Light storage in wavy dielectric grating with Kerr nonlinearity

Periodical corrugation in dielectric slab transfers the two waveguide modes at zero Bloch wave number into a leaky resonant mode and a symmetry protected bound states in the continuum (BIC) with small frequency detune. The leaky resonant mode can be directly excited by weak linearly polarized normally incident optical field. In the presence of Kerr nonlinearity, the BIC can be indirectly excited by an optical bistable response. Two types of bistable operations are considered. For the first type, the intensity of the incident field gradually increases to exceed a critical value, and then decreases to zero. For the second type, the intensity is fixed, while the linear polarization angle of the incident field gradually increases to exceed a critical value, and then decreases to 0$^{o}$. Theoretically, the indirectly excited BIC can store the optical energy without loss, even though the intensity of the incident field decreases to zero. Incidence of an optical field with double frequency or orthogonal linear polarization can erase the stored optical field by destroying the BIC. The proposed optical system could function as optical storage and switching device

Floquet Engineering of Two Dimensional Photonic Waveguide Arrays with π\pi or ±2π/3\pm2\pi/3 Corner states

In this paper, we theoretically study the Floquet engineering of two dimensional photonic waveguide arrays in three types of lattices: honeycomb lattice with Kekule distortion, breathing square lattice and breathing Kagome lattice. The Kekule distortion factor or the breathing factor in the corresponding lattice is periodically changed along the axial direction of the photonic waveguide with frequency $\omega$. Within certain ranges of $\omega$, the Floquet corner states in the Floquet band gap of quasi-energy spectrum are found, which are localized at the corner of the finite two-dimensional arrays. Due to particle-hole symmetric in the model of honeycomb and square lattice, the quasi-energy level of the Floquet $\pi$ corner states is $\pm\omega/2$. On the other hand, Kagome lattice does not have particle-hole symmetric, so that the quasi-energy level of the Floquet $\pm2\pi/3$ corner states is near to $\pm1\omega/3$. The corner states are either protected by crystalline symmetry or reflection symmetry. The finding of Floquet fractional-$\pi$ corner states could provide more options for engineering of on-chip photonic devices

Wavy optical grating: wideband reflector and Fabry-Perot BICs

In this study, we theoretically and numerically investigate the resonant modes and reflectance of an optical grating consisting of a wavy dielectric slab by applying the spectral element method. The presence of the wavy shape transforms the waveguide modes into leaky resonant modes. A few resonant modes with specific longitudinal wave number have infinitely large Q factor, while the other resonant modes have finite Q factor. For the leaky resonant mode with zero longitudinal wave number, the Q factor is inversely proportional to the amplitude of the wavy shape. An array of multiple low-Q wavy gratings has a high reflectance in a large bandwidth. A double-layer wavy grating forms a Fabry-Perot cavity, which hosts Fabry-Perot bound states in the continuum (BICs) at the resonant frequency. The Q-factor of the Fabry-Perot cavity can be tuned by adjusting the distance between the two wavy slabs. The wavy shape could be generated by a vibrational wave in a flat dielectric slab so that the BICs mode and wideband reflectance could be controlled on-demand

Localized Refractive index sensing by integrated photonic crystal waveguide with edge-cavity

We have theoretically proposed a highly compact refractive-index sensor consisted of edge-cavity and line-defect waveguide in two-dimensional photonic crystal. The sensing object is completely outside of the single enclosed surface of the sensor. The edge-cavity is designed by engineering the spatial distribution of the cutoff frequency of edge modes. The coupling between the edge-cavity and the waveguide is maximized by optimizing the radius of the rods between them, so that the transmittance spectrum through the waveguide has a sharp anti-peak. As the refractive index of the sensing object changes, the resonant wavelength of the edge-cavity is changed, which in turn changes the wavelength of the anti-peak. The sensitivity of the sensor is up to 40 nm/RIU, and the footprint of the sensor is only 40 $\mu m^{2}$. Because the transmittance spectrum is determined by the overlap between the sensing object and the highly localized resonant mode, the sensor can also perceive spatial distribution of refractive index in the sensing object

Mechanosensing model of fibroblast cells adhered on a substrate with varying stiffness and thickness

Mechanosensing of cells to the surrounding material is crucial for their physiological and pathological processes. However, materials design to guide cellular responses is largely ad hoc due to the lack of comprehensive modelling techniques for quantitative understanding. In this paper, we propose a computational model to study the mechanosensing of fibroblast cells seeded on elastic hydrogel substrates with different stiffness and thickness. We consider the sensing mechanisms of cells to mechanical cues, including the rigidity and deformation of the substrate, and the traction forces of neighboring cells, which regulate the active changes of stress fibers and focal adhesions. This model allows us to predict the coupled effects of substrate stiffness and thickness on stress fiber formation and disassociation, and affinity integrin density. We also examine the combined effect of cell size and substrate thickness on the mechanosensing of fibroblast cells. The results reveal that a cell can sense its neighboring cell by deforming the underlying substrate. Our simulations also provide physical insights in the enhanced mechanosensing capacity of collective cells. The present modelling framework is not only important for profound understanding of cell mechanosensing, but also has the potential to guide the rationale design of biomaterials for tissue engineering and wound healing.</p

