Title :
Fabrication and characterization of a liquid core integrated interferometer
Author :
Bernini, Romeo ; Testa, Genni ; Zeni, Luigi ; Sarro, Pasqualina M.
Author_Institution :
IREA-CNR, Naples
Abstract :
We report the feasibility and the characterization of a microfluidic Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer. Unlike the conventional MZ interferometer based on solid core, in our MZ configuration the light is confined inside a low refractive index liquid core by antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW). So, the refractive index of the device core can be easily changed by replacing the fluid within it. We have demonstrated the operation of such device by measuring the spectrum of optical power transmitted from two different MZ configurations. The results show that interferometers with a good visibility can be achieved in good agreement with the theoretical results.
Keywords :
Mach-Zehnder interferometers; integrated optics; micro-optomechanical devices; microfluidics; optical fabrication; optical waveguides; refractive index; antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide; liquid core integrated interferometer fabrication; microfluidic Mach-Zehnder interferometer; optical power spectrum; refractive index liquid core; Liquid waveguides; Microfluidics; Optical device fabrication; Optical interferometry; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Optical waveguides; Power measurement; Refractive index; Solids;
Conference_Titel :
IEEE/LEOS Summer Topical Meetings, 2008 Digest of the
Conference_Location :
Acapulco
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1925-8
Electronic_ISBN :
1099-4742
DOI :
10.1109/LEOSST.2008.4590565
