Monolithic integrated optics

Mogensen, K.B., Petersen, N., Htibner, J., Kutter, J., In-plane UV absorbance detection in silicon-based electrophoresis devices using monolithically integrated optical waveguides. Micro Total Analysis Systems, Proceedings 5th ytTAS Symposium, Monterey, CA, Oct. 21-25, 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, 2001, 280-282. 

Because of technical and economic reasons present-day optical circuits consist of components made to different systems. During this period optical elements deposited onto glass substrates are of considerable importance. However, the goal is to replace such hybride systems and to achieve a monolithic integrated optics. The question when this will occur is difficult to answer. 

Fig. 4.20. Illustration of monolithically integrated optical filter concept. The dye-doped PDMS substrate serves concurrently as microfiuidic conduit and optical longpass filter (Prom [32] - Reproduced by permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry)...

Lab-on-a-Chip Devices for Chemical Analysis, Fig. 10 Schematic of a monolithically integrated optical longpass filter. The structured dye-doped PDMS layer is able to serve concurrently as the microchannel medium and optical filter, negating the need for an additional filter layer and allowing for improved collection of the fluorescence signal, since the detector can he placed in closer proximity to the channel. The enclosed microchannels are... 

In this approach the detection architecture was not fully integrated on-chip. However, recently the same group reported a monolithically integrated optical longpass filter for use in microchip fluorescence detection [13]. The inte-... 

Magneto-optical properties of (In,Mn)As and (Ga,Mn)As have been studied in order to elucidate the origin of ferromagnetism as well as to explore the possibility of using these materials as Faraday isolators, suitable for monolithic integration with the existing semiconductor lasers. 

We have developed a low-cost and compact wavelength-shift detector suitable for the read-out of all kinds of optical sensors that ate based on a wavelength shift. Key features of this technology include compactness (chip-size), no mechanical parts, customized spectral resolution, fast read-out and monolithic integration. 

Mogensen KB, Petersen NJ, Hiibner J, Kutter JP (2001) Monolithic integration of optical waveguides for absorbance detection in microfabricated electrophoresis devices. Electrophoresis 22 3930-3938... 

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology has opened up many new opportunities for optics. For the first time, reliable microactuators and three-dimensional optomechanical structures can be monolithically integrated with micro-optical elements. This new technology will impact many applications including display, scanning, and telecommunications. In this paper, we will discuss two MEMS applications optical systems on a chip and monolithic integration of a large array of optomechanical devices. 

FIGURE 23 Modelocked semiconductor laser. External cavity, using a semiconductor optical amplifier as the gain element, and a monolithic integrated structure. 

Stacked planar optics, a new concept in integrating optical circuits, has been proposed. By using stacked planar optics, we not only make possible the monolithic fabrication of optical circuits, such as the directional coupler and wavelength demultiplexer, but we can also construct three-dimensional optical circuits by allowing coupling among individual components in the array with a suitable design. 

Unlike optical detection, integrated electrical detectors (impedimetric, electrochemical, most mechanical and thermal, certain magnetic) require electrode interconnections and on-chip electrical traces (conductive pathways) to connect to external electronics. Although this is an added complication, it is typically easier to implement than full monolithic integration of an optical excitation-and-detection system. 

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