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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

$Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing$

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing

Published on: March 13, 2013

Heavy water detection using ultra-high-Q microcavities.

Andrea M Armani¹, Kerry J Vahala

¹Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, M/C 128-95, Pasadena, 91125, USA.

|May 27, 2006

Summary

Ultra-high-Q optical microcavities can distinguish chemically similar species. Researchers developed a sensitive Deuterium Oxide (D2O) detector using this technology, improving detection limits by an order of magnitude.

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Area of Science:

Optics
Analytical Chemistry
Materials Science

Background:

Ultra-high-Q optical microcavities (Q > 10^7) are valuable for differentiating chemically similar substances.
Optical absorption differences between heavy water (Deuterium Oxide, D2O) and regular water (H2O) affect microcavity quality factors.
Previous methods lacked the sensitivity required for detecting low concentrations of D2O.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a sensitive detector for Deuterium Oxide (D2O) in water.
To leverage the optical properties of microcavities for chemical sensing.
To demonstrate an improved method for distinguishing H2O and D2O.

Main Methods:

Utilized ultra-high-Q optical microcavities as sensing elements.
Measured the quality factor (Q) of resonators immersed in H2O and D2O.

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Focused measurements at a wavelength of 1,300 nm where optical absorption differences are most pronounced.

Main Results:

Observed significantly lower quality factors for resonators in H2O compared to D2O.
Achieved detection of D2O concentrations as low as 0.0001% (1 part in 10^6 by volume).
Demonstrated reversible detection through cyclic introduction and flushing of D2O.

Conclusions:

Ultra-high-Q optical microcavities offer a highly sensitive method for D2O detection.
The developed technique provides an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity over existing methods.
The microcavity-based sensor shows potential for real-time, reversible monitoring of D2O concentrations.