF) with side-polished single mode fibers. A long-period grating (LPG) combined with an intermodal interference between LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ core modes is used for sensing the RI of the liquid in the side channel. The resonant dip shows a nonlinear wavelength shift with increasing RI over the measured range from 1.3330 to 1.3961. The RI response of this sensing platform for a low RI range of 1.3330-1.3780 is approximately linear, and exhibits a sensitivity of 1145 nm/RIU. Besides, the detection limit of our sensing scheme is improved by around one order of magnitude by introducing the intermodal interference.

Optofluidic refractive-index sensors employing bent waveguide structures for low-cost, rapid chemical and biomedical sensing.

PubMed

Liu, I-Chen; Chen, Pin-Chuan; Chau, Lai-Kwan; Chang, Guo-En

2018-01-08

We propose and develop an intensity-detection-based refractive-index (RI) sensor for low-cost, rapid RI sensing. The sensor is composed of a polymer bent ridge waveguide (BRWG) structure on a low-cost glass substrate and is integrated with a microfluidic channel. Different-RI solutions flowing through the BRWG sensing region induce output optical power variations caused by optical bend losses, enabling simple and real-time RI detection. Additionally, the sensors are fabricated using rapid and cost-effective vacuum-less processes, attaining the low cost and high throughput required for mass production. A good RI solution of 5.31 10 -4 × RIU -1 is achieved from the RI experiments. This study demonstrates mass-producible and compact RI sensors for rapid and sensitive chemical analysis and biomedical sensing.

Tunable nano-scale graphene-based devices in mid-infrared wavelengths composed of cylindrical resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asgari, Somayyeh; Ghattan Kashani, Zahra; Granpayeh, Nosrat

2018-04-01

The performances of three optical devices including a refractive index sensor, a power splitter, and a 4-channel multi/demultiplexer based on graphene cylindrical resonators are proposed, analyzed, and simulated numerically by using the finite-difference time-domain method. The proposed sensor operates on the principle of the shift in resonance wavelength with a change in the refractive index of dielectric materials. The sensor sensitivity has been numerically derived. In addition, the performances of the power splitter and the multi/demultiplexer based on the variation of the resonance wavelengths of cylindrical resonator have been thoroughly investigated. The simulation results are in good agreement with the theoretical ones. Our studies demonstrate that the graphene based ultra-compact, nano-scale devices can be improved to be used as photonic integrated devices, optical switching, and logic gates.

Adaptive Optoelectronic Eyes: Hybrid Sensor/Processor Architectures

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-13

corresponding calculated data. The width of the mirror stopband is proportional to the refractive index difference between the high and low index materials ...Silicon VLSI Neuron Unit Arrays 56 Development of a Single-Sided Flip-Chip Bonding Process 65 Development of High Refractive Index Diffractive Optical ...Elements (DOEs) 68 Development of High-Performance Antireflection Coatings for High Refractive Index DOEs 69 Design and Fabrication of Low Threshold

Optical temperature sensing on flexible polymer foils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherman, Stanislav; Xiao, Yanfen; Hofmann, Meike; Schmidt, Thomas; Gleissner, Uwe; Zappe, Hans

2016-04-01

In contrast to established semiconductor waveguide-based or glass fiber-based integrated optical sensors, polymerbased optical systems offer tunable material properties, such as refractive index or viscosity, and thus provide additional degrees of freedom for sensor design and fabrication. Of particular interest in sensing applications are fully-integrated optical waveguide-based temperature sensors. These typically rely on Bragg gratings which induce a periodic refractive index variation in the waveguide so that a resonant wavelength of the structure is reflected.1,2 With broad-band excitation, a dip in the spectral output of the waveguide is thus generated at a precisely-defined wavelength. This resonant wavelength depends on the refractive index of the waveguide and the grating period, yet both of these quantities are temperature dependent by means of the thermo-optic effect (change in refractive index with temperature) and thermal expansion (change of the grating period with temperature). We show the design and fabrication of polymer waveguide-integrated temperature sensors based on Bragggratings, fabricated by replication technology on flexible PMMA foil substrates. The 175 μm thick foil serves as lower cladding for a polymeric waveguide fabricated from a custom-made UV-crosslinkable co-monomer composition. The fabrication of the grating structure includes a second replication step into a separate PMMA-foil. The dimensions of the Bragg-gratings are determined by simulations to set the bias point into the near infrared wavelength range, which allows Si-based detectors to be used. We present design considerations and performance data for the developed structures. The resulting sensor's signal is linear to temperature changes and shows a sensitivity of -306 nm/K, allowing high resolution temperature measurements.

