Chin Yih Hong

Designing the refractive indices by using magnetic fluids

Magnetic fluid is a type of colloid consisting of magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in liquid carriers with the aid of surfactants and Brownian motion. Thus, the optical properties of magnetic fluids can be manipulated through the careful selection of magnetic particles and carriers. In this work, we give an example by designing a refractive index by using magnetic fluids composed of various carriers and particles, around 1.465 at 1.557 μm wavelength, which plays an important role in optical fiber communication. In addition, we also show how to achieve a desired flexibility in the tunable refractive index with externally varying fields by adopting suitable magnetic fluid films. These results reveal the feasibility of developing index-match or index-tunable devices using magnetic fluids.

Tunable optical switch using magnetic fluids

With a tunable refractive index, magnetic fluid can be applied to the development of adjustable optical devices. In this work, a magnetic-fluid-based optical switch is designed and characterized. The optical switch is formed by sealing magnetic fluid between two glass prisms. When a light is incident to one side of one of the prisms, a reflected light from the magnetic fluid film comes out from the same prism, whereas a transmitted light through the film emits from the other prism. It was found that the intensity ratio of the reflected light to the transmitted light can be manipulated by varying the external magnetic field strength. This implies that the light intensity can be switched between two paths. The switching efficiency also depends on the incident angle of a light into the prism. We then theoretically derive the incident-angle dependent switching efficiency to clarify relevant physical mechanisms.

Magnetically-modulated refractive index of magnetic fluid films

We developed a setup to probe the refractive index of the magnetic fluid films under external magnetic fields. This setup possesses a high resolution of 0.0001 in the measured refractive index. It was found that the refractive index of the magnetic fluid depends linearly on the concentration of the dilute magnetic fluid under zero field. For a given magnetic fluid film, the refractive index increases with the increasing field strength over a critical value, and then becomes saturated as the field reaches around 200 Oe. It is noteworthy that the magnetically modulated refractive index of the magnetic fluid films could have great potential in electro-optical applications.

Designing optical-fiber modulators by using magnetic fluids.

To reduce interface loss between optical fibers and devices in telecommunication systems, the development of an optical-fiber-based device that can be fused directly with fibers is important. A novel optical modulator consisting of a bare fiber core surrounded by magnetic fluids instead of by a SiO2 cladding layer is proposed. Applying a magnetic field raises the refractive index of the magnetic fluid. Thus we can control the occurrence of total reflection at the interface between the fiber core and the magnetic fluid when light propagates along the fiber. As a result, the intensity of the outgoing light is modulated by variation in field strength. Details of the design, fabrication, and working properties of such a modulator are presented.

Thermal effect on the field-dependent refractive index of the magnetic fluid film

The field-dependent refractive index (nMF–H curve) of the magnetic fluid film (MFF) is measured at various temperatures to investigate the thermal effect on the refractive index. It was found, at a certain temperature, that the refractive index becomes higher under higher magnetic fields. This nMF–H curve is moved toward the region with lower nMF when the temperature is raised. Since the variation in the refractive index of the MF under external fields is due to the formation of the magnetic columns, the structural patterns are then examined to clarify the origin of the change in the nMF–H curve with the temperature. Under a given field strength, the particles of columns are dispersed into the liquid carrier at a higher temperature. This depresses the phase separation in the MFF under fields, and in turn, reduces the refractive index of the MFF. The observed results also reveal that the temperature exhibits a compensation effect on the refractive index of the MFF with respect to the magnetic field.

Magnetic-fluid optical-fiber modulators via magnetic modulation

The authors develop an optical-fiber modulator using magnetic fluid as a cladding layer in this work. By applying magnetic fields, the authors reduced the optical-fiber modulator transmission. Experimental results show that the magnetically induced transmission loss of an optical-fiber modulator under external magnetic fields is dominated by the number of magnetic clusters in the cladding magnetic fluid. Furthermore, it was observed that the formation of magnetic clusters depends on the length of the fiber modulator. In this work, the authors also develop a theoretical model to clarify the transmission characterization of magnetic-fluid optical-fiber modulators.

