2 research outputs found
High Selectivity Boolean Olfaction Using Hollow-Core Wavelength-Scalable Bragg Fibers
A new odorant detection scheme, based on infrared absorption of
volatile organics inside an optofluidic channel array, is discussed
in terms of its selectivity. The sensor unit of the array is a hollow
core Bragg fiber that selectively (spectrally) guides an incident
continuum radiation. The presence of infrared absorbing molecules
in the channel results in the quenching of the otherwise transmitted
signal. Each fiber unit in the array is designed and fabricated so
that it is sensitive to specific chemical bonds and the bond environment,
but at the same time, each fiber is also broadly sensitive to a large
number of chemicals due to their infrared absorbance spectra. The
cumulative array response data, using an appropriate threshold, enable
selective binary sampling of the infrared fingerprint of hundreds
of molecules. The selectivity of the system is quantitatively investigated
with computer simulations and found to be exponentially increasing
with the number of fibers in the array. Relatively simple data analysis
using binary logic combined with the high selectivity of the novel
scheme paves the way for ubiquitous application of electronic noses
in toxic gas detection, food quality control, environmental monitoring,
and breath analysis for disease diagnostics