The application of terahertz pulsed imaging in characterising density distribution of roll-compacted ribbons.

PubMed

Zhang, Jianyi; Pei, Chunlei; Schiano, Serena; Heaps, David; Wu, Chuan-Yu

2016-09-01

Roll compaction is a commonly used dry granulation process in pharmaceutical, fine chemical and agrochemical industries for materials sensitive to heat or moisture. The ribbon density distribution plays an important role in controlling properties of granules (e.g. granule size distribution, porosity and strength). Accurate characterisation of ribbon density distribution is critical in process control and quality assurance. The terahertz imaging system has a great application potential in achieving this as the terahertz radiation has the ability to penetrate most of the pharmaceutical excipients and the refractive index reflects variations in density and chemical compositions. The aim of this study is to explore whether terahertz pulse imaging is a feasible technique for quantifying ribbon density distribution. Ribbons were made of two grades of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), Avicel PH102 and DG, using a roll compactor at various process conditions and the ribbon density variation was investigated using terahertz imaging and section methods. The density variations obtained from both methods were compared to explore the reliability and accuracy of the terahertz imaging system. An average refractive index is calculated from the refractive index values in the frequency range between 0.5 and 1.5THz. It is shown that the refractive index gradually decreases from the middle of the ribbon towards to the edges. Variations of density distribution across the width of the ribbons are also obtained using both the section method and the terahertz imaging system. It is found that the terahertz imaging results are in excellent agreement with that obtained using the section method, demonstrating that terahertz imaging is a feasible and rapid tool to characterise ribbon density distributions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Refractive index degeneration in older lenses: A potential functional correlate to structural changes that underlie cataract formation.

PubMed

Bahrami, Mehdi; Hoshino, Masato; Pierscionek, Barbara; Yagi, Naoto; Regini, Justyn; Uesugi, Kentaro

2015-11-01

A major structure/function relationship in the eye lens is that between the constituent proteins, the crystallins and the optical property of refractive index. Structural breakdown that leads to cataract has been investigated in a number of studies; the concomitant changes in the optics, namely increases in light attenuation have also been well documented. Specific changes in the refractive index gradient that cause such attenuation, however, are not well studied because previous methods of measuring refractive index require transparent samples. The X-ray Talbot interferometric method using synchrotron radiation allows for measurement of fine changes in refractive index through lenses with opacities. The findings of this study on older human lenses show disruptions to the refractive index gradient and in the refractive index contours. These disruptions are linked to location in the lens and occur in polar regions, along or close to the equatorial plane or in lamellar-like formations. The disruptions that are seen in the polar regions manifest branching formations that alter with progression through the lens with some similarity to lens sutures. This study shows how the refractive index gradient, which is needed to maintain image quality of the eye, may be disturbed and that this can occur in a number of distinct ways. These findings offer insight into functional changes to a major optical parameter in older lenses. Further studies are needed to elicit how these may be related to structural degenerations reported in the literature. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Vacuum birefringence in strong magnetic fields: (II) Complex refractive index from the lowest Landau level

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hattori, Koichi, E-mail: khattori@yonsei.ac.kr; Itakura, Kazunori, E-mail: kazunori.itakura@kek.jp; Department of Particle and Nuclear Studies, Graduate University for Advanced Studies