Mechanosensing model of fibroblast cells adhered on a substrate with varying stiffness and thickness

Mechanosensing of cells to the surrounding material is crucial for their physiological and pathological processes. However, materials design to guide cellular responses is largely ad hoc due to the lack of comprehensive modelling techniques for quantitative understanding. In this paper, we propose a computational model to study the mechanosensing of fibroblast cells seeded on elastic hydrogel substrates with different stiffness and thickness. We consider the sensing mechanisms of cells to mechanical cues, including the rigidity and deformation of the substrate, and the traction forces of neighboring cells, which regulate the active changes of stress fibers and focal adhesions. This model allows us to predict the coupled effects of substrate stiffness and thickness on stress fiber formation and disassociation, and affinity integrin density. We also examine the combined effect of cell size and substrate thickness on the mechanosensing of fibroblast cells. The results reveal that a cell can sense its neighboring cell by deforming the underlying substrate. Our simulations also provide physical insights in the enhanced mechanosensing capacity of collective cells. The present modelling framework is not only important for profound understanding of cell mechanosensing, but also has the potential to guide the rationale design of biomaterials for tissue engineering and wound healing.</p

Simultaneous Measurement of Single-Cell Mechanics and Cell-to-Materials Adhesion Using Fluidic Force Microscopy

The connection between cells and their substrate is essential for biological processes such as cell migration. Atomic force microscopy nanoindentation has often been adopted to measure single-cell mechanics. Very recently, fluidic force microscopy has been developed to enable rapid measurements of cell adhesion. However, simultaneous characterization of the cell-to-material adhesion and viscoelastic properties of the same cell is challenging. In this study, we present a new approach to simultaneously determine these properties for single cells, using fluidic force microscopy. For MCF-7 cells grown on tissue-culture-treated polystyrene surfaces, we found that the adhesive force and adhesion energy were correlated for each cell. Well-spread cells tended to have stronger adhesion, which may be due to the greater area of the contact between cellular adhesion receptors and the surface. By contrast, the viscoelastic properties of MCF-7 cells cultured on the same surface appeared to have little dependence on cell shape. This methodology provides an integrated approach to better understand the biophysics of multiple cell types

Simultaneous measurement of single-cell mechanics and cell-to-materials adhesion using fluidic force microscopy

The connection between cells and their substrate is essential for biological processes such as cell migration. Atomic force microscopy nanoindentation has often been adopted to measure single-cell mechanics. Very recently, fluidic force microscopy has been developed to enable rapid measurements of cell adhesion. However, simultaneous characterization of the cell-to-material adhesion and viscoelastic properties of the same cell is challenging. In this study, we present a new approach to simultaneously determine these properties for single cells, using fluidic force microscopy. For MCF-7 cells grown on tissue-culture-treated polystyrene surfaces, we found that the adhesive force and adhesion energy were correlated for each cell. Well-spread cells tended to have stronger adhesion, which may be due to the greater area of the contact between cellular adhesion receptors and the surface. By contrast, the viscoelastic properties of MCF-7 cells cultured on the same surface appeared to have little dependence on cell shape. This methodology provides an integrated approach to better understand the biophysics of multiple cell types.</p

Simultaneous measurement of single-cell mechanics and cell-to-materials adhesion using fluidic force microscopy

The connection between cells and their substrate is essential for biological processes such as cell migration. Atomic force microscopy nanoindentation has often been adopted to measure single-cell mechanics. Very recently, fluidic force microscopy has been developed to enable rapid measurements of cell adhesion. However, simultaneous characterization of the cell-to-material adhesion and viscoelastic properties of the same cell is challenging. In this study, we present a new approach to simultaneously determine these properties for single cells, using fluidic force microscopy. For MCF-7 cells grown on tissue-culture-treated polystyrene surfaces, we found that the adhesive force and adhesion energy were correlated for each cell. Well-spread cells tended to have stronger adhesion, which may be due to the greater area of the contact between cellular adhesion receptors and the surface. By contrast, the viscoelastic properties of MCF-7 cells cultured on the same surface appeared to have little dependence on cell shape. This methodology provides an integrated approach to better understand the biophysics of multiple cell types.</p

Simultaneous Measurement of Single-Cell Mechanics and Cell-to-Materials Adhesion Using Fluidic Force Microscopy

The connection between cells and their substrate is essential for biological processes such as cell migration. Atomic force microscopy nanoindentation has often been adopted to measure single-cell mechanics. Very recently, fluidic force microscopy has been developed to enable rapid measurements of cell adhesion. However, simultaneous characterization of the cell-to-material adhesion and viscoelastic properties of the same cell is challenging. In this study, we present a new approach to simultaneously determine these properties for single cells, using fluidic force microscopy. For MCF-7 cells grown on tissue-culture-treated polystyrene surfaces, we found that the adhesive force and adhesion energy were correlated for each cell. Well-spread cells tended to have stronger adhesion, which may be due to the greater area of the contact between cellular adhesion receptors and the surface. By contrast, the viscoelastic properties of MCF-7 cells cultured on the same surface appeared to have little dependence on cell shape. This methodology provides an integrated approach to better understand the biophysics of multiple cell types