Chalcogenide waveguides with high width-to-height aspect ratios and a smooth exposed surfaces can serve as mid-infrared evanescent-absorption-based sensors for detecting and identifying volatile organic compounds and/or determining their concentration, optionally in real-time. The waveguide sensors may be manufactured using a modified sputtering process in which the sputtering target and waveguide substrate are titled and/or laterally offset relative to each other and the substrate is continuously rotated.

A specimen measurement device which detects a measurement object material according to the present embodiment, includes: a magnetic field applicator configured to apply a magnetic field to a measurement cartridge including a substrate, a first substance fixed on the substrate and specifically reacting with the measurement object material, a magnetic particle, and a substance fixed on the magnetic particle and specifically acting with the measurement object material; a detector configured to detect light passing through the substrate; and a controller configured to control the magnetic field applicator to perform a first operation to apply a first magnetic field in a direction to move the magnetic particle away from the substrate when a specimen solution containing the measurement object material is introduced into the measurement cartridge, and then perform a second operation to apply a second magnetic field in a direction to move the magnetic particle toward the substrate.

Chalcogenide waveguides with high width-to-height aspect ratios and a smooth exposed surfaces can serve as mid-infrared evanescent-absorption-based sensors for detecting and identifying volatile organic compounds and/or determining their concentration, optionally in real-time. The waveguide sensors may be manufactured using a modified sputtering process in which the sputtering target and waveguide substrate are titled and/or laterally offset relative to each other and the substrate is continuously rotated.

A sensing system for characterizing analytes of interest in a sample comprises a photonic integrated circuit with an integrated interferometer. The integrated interferometer is configured for spectroscopic operation. The integrated interferometer comprises at least a sensing arm and a reference arm, both the sensing arm and the reference arm having an exposable segment available for interaction with the sample, whereby the exposable segment of the reference arm has an optical path length which is smaller than twice the optical path length of the exposable segment of the sensing arm. The exposable section of the sensing arm is selective to the analyte of interest, whereas the exposable section of the reference arm is not selective to the analyte of interest.

An assay unit for carrying-out fluorescence-detected assays having a microfluidic chip with a microfluidic system to convey a sample or analyte solution through one or more microfluidic channels arranged on the chip, and a photonic system with two or more rectangular waveguide structures. The microfluidic channels and the waveguide structures cross each other at a detection site. In an assay area, where a certain microfluidic channel and a certain waveguide structure cross each other, one or more lateral surfaces of the core of the waveguide structure at least partially face an inner volume of the microfluidic channel, such that an evanescent field of light guided within the waveguide structure overlaps with a certain part of the inner volume of the microfluidic channel.

A system and method for forming a low cost optical sensor array. The sensor includes an optical fiber; a first nanocomposite thin film along at least a portion of the optical fiber for interrogating a first parameter through a correlated signal having a first wavelength; and a second nanocomposite thin film along at least a portion of the optical fiber for interrogating a second parameter through a correlated signal having a second wavelength different from the wavelength of the first parameter.

The method presented uses thermally emissive materials for the extraction of heat through the use of electromagnetic waveguides, wherein the emissive material comprises materials which emit electromagnetic radiation due to thermal excitation, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is coupled to electromagnetic waveguides; a receiver adapted to receive the electromagnetic radiation for utilization, wherein the extracted electromagnetic radiation may propagate arbitrary distances inside the waveguides before the need for processing, for example, to maximize the temperature differential between the emissive material and that of the receiver; and the exchange of the chemical composition of some portion of the environment the apparatus is housed in. The thermal energy extraction apparatus described herein has the purpose of removing heat from a source for conversion to other forms of energy such as electricity and for thermal management applications. Wherein for heat management, the benefit of waveguides would constitute reduced interference with electronics through electromagnetic coupling.

Provided are an optical sensor and an analyzer, including an optical sensor section in which a cladding layer of an optical fiber is removed so as to expose a core layer by a predetermined optical path length, and a protective material is added to a surface of the exposed core layer, the protective material having higher resistance to an organic solvent, base, or acid than that of the cladding layer; a light source device that causes light to enter one end of the optical fiber; a light receiving device that receives transmitted light emitted from another end of the optical fiber; and a control device that controls the light source device and the light receiving device to measure optical transmittance in the optical sensor based on a ratio of intensity of the light emitted from the light source device to intensity of the light received by the light receiving device.

A specimen measurement device which detects a measurement object material according to the present embodiment, includes: a magnetic field applicator configured to apply a magnetic field to a measurement cartridge including a substrate, a first substance fixed on the substrate and specifically reacting with the measurement object material, a magnetic particle, and a substance fixed on the magnetic particle and specifically acting with the measurement object material; a detector configured to detect light passing through the substrate; and a controller configured to control the magnetic field applicator to perform a first operation to apply a first magnetic field in a direction to move the magnetic particle away from the substrate when a specimen solution containing the measurement object material is introduced into the measurement cartridge, and then perform a second operation to apply a second magnetic field in a direction to move the magnetic particle toward the substrate.

A side illuminated multi point multi parameter optical fiber sensor that requires no sensitive coating is provided. This sensor comprises an optical fiber having at least one removed cladding section as the sensitive region, at least one probing light source that side illuminates the fiber, a power supply, a detector, a signal processor and a display. The sensitive optical fiber is optically affected by the presence of a measurand medium that can fluoresce, phosphoresce, absorb and/or scatter the probing light. This probing light is guided by the fiber core towards a detector which measures the light intensity and this light intensity is correlated with a measurand.