2013-07-15

We compute the refractive indices of a photon propagating in strong magnetic fields on the basis of the analytic representation of the vacuum polarization tensor obtained in our previous paper. When the external magnetic field is strong enough for the fermion one-loop diagram of the polarization tensor to be approximated by the lowest Landau level, the propagating mode in parallel to the magnetic field is subject to modification: The refractive index deviates from unity and can be very large, and when the photon energy is large enough, the refractive index acquires an imaginary part indicating decay of a photon intomore » a fermion–antifermion pair. We study dependences of the refractive index on the propagating angle and the magnetic-field strength. It is also emphasized that a self-consistent treatment of the equation which defines the refractive index is indispensable for accurate description of the refractive index. This self-consistent treatment physically corresponds to consistently including the effects of back reactions of the distorted Dirac sea in response to the incident photon. -- Highlights: •Vacuum birefringence and photon decay are described by the complex refractive index. •Resummed photon vacuum polarization tensor in the lowest Landau level is used. •Back reactions from the distorted Dirac sea are self-consistently taken into account. •Self-consistent treatment drastically changes structure in photon energy dependence. •Dependences on photon propagation angle and magnetic-field strength are presented.« less

Effects of refractive index mismatch in optical CT imaging of polymer gel dosimeters.

PubMed

Manjappa, Rakesh; Makki S, Sharath; Kumar, Rajesh; Kanhirodan, Rajan

2015-02-01

Proposing an image reconstruction technique, algebraic reconstruction technique-refraction correction (ART-rc). The proposed method takes care of refractive index mismatches present in gel dosimeter scanner at the boundary, and also corrects for the interior ray refraction. Polymer gel dosimeters with high dose regions have higher refractive index and optical density compared to the background medium, these changes in refractive index at high dose results in interior ray bending. The inclusion of the effects of refraction is an important step in reconstruction of optical density in gel dosimeters. The proposed ray tracing algorithm models the interior multiple refraction at the inhomogeneities. Jacob's ray tracing algorithm has been modified to calculate the pathlengths of the ray that traverses through the higher dose regions. The algorithm computes the length of the ray in each pixel along its path and is used as the weight matrix. Algebraic reconstruction technique and pixel based reconstruction algorithms are used for solving the reconstruction problem. The proposed method is tested with numerical phantoms for various noise levels. The experimental dosimetric results are also presented. The results show that the proposed scheme ART-rc is able to reconstruct optical density inside the dosimeter better than the results obtained using filtered backprojection and conventional algebraic reconstruction approaches. The quantitative improvement using ART-rc is evaluated using gamma-index. The refraction errors due to regions of different refractive indices are discussed. The effects of modeling of interior refraction in the dose region are presented. The errors propagated due to multiple refraction effects have been modeled and the improvements in reconstruction using proposed model is presented. The refractive index of the dosimeter has a mismatch with the surrounding medium (for dry air or water scanning). The algorithm reconstructs the dose profiles by estimating refractive indices of multiple inhomogeneities having different refractive indices and optical densities embedded in the dosimeter. This is achieved by tracking the path of the ray that traverses through the dosimeter. Extensive simulation studies have been carried out and results are found to be matching that of experimental results.

Effects of refractive index mismatch in optical CT imaging of polymer gel dosimeters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Manjappa, Rakesh; Makki S, Sharath; Kanhirodan, Rajan, E-mail: rajan@physics.iisc.ernet.in

