We present a fibre optic biosensor for SARS-CoV-2 detection based on the lossy-mode-resonance (LMR) [6] effect, generated in a single-mode fibre with a thinned cladding and coated by thin-film dielectric with appropriately selected optical properties and thickness. The detection of selected viral structural proteins in the tested sample is ensured by specific bioreceptors. As a result of the interaction with the SARS-CoV-2 antigen, optical response in the short-wave-IR range is observed, and the detection limit does not exceed 1.3*10^2 copies/ml, when converted to the viral load concentration - sufficiently for virus detection even in the first days after infection.
Novel optical sensors the most often require thin films or surface structures with strictly controlled properties, playing a critical role in them by initiating or modifying their sensorial responses. Selected results of research on atomic layer deposited (ALD) metallic oxides will be shown, regarding their applicability for thin functional coatings in lossy mode resonance (LMR) and long period grating (LPG) optical fiber sensors. Basically amorphous films of tantalum oxide (TaxOy), zirconium oxide (ZrxOy) and hafnium oxide (HfxOy) below 200 nm were deposited at relatively low temperature (LT) of 100°C. The optical, structural, topographical, tribological, hydrophilic and chemical stability properties of the films and their technological controllability were analysed. The TaxOy was selected and successfully applied as an oxide coating in LPG sensor. As chemically robust in alkali environment (pH over 9) it allowed to gain a potential for fabrication of regenerable/reusable biosensor. Additionally, ALD technique was tested as a tool for tailoring sensorial properties of LMR sensors. The double-layer coatings composed of two different materials were experimentally tested for the first time; the coatings were composed of plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposited (PECVD) silicon nitride (SixNy) followed by much thinner ALD TaxOy. That approach yielded operating devices, ensuring fast overlay fabrication and easy tuning of the resonant wavelength at the same time. The LT ALD TaxOy films turned out to be slightly overstoichiometric (y/x approx. 2.75). Therefore, the issue of TaxOy chemical composition was studied by secondary ion mass spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectrometry.
Fabrication of approx. 3 THz Al0.15Ga0.85As/GaAs QCLs grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy equipped with Ta/Cu or Ti/Cu waveguide claddings will be presented.
Our previous studies showed that copper layers as the waveguide claddings are most promising in THz QCLs technology. The theoretical predictions showed that lasers with Ti/Cu or Ta/Cu claddings (where Ti and Ta play the role of diffusion barriers and improve adhesion) show the smallest waveguide losses when compared with other metals. The main important issue of the presentation will be the wafer bonding of the QCL active region and GaAs receptor wafer. We will compare the results of ex-situ and in-situ bonding technology. The structures were tested by optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). Our studies show that it was necessary to apply at least 5 nm-thick diffusion-barrier layers, as well as to keep all of the process temperatures below 400C in order to ensure the barrier tightness. The next important issue was control of composition of metallic claddings, in order to provide the control of the refractive index profiles of the claddings.
The ridge structure lasers were fabricated with ridge width in the range 100 – 140 µm, formed by dry plasma etching in BCl3/Cl2/Ar mixture in ICP RIE system.
The lasers operated with threshold current densities of approx. 1.2 kA/cm2 at 77 K and the Tmax = 130 K, when fed by 100-300 ns current pulses supplied with 0.3-1 kHz repetition frequencies.
*This research is supported by The National Centre for Research and Development (bilateral cooperation, project no. 1/POLTUR-1/2016) and TUBITAK (Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey) project number 215E113.
