Inteferometric Sensor Basid on Slab Waveguide

Abstract

The present invention provides a sensor having, one or more optical slab waveguides having one or more target regions. The target regions may interact with gas molecules or trap, entrain or capture one or more targets of interest. The optical slab waveguides are adapted to receive one or more input optical beams from one or more light sources to create a plurality of propagating optical waves in optical slab waveguide. The propagating optical waves interact with said one or more target regions to create an optical output wavefront that may be in the form of a diffraction pattern. The target regions may be functionalized with an antibody, polymer, cell, tissue, or biological material.

1 . A sensor comprising:
 an optical slab waveguide having one or more target regions, said target regions trap one or more targets of interest;   said optical slab waveguide adapted to receive one or more input optical beams from one or more light sources;   a plurality of propagating optical waves created in said optical slab waveguide; and   said propagating optical waves interact with said one or more target regions to create an optical output wavefront.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said one or more target regions are functionalized with an antibody, polymer, cell, tissue, or biological material. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of propagating optical waves are modified by said one or more target regions to create an optical output wavefront that forms a diffraction pattern. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said optical source is not a tunable, narrow linewidth optical source. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said sensors includes a plurality of optical slab waveguides. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor of  claim 1  further including one or more optical manipulators that transform said optical wavefront prior to conversion into an electronic signal by one or more photodetector arrays. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The sensor of  claim 11  wherein said optical manipulators separate said optical wavefront into different angular frequencies. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor of  claim 11  wherein said optical manipulators modulate the phase and amplitude of said optical wavefront. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor of  claim 11  wherein said one or more optical manipulators include filters, lens, polarizers and masks or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor of  claim 1  further including one or more arrangements that increase the length of said propagating optical waves. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor of  claim 16  wherein said arrangements recirculate said propagating optical waves in the slab waveguide. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor of  claim 16  wherein said arrangements are air-filled openings in said waveguide that partially reflect said propagating optical waves. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor of  claim 1  further including a substrate having a photonic crystal layer on which said slab is located, said slab having a higher index of refraction than said photonic layer, and said optical source having a wavelength greater than the thickness of said slab. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor of  claim 19  wherein said photonic crystal layer is one-dimensional. 
     
     
         21 . The sensor of  claim 19  wherein said photonic crystal layer is comprised of alternating layers of high and low refractive index material along the z-axis of said sensor. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A sensor comprising:
 an optical slab waveguide having one or more target regions, said target regions interact with one or more targets of interest;   said optical slab waveguide adapted to receive one or more input optical beams from one or more light sources;   a plurality of propagating optical waves created in said optical slab waveguide; and   said propagating optical waves interact with said one or more target regions to create an optical output wavefront.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The sensor of  claim 23  wherein said target regions include one or more functional polymers that directly interact with target gas molecules, said interaction of said gas and said polymers modifies the optical absorption or refractive index of the polymer. 
     
     
         26 . The sensor of  claim 23  wherein said plurality of propagating optical waves are modified by said one or more target regions to create an optical output wavefront that forms a diffraction pattern. 
     
     
         27 . The sensor of  claim 23  further including a plurality of spaced apart target regions separated by non-functionalized regions. 
     
     
         28 . The sensor of  claim 27  further including a plurality propagating optical waves, said propagating optical waves having different degrees of sensitivity to a target of interest. 
     
     
         29 . The sensor of  claim 27  wherein said propagating optical waves have a different degree of sensitivity to a target of interest as a result of said spaced apart target regions being separated by non-functionalized regions. 
     
     
         30 . The sensor of  claim 27  wherein each target region has a different configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The sensor of  claim 27  wherein each target region has a different pattern. 
     
     
         32 - 56 . (canceled)