2015-02-15

Purpose: Proposing an image reconstruction technique, algebraic reconstruction technique-refraction correction (ART-rc). The proposed method takes care of refractive index mismatches present in gel dosimeter scanner at the boundary, and also corrects for the interior ray refraction. Polymer gel dosimeters with high dose regions have higher refractive index and optical density compared to the background medium, these changes in refractive index at high dose results in interior ray bending. Methods: The inclusion of the effects of refraction is an important step in reconstruction of optical density in gel dosimeters. The proposed ray tracing algorithm models the interior multiple refraction at themore » inhomogeneities. Jacob’s ray tracing algorithm has been modified to calculate the pathlengths of the ray that traverses through the higher dose regions. The algorithm computes the length of the ray in each pixel along its path and is used as the weight matrix. Algebraic reconstruction technique and pixel based reconstruction algorithms are used for solving the reconstruction problem. The proposed method is tested with numerical phantoms for various noise levels. The experimental dosimetric results are also presented. Results: The results show that the proposed scheme ART-rc is able to reconstruct optical density inside the dosimeter better than the results obtained using filtered backprojection and conventional algebraic reconstruction approaches. The quantitative improvement using ART-rc is evaluated using gamma-index. The refraction errors due to regions of different refractive indices are discussed. The effects of modeling of interior refraction in the dose region are presented. Conclusions: The errors propagated due to multiple refraction effects have been modeled and the improvements in reconstruction using proposed model is presented. The refractive index of the dosimeter has a mismatch with the surrounding medium (for dry air or water scanning). The algorithm reconstructs the dose profiles by estimating refractive indices of multiple inhomogeneities having different refractive indices and optical densities embedded in the dosimeter. This is achieved by tracking the path of the ray that traverses through the dosimeter. Extensive simulation studies have been carried out and results are found to be matching that of experimental results.« less

Femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification in multicomponent glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhardwaj, V. R.; Simova, E.; Corkum, P. B.; Rayner, D. M.; Hnatovsky, C.; Taylor, R. S.; Schreder, B.; Kluge, M.; Zimmer, J.

2005-04-01

We present a comprehensive study on femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification in a wide variety of multicomponent glasses grouped as borosilicate, aluminum-silicate, and heavy-metal oxide glasses along with lanthanum-borate and sodium-phosphate glasses. By using high-spatial resolution refractive index profiling techniques, we demonstrate that under a wide range of writing conditions the refractive index modification in multicomponent glasses can be positive, negative, or nonuniform, and exhibits a strong dependence on the glass composition. With the exception of some aluminum-silicate glasses all other glasses exhibited a negative/nonuniform index change. We also demonstrate direct writing of waveguides in photosensitive Foturan® glass with a femtosecond laser without initiating crystallization by thermal treatment. Upon ceramization of lithium-aluminum-silicate glasses such as Foturan®, Zerodur®, and Robax® we observe switching of laser-induced refractive index change from being positive to negative. The measured transmission losses in the waveguides at 1550nm agree with the index profile measurements in alkali-free aluminum-silicate glasses.

Homodyne chiral polarimetry for measuring thermo-optic refractive index variations.

PubMed

Twu, Ruey-Ching; Wang, Jhao-Sheng

2015-10-10

Novel reflection-type homodyne chiral polarimetry is proposed for measuring the refractive index variations of a transparent plate under thermal impact. The experimental results show it is a simple and useful method for providing accurate measurements of refractive index variations. The measurement can reach a resolution of 7×10^-5.

Refractive index of colloidal dispersions of spheroidal particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meeten, G.H.

1980-09-01

The effect of particle shape on the refractive index of a colloidal dispersion of spheroidal particles is investigated theoretically, using the Rayleigh, Rayleigh- Gans-Debye, and the anomalous diffraction light-scattering approximations. It is shown that departure from particle sphericity modify the dispersion refractive index, both size and shape being of importance.

Photorefractive Nonlinear Optics

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-01-15

conjugate interferometer for the measurement of thin film thickness, refractive index and absorption coefficients. Also, we have investigated...conjugate interferometer for the measurement of thin film thickness, refractive index and absorption coefficients. Also, we have investigated...interaction by considering the refractive index grating as a linear superposition of the gratings from each of the frequency components of the

Femtosecond Z-scan measurements of the nonlinear refractive index of fused silica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lin; Shi, Zhendong; Ma, Hua; Ren, Huan; Yuan, Quan; Ma, Yurong; Feng, Xiaoxuan; Chen, Bo; Yang, Yi