Monitoring the geometry of an moving element is a crucial task for example in robotics. The robots equipped with fiber bend sensor integrated in their arms can be a promising solution for medicine, physiotherapy and also for application in computer games. We report an all-fiber intensity bend sensor, which is based on microstructured multicore optical fiber. It allows to perform a measurement of the bending radius as well as the bending orientation. The reported solution has a special airhole structure which makes the sensor only bend-sensitive. Our solution is an intensity based sensor, which measures power transmitted along the fiber, influenced by bend. The sensor is based on a multicore fiber with the special air-hole structure that allows detection of bending orientation in range of 360°. Each core in the multicore fiber is sensitive to bend in specified direction. The principle behind sensor operation is to differentiate the confinement loss of fundamental mode propagating in each core. Thanks to received power differences one can distinguish not only bend direction but also its amplitude. Multicore fiber is designed to utilize most common light sources that operate at 1.55 μm thus ensuring high stability of operation. The sensitivity of the proposed solution is equal 29,4 dB/cm and the accuracy of bend direction for the fiber end point is up to 5 degrees for 15 cm fiber length. Such sensitivity allows to perform end point detection with millimeter precision.
The use of optical elements and other photonic components makes it possible to overcome telecommunication satellite’s bottleneck problems such as size and weight reduction. Despite the unquestionable potential of such elements, nowadays they are not widely used in systems operating in space. This is due to many factors, including the fact that space radiation has disruptive influence on optical fibre. Namely it introduces additional radiation induced attenuation (RIA) that significantly lowers efficiency of optical fibre based systems. However, there is a possibility to produce radiation-hardened (rad-hard) components. One of them is seven core erbium-doped active fibre (MC-EDF) for fibre amplifiers in satellites that we have been developing. In this paper we present a detailed description of seven core structure design as well as experimental results. We report that average gain of 20 dB in C-band with noise figure of 5.8 dB was obtained. We also confirmed that low crosstalk value for a multicore fibre amplifier based on our fibre can be achieved.
We report research results with regard to AlGaAs/GaAs structure processing for THz quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs). We focus on the processes of Ti/Au cladding fabrication for metal–metal waveguides and wafer bonding with indium solder. Particular emphasis is placed on optimization of technological parameters for the said processes that result in working devices. A wide range of technological parameters was studied using test structures and the analysis of their electrical, optical, chemical, and mechanical properties performed by electron microscopic techniques, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and circular transmission line method. On that basis, a set of technological parameters was selected for the fabrication of devices lasing at a maximum temperature of 130 K from AlGaAs/GaAs structures grown by means of molecular beam epitaxy. Their resulting threshold-current densities were on a level of 1.5 kA/cm2. Furthermore, initial stage research regarding fabrication of Cu-based claddings is reported as these are theoretically more promising than the Au-based ones with regard to low-loss waveguide fabrication for THz QCLs.
We report our research on processing of AlGaAs/GaAs structures for THz quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs). We focus on
the processes of fabrication of Ti/Au claddings for metal-metal waveguides and the wafer bonding with indium solder.
We place special emphasis on the optimum technological conditions of these processes, leading to working devices. The
wide range of technological conditions was studied, by use of test structures and analyses of their electrical, optical,
chemical and mechanical properties, performed by electron microscopic techniques, energy dispersive X-ray
spectrometry, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy and
circular transmission line method. On the basis of research a set of technological conditions was selected, and devices
lasing at the maximum temperature 130K were fabricated from AlGaAs/GaAs structures grown by molecular beam
epitaxy (MBE) technique. Their threshold-current densities were about 1.5kA/cm2. Additionally we report our initial
stage research on fabrication of Cu-based claddings, that theoretically are more promising than the Au-based ones for
fabrication of low-lossy waveguides for THz QCLs.
Quantum cascade lasers (QCL’s) have proven their usefulness as light sources in many applications, like remote gas
sensing, molecular spectroscopy or free-space communication. In most cases the high-quality low-divergence beam is
desired. This work presents the theoretical analysis of QCL’s beam divergence. The electromagnetic field in the
resonator is calculated according to effective index method. Theoretical results are compared with measurements.
The paper presents results of experimental investigations of spatial distribution of radiation emitted by quantum
cascade lasers. Measurements have been performed by means of a unique goniometric profilometer specially de-
signed for the large angle laser beams. The advantages and limitations of the set-up and the applied experimental
method are discussed. The obtained results have enabled the analysis of dependence of geometry of the beam
on the geometry of the laser structure and on the mount method of the laser chips. The angular divergence of
the beams has also been tested as a function of laser power supply.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.