Magnetochromatics of the magnetic fluid film under a dynamic magnetic field

The structure and the corresponding magnetochromatics of homogeneous magnetic fluid films under dynamic magnetic fields perpendicular to the film surfaces are investigated in this letter. During the application of a magnetic field from 0 up to 200 Oe, the structure in the magnetic fluid film evolves from a monodispersed state to a disordered-column state, and then to an ordered hexagonal structure. The column spacing for the instant hexagonal structure during the dynamic process was measured and found to vary from 2.41 to 1.83 μm when the field strength was raised from 60 to 200 Oe. Within this range, the hexagonal structure diffracts the visible light like an optical grating. Due to the dynamic variation of the column spacing with the increasing field strength, the color of the diffracted light changed unceasingly from red to blue when observed from a fixed point above the film. The results strongly suggest the possibility that optical devices may be developed by utilizing the magnetochromatics of magnet...

Combined Plasma Biomarkers for Diagnosing Mild Cognition Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease

A highly sensitive immunoassay, the immunomagnetic reduction, is used to measure several biomarkers for plasma that is related to Alzheimers disease (AD). These biomarkers include Aβ-40, Aβ-42, and tau proteins. The samples are composed of four groups: healthy controls (n=66), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=22), very mild dementia (n=23), and mild-to-serve dementia, all due to AD (n=22). It is found that the concentrations of both Aβ-42 and tau protein for the healthy controls are significantly lower than those of all of the other groups. The sensitivity and the specificity of plasma Aβ-42 and tau protein in differentiating MCI from AD are all around 0.9 (0.88-0.97). However, neither plasma Aβ-42 nor tau-protein concentration is an adequate parameter to distinguish MCI from AD. A parameter is proposed, which is the product of plasma Aβ-42 and tau-protein levels, to differentiate MCI from AD. The sensitivity and specificity are found to be 0.80 and 0.82, respectively. It is concluded that the use of combined plasma biomarkers not only allows the differentiation of the healthy controls and patients with AD in both the prodromal phase and the dementia phase, but it also allows AD in the prodromal phase to be distinguished from that in the dementia phase.

Hyper-high-sensitivity wash-free magnetoreduction assay on biomolecules using high-Tc superconducting quantum interference devices

In this work, we develop a platform for assaying biomolecules involving the measurement of alternating current (ac) magnetoreduction of magnetic reagent mixed with a detected sample. The magnetic reagent contains magnetic nanoparticles coated with a given kind of antibody, which associates with conjugated biomolecules. Then, the biomolecules can be quantitatively detected by measuring the ac magnetoreduction of magnetic reagent. To achieve hyper-high-sensitivity assay, a system utilizing a high-transition-temperature rf superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) as a sensor to probe the magnetoreduction of reagent due to the association between biomolecules and magnetic nanoparticles. Examples to assay multiactive epitope, single-active epitope, and small molecules are given to demonstrate the validity of the assay platform, as well as the hyper-high sensitivity.

Biofunctionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles for Specifically Detecting Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease in Vitro

Magnetic nanoparticles biofunctionalized with antibodies against β-amyloid-40 (Aβ-40) and Aβ-42, which are promising biomarkers related to Alzheimers disease (AD), were synthesized. We characterized the size distribution, saturated magnetizations, and stability of the magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with anti-Aβ antibody. In combination with immunomagnetic reduction technology, it is demonstrated such biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles are able to label Aβs specifically. The ultralow-detection limits of assaying Aβs in vitro using the magnetic nanoparticles via immunomagnetic reduction are determined to a concentration of ∼10 ppt (10 pg/mL). Further, immunomagnetic reduction signals of Aβ-40 and Aβ-42 in human plasma from normal samples and AD patients were analyzed, and the results showed a significant difference between these two groups. These results show the feasibility of using magnetic nanoparticles with Aβs as reagents for assaying low-concentration Aβs through immunomagnetic reduction, and also provide a promising new method for early diagnosis of Alzheimers disease from human blood plasma.