Silica-on-silicon optical sensor based on integrated waveguides and microchannels

Author

Dumais, Patrick ; Callender, Claire L. ; Noad, Julian P. ; Ledderhof, Christopher J.

Author_Institution

Broadband Network Technol. Branch, Commun. Res. Centre Canada, Ottawa, Ont., Canada

Volume

17

Issue

2

fYear

2005

Firstpage

441

Lastpage

443

Abstract

The operation of a novel optical device sensitive to the refractive index of a small (<1×10^-12 m³) volume of liquid is demonstrated experimentally. The structure is a silica-on-silicon three-core directional coupler with two quasi-circular microchannels, approximately three micrometers in diameter, located between the cores. The operation of the device is demonstrated by introducing liquid into the microchannels and varying the refractive index of the liquid through a temperature change.

Keywords

integrated optics; micro-optics; microfluidics; microsensors; optical directional couplers; optical sensors; optical waveguides; refractive index; thermo-optical effects; integrated waveguides; quasicircular microchannels; refractive index; silica-on silicon optical sensor; three-core directional coupler; Liquid waveguides; Microchannel; Optical devices; Optical interferometry; Optical refraction; Optical sensors; Optical surface waves; Optical variables control; Optical waveguides; Refractive index; Microsensors; optical directional couplers; optical planar waveguide components; optical transducers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2004.839430

Filename

1386342