2018-01-01

Z-scan technology is a popular experimental technique for determining the nonlinear refractive index of the material. However, it encounters a great difficulty in measuring the weak nonlinear material like fused silica which is about two orders of magnitude below the nonlinear refractive index of most of the materials studied with the nanosecond and picosecond Z-scan methods. In this case, the change of refractive index introduced by accumulation of thermal effects cannot be neglected. In order to have a reliable measurement of the nonlinear refractive index, a metrology bench based on the femtosecond Z-scan technology is developed. The intensity modulation component and the differential measurement system are applied to guarantee the accuracy of the measuring system. Based on the femtosecond Z-scan theory, the femtosecond laser Z-scan technique is performed on fused silica, and the nonlinear refractive index of Fused silica is determined to be 9.2039×10-14esu for 800nm, 37fs pulse duration at I0=50GW/cm2 with a good repeatability of 6.7%.

Small and large particle limits of single scattering albedo for homogeneous, spherical particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moosmüller, H.; Sorensen, C. M.

2018-01-01

The aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA) is the dominant intensive particle parameter determining aerosols direct radiative forcing. For homogeneous spherical particles and a complex refractive index independent of wavelength, the SSA is solely dependent on size parameter (ratio of particle circumference and wavelength) and complex refractive index of the particle. Here, we explore this dependency for the small and large particle limits with size parameters much smaller and much larger than one. We show that in the small particle limit of Rayleigh scattering, a novel, generalized size parameter can be introduced that unifies the SSA dependence on particle size parameter independent of complex refractive index. In the large particle limit, SSA decreases with increasing product of imaginary part of the refractive index and size parameter, another generalized parameter, until this product becomes about one, then stays fairly constant until the imaginary part of the refractive index becomes comparable with the real part minus one. Beyond this point, particles start to acquire metallic character and SSA quickly increases with the imaginary part of the refractive index and approaches one.

Further Studies on the Effect of SiN x Refractive Index and Emitter Sheet Resistance on Potential-Induced Degradation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oh, Jaewon; Dauksher, Bill; Bowden, Stuart

We present the impacts of silicon nitride (SiNx) antireflection coating refractive index and emitter sheet resistance on potential-induced degradation of the shunting type (PID-s). Previously, it has been shown that the cell becomes more PID-s-susceptible as the refractive index decreases or the emitter sheet resistance increases. To verify the effect of refractive index on PID-s, we fabricated cells with varying SiN x refractive index (1.87, 1.94, 2.05) on typical p-type base solar cells with ~60 Ω/sq emitters. However, none of these cells showed output power degradation, regardless of the refractive index. Further investigation of the emitter showed that the PID-smore » was suppressed at ~60 Ω/sq due to the extremely high surface phosphorus concentration (6 x 10 21 cm -3), as measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry. Furthermore, PID-s was observed on cells possessing a high emitter sheet resistance (~80 Ω/sq). In conclusion, the emitter surface phosphorus concentration plays an important role in determining PID-s susceptibility.« less

Further Studies on the Effect of SiN x Refractive Index and Emitter Sheet Resistance on Potential-Induced Degradation

DOE PAGES

Oh, Jaewon; Dauksher, Bill; Bowden, Stuart; ...

2017-01-11

We present the impacts of silicon nitride (SiNx) antireflection coating refractive index and emitter sheet resistance on potential-induced degradation of the shunting type (PID-s). Previously, it has been shown that the cell becomes more PID-s-susceptible as the refractive index decreases or the emitter sheet resistance increases. To verify the effect of refractive index on PID-s, we fabricated cells with varying SiN x refractive index (1.87, 1.94, 2.05) on typical p-type base solar cells with ~60 Ω/sq emitters. However, none of these cells showed output power degradation, regardless of the refractive index. Further investigation of the emitter showed that the PID-smore » was suppressed at ~60 Ω/sq due to the extremely high surface phosphorus concentration (6 x 10 21 cm -3), as measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry. Furthermore, PID-s was observed on cells possessing a high emitter sheet resistance (~80 Ω/sq). In conclusion, the emitter surface phosphorus concentration plays an important role in determining PID-s susceptibility.« less

Rotating of low-refractive-index microparticles with a quasi-perfect optical vortex.

