A bio-chip package comprises a substrate a first layer over the substrate comprising an image sensor. The bio-chip package also comprises a second layer over the first layer. The second layer comprises a waveguide system a grating coupler. The bio-chip package also comprises a third layer arranged to accommodate a fluid between a first-third layer portion and a second-third layer portion, and to allow the fluid to pass from a first side of the third layer to a second side of the third layer. The third layer comprises a material having a predetermined transparency with respect to a wavelength of a received source light, the waveguide system is configured to direct the received source light to the grating coupler, and the image sensor is configured to determine a change in the wavelength of the source light caused by a coupling between the source light and the fluid.

An integrated optofluidic system for trapping and transporting particles for analysis is provided comprising a planar substrate; a microfluidic channel; and a waveguide integrated with the channel. A microsphere particle in the integrated optofluidic system can act as a cavity, allowing light to circulate many thousands of times around the circumference of the microsphere. Optical trapping and transport is used for nanoscale positioning to excite the microsphere resonances. Sensitive measurements on molecules can be accomplished by monitoring changes in whispering gallery modes (WGMs) that propagate around the circumference of the microsphere. By using a broadband or supercontinuum light source, a microsphere can be trapped and many WGM resonances can be excited through the visible and near-infrared wavelengths simultaneously. After the resonances are measured using the waveguide transmission, the microsphere can be freed by decreasing the optical power and the process repeated with a different microsphere.

Optical analytical devices and their methods of use are provided. The devices are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. The devices include integrated illumination elements and optical waveguides for illumination of the optical reactions. The devices further provide for the efficient coupling of optical excitation energy from the waveguides to the optical reactions. Optical signals emitted from the reactions can thus be measured with high sensitivity and discrimination using features such as spectra, amplitude, and time resolution, or combinations thereof. The devices of the invention are well suited for miniaturization and high throughput.

The present disclosure concerns a photonic integrated circuit (10) and a method for interrogating a ring resonator (3) comprised therein. The circuit (10) comprises an optical port (4) for coupling light (L) into and out of the circuit (10). The circuit (10) further comprises a first waveguide (1) for receiving light (L1) from the optical port (4), and a second waveguide (2) for sending back light to the optical port (4). The ring resonator (3) is arranged between the first waveguide (1) and the second waveguide (2) for coupling a resonant wavelength () of the light therein between. The optical port (4) comprises a polarization splitting coupler for coupling light of a first polarization (P1) to and from the first waveguide (1) and coupling light of a second polarization (P2), orthogonal to the first polarization (P1), to and from the second waveguide (2).

An optical sensor arrangement for measuring an observable including at least one light source for generating a first light component of a first frequency including a first mode and a second light component of a second frequency including a second mode orthogonal to the first mode, an optical resonator having differing optical lengths for the first and second modes, at least one of the optical lengths being variable depending on the observable and a dependence of the respective optical length being different for the first and second modes, and a detector unit coupled to the optical resonator for coupling out the two light components and being configured for detecting a frequency difference between a resonance frequency of the optical resonator for the first mode and a resonance frequency of the optical resonator for the second mode.

The present disclosure is directed toward a target detector, a method of detecting a change in a target, target monitoring apparatus, and a method of monitoring a target. For example, a target detector includes a structure having a gain medium comprising a plurality of disordered nanostructure features and a target-sensitive material. In addition, for instance, the structure, when pumped, supports random lasing and exhibits a change in the gain of the gain medium and the random lasing in response to a change in the target. Accordingly, it is possible to use an appropriately fabricated random laser material as a detector or sensor for a target. In particular, example embodiments perform sensing operations by utilizing the properties of random lasing. That target may, for example, comprise a change in a physical parameter of an environment adjacent, surrounding or permeating the random laser material.

Optical analytical devices and their methods of use are provided. The devices are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. The devices include integrated illumination elements and optical waveguides for illumination of the optical reactions. The devices further provide for the efficient coupling of optical excitation energy from the waveguides to the optical reactions. Optical signals emitted from the reactions can thus be measured with high sensitivity and discrimination using features such as spectra, amplitude, and time resolution, or combinations thereof. The devices of the invention are well suited for miniaturization and high throughput.

This invention relates to a system and method for detecting target molecules using an optical sensor element including a photonic crystal constituted by a membrane of a chosen transparent material, being provided with a number of defined openings in a chosen pattern, a chosen number of the openings providing capture molecules having a high affinity to target molecules, the pattern being adapted to provide resonance at a chosen wavelength, or range of wavelengths. The system and method also moving a first fluid flow containing target molecules through the openings and after this conducting a second fluid flow containing a second reactant being different from the capture molecules but having a high affinity for the target molecules but a low affinity for other possible molecules in the first flow. By illuminating the sensor element at a chosen wavelength thus obtaining a resonance and imaging means for providing an image of the sensor element it is possible to detect tight leaking from the resonator. Analyzing means may then detect the captured molecules as well as the reactant having reacted with them based on the amount of light leaking from the resonator.

Methods and systems for label-free multiple analyte sensing, biosensing and diagnostic assay chips consisting of an array of photonic crystal microcavities along a single photonic crystal waveguide are disclosed. The invention comprises an on-chip integrated microarray device that enables detection and identification of multiple species to be performed simultaneously using optical techniques leading to a high throughput device for chemical sensing, biosensing and medical diagnostics. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A method for reducing loss in a subwavelength photonic crystal waveguide bend is disclosed. The method comprising: forming the subwavelength photonic crystal waveguide bend with a series of trapezoidal shaped dielectric pillars centered about a bend radius; wherein each of the trapezoidal shaped dielectric pillars comprise a top width, a bottom width, and a trapezoid height; wherein the length of the bottom width is greater than the length of the top width; and wherein the bottom width is closer to the center of the bend radius of the subwavelength photonic crystal waveguide bend than the top width. Other embodiments are described and claimed.