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Research in Optical and Photonic Systems
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Affiliated Faculty:
Harold Craighead,
David Erickson,
Brian Kirby
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Optical devices that incorporate liquids as a fundamental
part of the structure can be traced at least as far back
as the 18th century where rotating pools of mercury were
proposed as a simple technique to create smooth spherical
mirrors for use in reflecting telescopes. Modern microfluidics
has enabled the development of a present day equivalent of
such devices, centered on the marriage of fluidics and optics. We
refer to this marriage as “Optofluidics” or Optical Nanofluidics.
Optofluidic devices have substantial advantages for creating adaptive
optical elements, including high changes in refractive index,
inherently smooth optical interfaces, and thermal stability.
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Nanoscale Optofluidic Integration. We are using soft
lithography to fluidically address and tune photonic
structures at the nanoscale. Image shows schematic
of soft-lithography micro and nanofluidics coupling
with nanophotonics. Other image shows an SEM image of
nanoscale precision fluidic addressability in a photonic crystal..
(Courtesy David Erickson) |
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We are
developing electroactive nanowell structures that are
used to attract and concentrate charged species for memory,
lasing and sensing applications..
(Courtesy David Erickson)
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To create and operate these optofluidic devices we exploit our background
in nanofluidics, nanophotonics, nanofabrication and applied optics.
Typically the characteristic length scale of the fluidic systems used
here are on the order of the wavelength of light. Performing targeted
and controlled fluidic transport within this regime is complicated and
thus highly specialized tools, devices and theories are required. Our
current work is geared towards creating nanofluidically adaptable photonic crystals,
nanofluidic lasers, ultra-high sensitivity, ultra compact optofluidics
based biosensors (based on the integration of electro-active nanowells
with photonic cavity sensors) and new mechanisms for transport.
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