Optofluidics in photonic crystal fibers

Xiao, L. and Peacock, A.C. (2013) Optofluidics in photonic crystal fibers. The 3rd International Conference on Optofluidics 2013, Hong Kong. 15 - 17 Aug 2013.

Abstract

The micro-hole channels inside Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) open up new opportunities for integrated microfluidics. Compared to their planar counterparts, PCF devices offer a number of advantages such as long lengths, 2D waveguide design flexibility, relative ease of fabrication, and robustness. In this talk, we will begin by reviewing the progress of optofluidics in PCFs. Specifically we will show how microfluidics can enhance the functionalities of PCFs, for example, by making them highly tunable, reconfigurable and adaptive. We will then discuss how these PCFs and PCF-based devices can be exploited for advanced microfluidic applications such as spectroscopy, bio-sensing, medicine, as well as environmental monitoring and novel lasers. Following this, we will introduce our recent progress in all-in-fiber PCF optofluidic microcells. We have developed a new technique to seamlessly integrate the PCFs with standard fibers, with advantages such as compactness, isolation from the environment (i.e., eliminating evaporation), high efficiency, as well as easy launching and detection of light. Furthermore, by using a pulsed CO₂ laser to seal the cladding holes of the PCF extremities we can isolate the core with minimal structural deformation along the length (deformation region is limited to ~10 µm), so that the guiding properties are not disturbed. Using different PCF designs, we will demonstrate strong cascaded stimulated Raman scattering in fluids with indices both higher (toluene) and lower (ethanol) than silica, possible due to the 2D structure. We will also discuss the use of this all-in-fiber platform to detect the aqueous solutions of biomolecules with high sensitivity.

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Contributors

Author: A.C. Peacock

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