Apparatus and method for resonant chemical and biological sensing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing an agent in an environment, the apparatus comprising:
- a resonator having a resonance frequency and comprising a photonic crystal fiber, the photonic crystal fiber comprising;
a solid region configured to guide a substantially single optical mode of light, the substantially single optical mode having an evanescent tail;
a first cladding surrounding an exterior of the solid region, the first cladding comprising a first periodic hole structure; and
a polymer coating the first cladding, the polymer being at least partially porous having an embedded indicator, the first cladding and polymer together configured to extend a portion of the evanescent tail into the first cladding and the polymer;
wherein the resonator is configured to produce a resonance shape centered at the resonance frequency, a predetermined change in the resonance shape indicating a reaction of the embedded indicator to the agent.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method are provided for chemical and biological agent sensing. The sensing apparatus includes a resonator having a resonance frequency. The resonator includes a coil of a photonic crystal fiber. The photonic crystal fiber has a solid region configured to guide a substantially single optical mode of light having an evanescent tail, a first cladding surrounding an exterior of the solid region, and a polymer coating the first cladding. The polymer has an embedded indicator. The first cladding and polymer are together configured to extend a portion of the evanescent tail into the polymer. The resonator is configured to produce a resonance shape centered at the resonance frequency. A predetermined change in the resonance shape or the free spectral range indicates a reaction of the indicator to the agent.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing an agent in an environment, the apparatus comprising:
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a resonator having a resonance frequency and comprising a photonic crystal fiber, the photonic crystal fiber comprising; a solid region configured to guide a substantially single optical mode of light, the substantially single optical mode having an evanescent tail; a first cladding surrounding an exterior of the solid region, the first cladding comprising a first periodic hole structure; and a polymer coating the first cladding, the polymer being at least partially porous having an embedded indicator, the first cladding and polymer together configured to extend a portion of the evanescent tail into the first cladding and the polymer; wherein the resonator is configured to produce a resonance shape centered at the resonance frequency, a predetermined change in the resonance shape indicating a reaction of the embedded indicator to the agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for sensing an agent in an environment, the apparatus comprising:
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a tunable light source providing an input light; a resonator having a resonance frequency and comprising a coil, the coil comprising a photonic crystal fiber, the photonic crystal fiber comprising; a solid region configured to guide a substantially single optical mode of light, the substantially single optical mode having an evanescent tail; a first cladding surrounding the solid region and comprising a photonic crystalline structure; and a polymer coating the first cladding, the polymer being at least partially porous and having an embedded indicator, the first cladding and the polymer together configured to extend a portion of the evanescent tail into the first cladding and the polymer; wherein the resonator produces a resonance shape centered at the resonance frequency as the tunable light source is tuned through a region about the resonance frequency, a predetermined change in at least one of the resonance shape and a free spectral range indicating a reaction of the embedded indicator to the agent. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for sensing an agent in an environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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propagating a light wave in a single optical mode through a photonic crystal fiber coil, the photonic crystal fiber coil comprising a solid region, a cladding surrounding the solid region, and a polymer coating the cladding, the polymer having an indicator incorporated therein; producing a resonance shape from the single optical mode in which the light wave is propagating through the photonic crystal fiber coil; and detecting a predetermined change in the resonance shape, the predetermined change indicating a reaction of the indicator to the agent. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification