Review of recent microwave planar resonator-based sensors: Techniques of complex permittivity extraction, applications, open challenges and future research directions

Recent developments in the field of microwave planar sensors have led to a renewed interest in industrial, chemical, biological and medical applications that are capable of performing real-time and non-invasive measurement of material properties. Among the plausible advantages of microwave planar sensors is that they have a compact size, a low cost and the ease of fabrication and integration compared to prevailing sensors. However, some of their main drawbacks can be considered that restrict their usage and limit the range of applications such as their sensitivity and selectivity. The development of high-sensitivity microwave planar sensors is required for highly accurate complex permittivity measurements to monitor the small variations among different material samples. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review recent research on the development of microwave planar sensors and further challenges of their sensitivity and selectivity. Furthermore, the techniques of the complex permittivity extraction (real and imaginary parts) are discussed based on the different approaches of mathematical models. The outcomes of this review may facilitate improvements of and an alternative solution for the enhancement of microwave planar sensors’ normalized sensitivity for material characterization, especially in biochemical and beverage industry applications

Applied Measurement Systems

Measurement is a multidisciplinary experimental science. Measurement systems synergistically blend science, engineering and statistical methods to provide fundamental data for research, design and development, control of processes and operations, and facilitate safe and economic performance of systems. In recent years, measuring techniques have expanded rapidly and gained maturity, through extensive research activities and hardware advancements. With individual chapters authored by eminent professionals in their respective topics, Applied Measurement Systems attempts to provide a comprehensive presentation and in-depth guidance on some of the key applied and advanced topics in measurements for scientists, engineers and educators

Antenna Designs Aiming at the Next Generation of Wireless Communication

Millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequencies have drawn large attention, specically for the fifth generation (5G) of wireless communication, due to their capability to provide high data-rates. However, design and characterization of the antenna system in wireless communication will face new challenges when we move up to higher frequency bands. The small size of the components at higher frequencies will make the integration of the antennas in the system almost inevitable. Therefore, the individual characterization of the antenna can become more challenging compared to the previous generations.This emphasizes the importance of having a reliable, simple and yet meaningful Over-the-Air (OTA) characterization method for the antenna systems. To avoid the complexity of using a variety of propagation environments in the OTA performance characterization, two extreme or edge scenarios for the propagation channels are presented, i.e., the Rich Isotropic Multipath (RIMP) and Random Line-of-Sight (Random-LoS). MIMO efficiency has been defined as a Figure of Merit (FoM), based on the Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) of the received signal, due to the statistical behavior of the signal in both RIMP and Random-LoS. Considering this approach, we have improved the design of a wideband antenna for wireless application based on MIMO efficiency as the FoM of the OTA characterization in a Random-LoS propagation environment. We have shown that the power imbalance and the polarization orthogonality plays major roles determining the 2-bitstream MIMO performance of the antenna in Random-LoS. In addition, a wideband dual-polarized linear array is designed for an OTA Random-LoS measurement set-up for automotive wireless systems. The next generation of wireless communications is extended throughout multiple narrow frequency bands, varying within 20-70 GHz. Providing an individual antenna system for each of these bands may not be feasible in terms of cost, complexity and available physical space. Therefore, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) antenna arrays, coveringmultiple mm-wave frequency bands represent a versatile candidate for these antenna systems. In addition to having wideband characteristics, these antennas should offer an easy integration capability with the active modules. We present a new design of UWB planar arrays for mm-wave applications. The novelty is to propose planar antenna layouts to provide large bandwidth at mm-wave frequencies, using simplified standard PCB manufacturing techniques. The proposed antennas are based on Tightly Coupled Dipole Arrays (TCDAs) concept with integrated feeding network

Trends of biosensing: plasmonics through miniaturization and quantum sensing

Despite being extremely old concepts, plasmonics and surface plasmon resonance-based biosensors have been increasingly popular in the recent two decades due to the growing interest in nanooptics and are now of relevant significance in regards to applications associated with human health. Plasmonics integration into point-of-care devices for health surveillance has enabled significant levels of sensitivity and limit of detection to be achieved and has encouraged the expansion of the fields of study and market niches devoted to the creation of quick and incredibly sensitive label-free detection. The trend reflects in wearable plasmonic sensor development as well as point-of-care applications for widespread applications, demonstrating the potential impact of the new generation of plasmonic biosensors on human well-being through the concepts of personalized medicine and global health. In this context, the aim here is to discuss the potential, limitations, and opportunities for improvement that have arisen as a result of the integration of plasmonics into microsystems and lab-on-chip over the past five years. Recent applications of plasmonic biosensors in microsystems and sensor performance are analyzed. The final analysis focuses on the integration of microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip with quantum plasmonics technology prospecting it as a promising solution for chemical and biological sensing. Here it is underlined how the research in the field of quantum plasmonic sensing for biological applications has flourished over the past decade with the aim to overcome the limits given by quantum fluctuations and noise. The significant advances in nanophotonics, plasmonics and microsystems used to create increasingly effective biosensors would continue to benefit this field if harnessed properly

Planar magneto-photonic and gradient-photonic structures : crystals and metamaterials.

In the field of photonics, two new types of material structures, photonic crystals and metamaterials, are presently of great interest. Both are studied in the present work, which focus on planar magnetic materials in the former and planar gradient metamaterials in the latter. These planar periodic structures are easy to handle and integrate into optical systems. The applications are promising field for future optical telecommunication systems and give rise to new optical, microwave and radio technologies. The photonic crystal part emphasizes the utilization of magnetic material based photonic crystals due to its remarkable magneto-optical characteristics. Bandgaps tuning by magnetic field in bismuth-gadolinium-substituted lutetium iron garnet (Bi0.8 Gd0.2 Lu2.0 Fe5 O12) based one- dimensional photonic crystals are investigated and demonstrated in this work. Magnetic optical switches are fabricated and tested. Waveguide formulation for band structure in magneto photonic crystals is developed. We also for the first time demonstrate and test two- dimensional magneto photonic crystals optical. We observe multi-stopbands in two- dimensional photonic waveguide system and study the origin of multi-stopbands. The second part focus on studying photonic metamaterials and planar gradient photonic metamaterial design. We systematically study the effects of varying the geometry of the fishnet unit cell on the refractive index in optical frequency. It is the first time to design and demonstrate the planar gradient structure in the high optical frequency. Optical beam bending using planar gradient photonic metamaterials is observed. The technologies needed for the fabrication of the planar gradient photonic metamaterials are investigated. Beam steering devices, shifter, gradient optical lenses and etc. can be derived from this design

Development of Magnetic Field Sensors Using Bismuth - Substituted Garnets Thin Films with In-Plane Magnetization

In this thesis, the use of magnetic single crystal Bismuth-substituted Iron Garnet thin-films with giant magneto-optical effect as optical sensors for measuring low intensity magnetic fields over a high frequency range (up to 1GHz) is discussed. The advantages of these optical sensors are high intrinsic sensitivity and the possibility of tailoring the field range of the sensor. Such sensors could find applications in various industry and research fields where high sensitivity and electric isolation are required, such as power industry, vehicle detection, and read heads for recording magnetic media with high-density and high transfer rates. The thesis has three major components that correspond, in order, to the following topics: garnet growth, characterization and actual device design. First, the liquid phase epitaxy method is discussed for the growth of single crystal epitaxial garnet thin films of high optical quality. Second, the garnet thin films are fully characterized using various magnetic and optical techniques. Novel optical techniques are suggested, that allow the local measurement of properties such as magnetostriction constants and magnetic anisotropy of garnets. The results of these extensive measurements allow for the identification of melt compositions and growth conditions that yield thin garnet films with in-plane magnetization, giant Faraday rotation per unit length, large negative uniaxial anisotropies and small cubic anisotropy, as required for the sensing applications. In the end, the design of magnetic field sensors based on single and multi-layer garnet thin films is demonstrated, and devices are built for measurements of response and noise equivalent fields. Under the category of sensors, another sensing application is included, that utilizes garnet thin films for direct imaging of two-dimensional fringing magnetic fields with sub-micron resolution