Optofluidic laser

Fig. 19.1 An optofluidic laser based on the OFRR. (a) SEM picture of the OFRR cross section. The wall thickness is 5 pm. (b) Side view of the OFRR laser. The pump laser is focused on the capillary and the OFRR laser emission can be out coupled through a waveguide. Reprinted from Ref. 18 with permission. 2008 Optical Society of America...

Fig. 19.3 Optofluidic laser setup (cross section view) fiber taper is used to evanescently couple out the laser emission...

Gersborg Hansen, M. Kristensen, A., Tunability of optofluidic distributed feedback dye lasers, Opt. Express 2007, 15, 137 142... 

Abstract Optical detection continues to dominate detection methods in microfluidics due to its noninvasive nature, easy coupling, rapid response, and high sensitivity. In this review, we summarize two aspects of recent developments in optical detection methods on microfluidic chips. The first aspect is free-space (off-chip) detection on the microchip, in which the conventional absorption, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, surface plasmon resonance, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopies are involved. The second aspect is the optofluidic (inside-chip) detection. Various miniaturized optical components integrated on the microfluidic chip, such as waveguide, microlens, laser, and detectors are outlined. 

At least two issues should be improved to fulfill the promise of optofluidic dye lasers as on-chip coherent light sotrrces. Firstly, new strategies should be developed to widen the laser wavelength range and to reduce the tuning time. Secondly, the optical pump source should be integrated onto the same laser chip, which should demonstrate the lowest laser threshold. 

Choudhury D, Rodenas A, Paterson L, Diaz F, Jaque D, Kar AK (2013) Three-dimensional microstructuring of yttrium aluminum garnet crystals for laser active optofluidic applications. Appl Phys Lett 103 041101... 

Different with the periodic tunable grating, the work shown below presents an amplitude tunable optofluidic phase grating [5]. The chip is made of PDMS, and an array of the microfluidic channels are beneath a thin layer of PDMS membrane, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The fluid has the same refractive index with the PDMS (n = 1.412). A green laser beam went through the chip in the perpendicular direction. Without applying pressure, the PDMS chip had no influence on the laser beam. By gradually increasing the fluid pressure, the... 

Another type of tunable optofluidic dye laser with deformable microdroplet was demonstrated by Salto et al. [6]. In this alternative laser cavity, it is a liquid microdroplet resonator embedded within an elastomeric material. As shown in Fig. 7, the droplet resonator was fabricated by an inkjet method the dye solution was then covered by prepolymer of PDMS. After the curing of the PDMS, the spherical microdroplet was encapsulated by the solid transparent elastomer. The droplet volume was controlled between 1 and... 

Optofluidics holds the most potential in lab-on-a-chip application. Being compatible with conventional microfluidics is the key advantage of elastomer-based tunable optofluidic devices. PDMS microfluidic chips are extensively utilized in biological and chemical studies. Due to similarities in materials and fabrication methods, PDMS-based tunable optofluidic devices can be easily integrated with other PDMS-based microfluidic devices to enable more complex and multiplexed functions. For example, tunable dye laser sources can be used... 

Li ZY, Zhang ZY, Scherer A, Psaltis D (2006) Mechanically tunable optofluidic distributed feedback dye laser. Opt Express 14 10494—10499... 

Song W, Psaltis D (2010) Pneumatically tunable optofluidic dye laser. Appl Phys Lett 96 081101... 

Figure 1 depicts the optofluidic circuit that is connected to the helium-neon laser. The aperture is filled with black ink to reduce the divergence of the laser beam. The microfluidic circuit comprises of the core fluid inlet, two cladding fluids, and two fluidic outlets. The core fluid inlet is injected with calcium chloride, while the cladding fluids are injected with distilled water. All the fluids flow out of the microfluidic circuit via... 

Song WZ, Vasdekis AE, Li ZY, Psaltis D (2009) Optofluidic evanescent dye laser based on a distributed feedback circular grating. Appl Phys Lett 94 161110... 

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