PubMed

Liang, Yansheng; Lei, Ming; Yan, Shaohui; Li, Manman; Cai, Yanan; Wang, Zhaojun; Yu, Xianghua; Yao, Baoli

2018-01-01

Low-refractive-index microparticles, such as hollow microspheres, have shown great significance in some applications, such as biomedical sensing and targeted drug delivery. However, optical trapping and manipulation of low-refractive-index microparticles are challenging, owing to the repelling force exerted by typical optical traps. In this paper, we demonstrated optical trapping and rotating of large-sized low-refractive-index microparticles by using quasi-perfect optical vortex (quasi-POV) beams, which were generated by Fourier transform of high-order quasi-Bessel beams. Numerical simulation was carried out to characterize the focusing property of the quasi-POV beams. The dynamics of low-refractive-index microparticles in the quasi-POV with various topological charges was investigated in detail. To improve the trapping and rotating performances of the vortex, a point trap was introduced at the center of the ring. Experimental results showed that the quasi-POV was preferable for manipulation of large-sized low-refractive-index microparticles, with its control of the particles' rotating velocity dependent only on the topological charge due to the unchanged orbital radius.

Quantitative refractive index distribution of single cell by combining phase-shifting interferometry and AFM imaging.

PubMed

Zhang, Qinnan; Zhong, Liyun; Tang, Ping; Yuan, Yingjie; Liu, Shengde; Tian, Jindong; Lu, Xiaoxu

2017-05-31

Cell refractive index, an intrinsic optical parameter, is closely correlated with the intracellular mass and concentration. By combining optical phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) and atomic force microscope (AFM) imaging, we constructed a label free, non-invasive and quantitative refractive index of single cell measurement system, in which the accurate phase map of single cell was retrieved with PSI technique and the cell morphology with nanoscale resolution was achieved with AFM imaging. Based on the proposed AFM/PSI system, we achieved quantitative refractive index distributions of single red blood cell and Jurkat cell, respectively. Further, the quantitative change of refractive index distribution during Daunorubicin (DNR)-induced Jurkat cell apoptosis was presented, and then the content changes of intracellular biochemical components were achieved. Importantly, these results were consistent with Raman spectral analysis, indicating that the proposed PSI/AFM based refractive index system is likely to become a useful tool for intracellular biochemical components analysis measurement, and this will facilitate its application for revealing cell structure and pathological state from a new perspective.

High refractive index immersion liquid for superresolution 3D imaging using sapphire-based aplanatic numerical aperture increasing lens optics.

PubMed

Laskar, Junaid M; Shravan Kumar, P; Herminghaus, Stephan; Daniels, Karen E; Schröter, Matthias

2016-04-20

Optically transparent immersion liquids with refractive index (n∼1.77) to match the sapphire-based aplanatic numerical aperture increasing lens (aNAIL) are necessary for achieving deep 3D imaging with high spatial resolution. We report that antimony tribromide (SbBr₃) salt dissolved in liquid diiodomethane (CH₂I₂) provides a new high refractive index immersion liquid for optics applications. The refractive index is tunable from n=1.74 (pure) to n=1.873 (saturated), by adjusting either salt concentration or temperature; this allows it to match (or even exceed) the refractive index of sapphire. Importantly, the solution gives excellent light transmittance in the ultraviolet to near-infrared range, an improvement over commercially available immersion liquids. This refractive-index-matched immersion liquid formulation has enabled us to develop a sapphire-based aNAIL objective that has both high numerical aperture (NA=1.17) and long working distance (WD=12  mm). This opens up new possibilities for deep 3D imaging with high spatial resolution.