Proof-of-principle of surface detection with air-guided quantum cascade lasers

Creators: Moreau, Virginie; Colombelli, Raffaele; Perahia, Raviv; Painter, Oskar; Wilson, Luke R.; Krysa, Audrey B.

Abstract

We report a proof-of-principle of surface detection with air-guided quantum cascade lasers. Laser ridges were designed to exhibit an evanescent electromagnetic field on their top surface that can interact with material or liquids deposited on the device. We employ photoresist and common solvents to provide a demonstration of the sensor setup. We observed spectral as well as threshold currents changes as a function of the deposited material absorption curve. A simple model, supplemented by 2D numerical finite element method simulations, allows one to explain and correctly predict the experimental results.

Additional Information

© 2008 Optical Society of America. Original Manuscript: February 12, 2008. Manuscript Accepted: April 5, 2008. Revised Manuscript: April 1, 2008. Published: April 21, 2008. This work was conducted as part of a EURYI scheme award (www.esf.org/euryi). The Caltech portion of this work was supported by the DARPA Center for Optofluidics (http://www.optofluidics.caltech.edu). This work is supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and by the Royal Society. The device fabrication has been performed at the nano-center "Centrale Technologique Minerve" at the Institut d'Electronique Fondamentale.

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