Fluid tunable transition from trapping to discrete diffraction in waveguide arrays

Opt Express. 2013 Jul 29;21(15):18196-206. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.018196.

Abstract

We report on the fluid tunable transition from trapping to discrete diffraction in planar polymer waveguide arrays. A novel optofluidic polymer waveguide array platform was engineered to allow a wavelength dependent transition from a localised state where light is trapped in a defect mode to delocalised state where light is spreading through discrete diffraction. The spectral location of this transition can be controlled through a variation of the fluid's refractive index. The platform is compatible with aqueous solutions, making it an interesting candidate for an integrated refractive index sensor to perform label-free biosensing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Rheology / instrumentation*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Polymers