Abstract
Multimode interference (MMI) is a typical self-imaging phenomenon and has been widely exploited for optical devices like couplers and splitters. Usually, it utilizes solid waveguides only and thus has very limited tunability in self-imaging properties. This paper reports our original work on tunable MMI using a hybrid optofluidic waveguide. It is generated by the diffusion between miscible flows in a microchannel and consists of two parts: gradient-index liquid-liquid waveguide for light modulation and step-index liquid-solid waveguide for image formation. Simulation and experiments have shown successful realization of the real-time tuning of self-imaging properties. For detail, the image point (focal spot) width could be modulated from 7 μm to 16 μm, and the self-imaging period changes in the range of 500 μm by varying the fluid properties. It is foreseeable that such a hybrid optofluidic waveguide may find wider applications in lab-on-a-chip systems and optical devices.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4398-4403 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Lab on a Chip |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 23 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2015 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Biochemistry
- General Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering