Development of an optical waveguide interferometric immunosensor

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is presented, which uses the evanescent field of a planar optical waveguide as the sensing element. Changes in the refractive index profile occurring in the immediate vicinity of the waveguide surface cause the propagation velocity of the light passing through it to change. This is measured interferometrically. Adsorption processes of antibodies onto the waveguide surface as well as immunoreactions have been monitored. Concentrations of 2.5 × 10¿8 M (1 × 10-3 mg/ml) of the antigen HCG (molecular weight = 39 600) have been measured so far

Performance of a highly sensitive optical waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer immunosensor

We describe a highly sensitive sensor which uses the evanescent field of a reusable planar optical waveguide as the sensing element. The waveguide used is optimized to obtain a steep dependence of the propagation velocity on the refractive-index profile near the surface. The adsorption of a layer of proteins thus results in a phase change, which is measured interferometrically using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer set-up. The stability of the interferometer is such that phase changes = (1 × 10-2)2pi per hour can be measured. Immunoreactions have been monitored down to concentrations of 5 × 10-11 M of a 40 kDa protein

High quality ZnO layers with adjustable refractive indices for integrated optics applications

Thin ( 1 μm) crystalline ZnO films with a good optical quality and good (0002) texture are grown under two considerably different process parameter sets using a r.f. planar magnetron sputtering unit. The optical parameters of the two corresponding ZnO layers are distinctly different: high refractive index ( 2.0 at λ = 632.8 nm) ZnO films resembling the single crystal form, and ZnO films with considerably lower (typical difference 0.05) refractive indices. The refractive index of the latter ZnO layers is adjustable ( 1.93–1.96 at λ = 632.8 nm) through the process deposition parameters. It is shown that the difference in refractive index between the two ZnO types most probably results from a difference in package density of the crystal columns. The optical waveguide losses of both ZnO types are typically 1–3 dB/cm at λ = 632.8 nm, however the low refractive index ZnO layers need a post-deposition anneal step to obtain these values. The two ZnO types are used to fabricate optical channel-and slab waveguides with small refractive index differences.\u

A spiral-shaped mach-zehnder interferometric sensor for monitoring thickness changes in bioreceptor layers

Design issues of a spiral-shaped Mach-Zehnder interferometer are discussed

Ring resonator-based Tunable Optical Delay Line in LPCVD Waveguide Technology

Optical circuits providing a time delay to signals modulated on optical carriers are considered important for optical communication systems and phased array antennas. A continuously tunable optical delay line is demonstrated in low-cost CMOS compatible LPCVD planar waveguide technology. The device consists of three cascaded ringresonator all-pass filters with fixed circumference of 2 cm (delay of 0.12 ns and FSR of 8.4 GHz). The measured group delay ranges from 0 ns up to 1.2 ns with a bandwidth of 500 MHz and delay ripple smaller than 1 ps, which is in accordance with the calculations

Low loss, high contrast optical waveguides based on CMOS compatible LPCVD processing: technology and experimental results

A new class of integrated optical waveguide structures is presented, based on low cost CMOS compatible LPCVD processing. This technology allows for medium and high index contrast waveguides with very low channel attenuation. The geometry is basically formed by a rectangular cross-section silicon nitride (Si3N4) filled with and encapsulated by silicon dioxide (SiO2). The birefringence and minimal bend radius of the waveguide is completely controlled by the geometry of the waveguide layer structures. Experiments on typical geometries will be presented, showing excellent characteristics (channel attenuation ≤ 0.1 dB/cm, IL ≤ 1.5 dB, PDL ≤ 0.2 dB, Bg ≤ 1×10-4, bend radius « 1 mm)

Ring resonator-based single-chip 1x8 optical beam forming network in LPCVD waveguide technology

Optical ring resonators (ORRs) are good candidates to provide continuously tunable delay in beam forming networks (BFNs) for phased array antenna systems. \ud Delay and splitting/combining elements can be integrated on a single optical chip to form an OBFN. A state-of-the-art 1×8 OBFN chip has been fabricated in LPCVD waveguide technology.\ud It is designed with 1 input and 8 outputs, between which a binary-tree topology is used. A different number of ORRs (up to 7) are cascaded for each output.\ud In this paper, the principle of operation is explained and demonstrated by presenting measurements on the 1×8 OBFN chip

Flip-chip assembly of an integrated optical sensor

For enabling low cost mass production for photonic circuits, the application of flipchip technology creates huge expectations. We report on the results of a project, having the goal to demonstrate standard packaging technology in combination with integrated optics, entailing demands and limitations different from IC technology. Mainly fiber attachment, but also special features as sensor window accessibility at the top-side of the chip are prohibiting the positioning of the optical layer stack and solder pads at the same side of the silicon wafer. Therefore, feed through technology had to be included. Compatibility issues in combining feed through technology with integrated optics processing have been solved and the feasibility of feed-through metallization and flip-chip assembly in combination with an integrated optical sensor has been demonstrated

Optical beam forming for phased-array antennas

The activities of the Telecommunication Engineering (TE) group span the communications spectrum from copper cables, optical fibres, microwaves, radio and electromagnetic compatibility. Our research concentrates on optical signal processing and networks, mobile communications, microwave techniques and radiation from ICs and PCBs [1]. A considerable (and particularly interesting) part of it is related to optical beam forming for phased array antennas, using optical ring resonators.\ud In this article the theoretical basics and practical challenges of this interesting research topic will be summarized.\u

Phased array antenna steering using a ring resonator-based optical beam forming network

A novel beam steering mechanism for a phased array antenna receiver system is introduced. The core of the system is a ring resonator-based integrated optical beam forming network chip. Its principles are explained and demonstrated by presenting some measurement results. The system architecture around the chip is based on a combination of frequency down conversion, filter-based optical single sideband modulation and balanced coherent detection. It is proven that such an architecture has significant advantages with respect to a straightforward architecture using double sideband modulation and direct detection, namely relaxed bandwidth requirements on the optical modulators and detectors, reduced complexity and optical losses of the beam forming chip, and enhanced dynamic range