Simon Mutzenich

Application of optical trapping to beam manipulation in optofluidics.

We introduce a novel method of attaining all-optical beam control in an optofluidic device by displacing an optically trapped microsphere through a light beam. The micro-sphere causes the beam to be refracted by various degrees as a function of the sphere position, providing tunable attenuation and beam-steering in the device. The device itself consists of the manipulated light beam extending between two buried waveguides which are on either side of a microfluidic channel. This channel contains the micro-spheres which are suspended in water. We simulate this geometry using the Finite Difference Time Domain method and find good agreement between simulation and experiment.

Application of optical trapping to beam manipulation in optofluidics

We introduce a novel method of attaining all-optical beam control in an optofluidic device by displacing an optically trapped silica micro-sphere though a light beam. The micro-sphere causes the beam to be refracted by various degrees as a function of the sphere position, providing tunable attenuation and beam-steering in the device. The device itself consists of the manipulated light beam extending between two buried waveguides which are on either side of a microfluidic channel. This channel contains the micro-spheres which are suspended in water. We simulate this geometry using the Finite Difference Time Domain method and find good agreement between simulation and experiment.

Micron-scale tunability in photonic devices using microfluidics

Optofluidics offers new functionalities that can be useful for a large range of applications. What microfluidics can bring to microphotonics is the ability to tune and reconfigure ultra-compact optical devices. This flexibility is essentially provided by three characteristics of fluids that are scalable at the micron-scale: fluid mobility, large ranges of index modulation, and adaptable interfaces. Several examples of optofluidic devices are presented to illustrate the achievement of new functionalities onto (semi)planar and compact platforms. First, we report an ultra-compact and tunable interferometer that exploits a sharp and mobile air/water interface. We describe then a novel class of optically controlled switches and routers that rely on the actuation of optically trapped lens microspheres within fluid environment. A tunable optical switch device can alternatively be built from a transversely probed photonic crystal fiber infused with mobile fluids. The last reported optofluidic device relies on strong fluid/ light interaction to produce either a sensitive index sensor or a tunable optical filter. The common feature of these various devices is their significant flexibility. Higher degrees of functionality could be achieved in the future with fully integrated optofluidic platforms that associate complex microfluidic delivery and mixing schemes with microphotonic devices.

Integrated tunable microfluidic interferometer

We demonstrate a tunable optical filter/sensor based on a microfluidic interferometer integrated onto a compact planar chip. The interaction of the beam with a water/air interface provides a tunable Mach-Zehnder response with 28 dB extinction ratio.

Hydrostatic actuation in MEMS

Hydrostatic actuation is a novel method of actuation in Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and provides advantages over other actuation techniques in current use. Hydrostatic actuation utilises a contained pressurised medium to straighten a bent hollow beam, similar to the Bourdon tube used to measure pressure in the macro world. Research has commenced at RMIT University to design and fabricate a microgripper prototype to validate this work. To simplify the design of this microgripper a virtual prototype has been initiated. This paper looks at the work carried out and verification of this virtual prototype using mathematical and finite element modelling. Further work to be undertaken will also be discussed.