Abstract:
Various embodiment comprise silicon-on-insulator waveguide designs that simultaneously achieve both high optical confinement, low-loss, and provide for electrical connections. In certain embodiments, high index contrast waveguides comprise a central elongate waveguide portion and a segmented portion comprising a single thin layer of Silicon-On-Insulator that achieves both high optical confinement and minimal insertion loss. Other devices, such as chemical and biological sensors, and optical elements may also be fabricated.
Abstract:
By use of the vias a microfluidic autoregulator is fabricated comprising an origin of a fluid, a sink for the fluid, a main flow channel coupling the origin and the sink, a valve communicated to the main flow channel to selectively control flow of fluid therethrough, and means dependent on flow through the main flow channel for creating a pressure differential across the valve to at least partially activate the valve to control flow of fluid through the main flow channel. The means for dependent on flow for creating a pressure differential comprises either a dead-end detour channel from the flow channel to the valve, or a loop channel fed back to the control chamber of the valve.
Abstract:
A printing method to fabricate three-dimensional microfluidic components is disclosed. A three-dimensional mold made of a first wax is formed. A sacrificial material made of a second wax is provided as a temporary support and then dissolved. A component material is poured onto the mold and cured. The first wax is then melted away. In this way three-dimensional interconnected fluidic components comprising channels, vias and control sections can be obtained.
Abstract:
A system, method and apparatus provide the ability to detect a chemical in an analyte. To detect the chemical, the invention utilizes a laser having an open cavity. A photonic crystal lattice structure having a defect defines a suitable geometry for such a cavity. The analyte is introduced directly into a high optical field of the cavity. Thereafter, the cavity is pumped and an emission from the laser is used to detect the presence of the chemical in the analyte.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.
Abstract:
A method for monitoring the surface roughness of a metal, comprises impinging a laser beam onto the surface of a metal layer to induce the formation of a plasmon therein, and monitoring a current of decay electrons emitted by the plasmon.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for increasing efficiency of grating couplers are disclosed. The apparatus through the use of a defect or a reflective element allows coupling of light around a normal or nearly normal angle with a high efficiency. The method disclosed teaches how to increase the efficiency of a grating coupler through the use of a defect or a mirror. The apparatus and method can be of particular utility in the context of optical clocking implemented with a III-V chip flip-chip bonded on a CMOS chip.
Abstract:
A method (and resulting structures) for manufacturing light emitting semiconductor devices. The method includes providing a substrate comprising a surface region and forming a metal layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. In a specific embodiment, the metal layer and the surface region are characterized by a spatial spacing between the metal layer and the substrate to cause a coupling between electron-hole pairs generated in the substrate and a surface plasmon mode at an interface region between the metal layer and the surface region. Additionally, the interface region has a textured characteristic between the surface region and the metal layer. The textured characteristics causes emission of electromagnetic radiation through the surface plasmon mode or like mechanism according to a specific embodiment.
Abstract:
The invention is a method of fabricating electrically passive components or optical elements on top or underneath of an integrated circuit by using a porous substrate that is locally filled with electrically conducting, light emitting, insulating or optically diffracting materials. The invention is directed to a method of fabricating electrically passive components like inductors, capacitors, interconnects and resistors or optical elements like light emitters, waveguides, optical switches of filters on top or underneath of an integrated circuit by using porous material layer that is locally filled with electrically conducting, light emitting, insulating or optically diffracting materials. In the illustrated embodiment the fabrication of voluminous, solenoid-type inductive elements in a porous insulating material by standard back- and front-side-lithography and contacting these two layers by electroplating micro-vias through the pores is described. By using a very dense interconnect spacing, an inter-pore capacitor structure is obtained between the metalized pores and the pore walls utilized as insulators.
Abstract:
Optical switches and logic devices comprising microstructure-doped nanocavity lasers are described. These switches and logic devices have gain and thus can be cascaded and integrated in a network or system such as for example on a chip. Exemplary switching elements switch the intensity, wavelength, or direction of the output. Exemplary logic devices include AND, OR, NAND, NOR, NOT, and XOR gates as well as flip-flops. Microfluidic sorting and delivery as well as optical tweezing and trapping may be employ to select and position a light emitter in an nanooptical cavity to form the nanolaser.