Tindaro Ioppolo

Micro-optical force sensor concept based on whispering gallery mode resonators

A micro-optical force sensor concept based on the morphology-dependent shifts of optical modes of dielectric microspheres is investigated. The optical resonances, commonly referred to as the whispering gallery modes (WGM), were excited by evanescently coupling light from a tunable diode laser using a tapered single-mode fiber. A compressive force applied to the sphere induces a change in both the shape and the index of refraction of the sphere leading to a shift in WGM. By tracking the shifts, the force magnitude is determined using solid silica as well as solid and hollow Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) microsphere resonators. A measurement sensitivity as high as dlambda/dF=7.664 nm/N was demonstrated with a 960 mum hollow PMMA sphere.

Tuning of whispering gallery modes of spherical resonators using an external electric field.

In this paper we investigate the electrostriction effect on the whispering gallery modes (WGM) of polymeric microspheres and the feasibility of a WGM-based microsensor for electric field measurement. The electrostriction is the elastic deformation (strain) of a dielectric material under the force exerted by an electrostatic field. The deformation is accompanied by mechanical stress which perturbs the refractive index distribution in the sphere. Both strain and stress induce a shift in the WGM of the microsphere. In the present, we develop analytical expressions for the WGM shift due to electrostriction for solid and thin-walled hollow microspheres. Our analysis indicates that detection of electric fields as small as ~500V/m may be possible using water filled, hollow solid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microspheres. The electric field sensitivities for solid spheres, on the other hand, are significantly smaller. Results of experiments carried out using solid PDMS spheres agree well with the analytical prediction.

High-resolution force sensor based on morphology dependent optical resonances of polymeric spheres

Performance characteristics of a force sensor concept based on the morphology dependent resonance (MDR) shifts of micro-optical resonators have been investigated. Previous experimental studies have indicated that microsphere sensors with diameters ranging between 30 and 950 μm may have force resolutions reaching 10−5 N [T. Ioppolo et al., Appl. Opt. 47, 3009 (2008)]. In the present, we carry out a systematic analysis and experiments to investigate the sensitivity, resolution, and bandwidth limits of MDR-based force sensors. Expressions for MDR shifts due to applied force in the polar direction are obtained for microspheres of various dielectric materials in the diameter range of 300–950 μm. The analyses are compared with experimental results for polymethylmethacrylate and polydimethylsyloxane (PDMS) microsphere sensors. The results show that the strain effect on MDR shifts is dominant over that of mechanical stress. It also indicates that force sensitivities of the order of a 1 pN are feasible using hollo...

Pressure tuning of whispering gallery mode resonators

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on solid and hollow microsphere optical resonators was investigated. The primary goal was to explore the feasibility of a micro-optical pressure sensor based on whispering gallery modes (WGMs) and to quantify the deleterious effect of environmental pressure changes on other WGM-based sensors. Expressions were developed for WGM shifts due to changes in hydrostatic pressure of the environment surrounding the spherical resonators. These expressions were validated through experiments in which the pressure-induced WGM shifts of hollow polymethyl methacrylate microspheres were monitored. The effect of atmospheric pressure variations on silica resonators is negligible, but hydrostatic pressure may be effective in the optical tuning of hollow polymer spheres.

Wall shear stress sensor based on the optical resonances of dielectric microspheres

We report an optical wall shear stress sensor based on the whispering gallery mode (WGM) shifts of dielectric micro-resonators. The optical resonators are spheres with a typical diameter of several hundred microns and they serve as the sensing element. The wall shear force acting on a movable plate is transmitted mechanically to the microsphere. As a result of the applied force, the shape of the resonator is perturbed leading to a shift of the optical resonance (WGM). The one-dimensional wall shear stress is measured by monitoring these WGM shifts. Shape perturbations of the order of a nanometer can be detected with this optical method. The measurement resolution and range can be optimized by using dielectric sphere materials of different stiffness covering a wide range of flows. Prototype sensors using PDMS spheres have been built and validated in a laminar Poiseuille flow and in a plane wave acoustic tube.

Whispering gallery modes of microspheres in the presence of a changing surrounding medium: A new ray-tracing analysis and sensor experiment

A simple plane wave, ray-tracing approach was used to derive approximate equations for the dielectric microsphere whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonant wavenumber and quality factor, as dependent on the surrounding medium’s refractive index. These equations are then used to determine the feasibility of a micro-optical sensor for species concentration. Results indicate that the WGMs are not sensitive enough to refractive index changes in the case of gas media. However, they can be sufficiently sensitive for measurements in liquids. Experiments were carried out to validate the analysis and to provide an assessment of this sensor concept.

Magnetorheological polydimethylsiloxane micro-optical resonator

We investigate the possibility of using magnetorheological polydimethylsiloxane (MR-PDMS) spheres as micro-optical resonators. In particular, the effect of a magnetic field on the whispering gallery modes (WGM) of these resonators is studied. The applied field induces mechanical deformation, causing shifts in the WGM. The microspheres are made of PDMS with embedded magnetically polarizable particles. An analysis is carried out to estimate the WGM shifts induced by an external magnetic field. An experiment is also carried out to demonstrate the magnetic field-induced WGM shifts in an MR-PDMS microsphere. The results indicate that MR-PDMS microspheres can be used as high-Q-factor tunable optical cavities with potential applications in sensing.

A photonic wall pressure sensor for fluid mechanics applications.

In this paper, we demonstrate a micro-optical wall pressure sensor concept based on the optical modes of dielectric resonators. The sensing element is a spherical micro-resonator with a diameter of a few hundred micrometers. A latex membrane that is flush mounted on the wall transmits the normal pressure to the sensing element. Changes in the wall pressure perturb the spheres morphology, leading to a shift in the optical modes. The wall pressure is measured by monitoring the shifts in the optical modes. Prototype sensors with polydimethylsiloxane micro-spheres are tested in a steady two-dimensional channel flow and in a plane wave acoustic tube. Results indicate sensor resolutions of ∼20 mPa and bandwidth of up to 2 kHz.

Magnetic field-induced excitation and optical detection of mechanical modes of microspheres

We propose a method to excite and detect the mechanical modes of dielectric microspheres. The mechanical modes are excited by simultaneously imposing static and harmonic magnetic fields on the spheres. They are monitored by simultaneously exciting and tracking the whispering gallery optical modes of the spheres. An analysis is carried out to investigate the relationship between the applied magnetic field and the corresponding whispering gallery mode shifts. Experiments were carried out to demonstrate the proposed magnetic field-induced excitation and optical detection method.

Effect of angular velocity on sensors based on morphology dependent resonances.

We carried out an analysis to investigate the morphology dependent optical resonances shift (MDR) of a rotating spherical resonator. The spinning resonator experiences an elastic deformation due to the centrifugal force acting on it, leading to a shift in its MDR. Experiments are also carried out to demonstrate the MDR shifts of a spinning polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microsphere. The experimental results agree well with the analytical prediction. These studies demonstrated that spinning sensor based on MDR may experience sufficient shift in the optical resonances, therefore interfering with its desirable operational sensor design. Also the results show that angular velocity sensors could be designed using this principle.