All-polymeric high-Q optofluidic Fabry-Perot resonator

Area of Science:

• Optofluidics
• Polymer optics
• Resonator devices

Background:

• Fabry-Perot resonators are crucial optical components.
• Existing fabrication methods can be complex and costly.
• Need for high-performance, easily fabricated optical sensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and test a novel all-polymeric optofluidic Fabry-Perot resonator.
• To demonstrate its high quality factor and sensing capabilities.
• To offer a simplified fabrication route for optical resonators.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a multilayer polymeric film structure.
• Utilizing interference mirrors for high reflectivity.
• Testing the resonator's optical quality factor and finesse.
• Evaluating refractometric sensing performance.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high quality factor (Q) of 3.03×10^4 and finesse of 91.
• Demonstrated a high sensitivity of 314 nm/RIU for refractometric sensing.
• Obtained a low limit of detection of 2.55×10^-5 RIU.
• Reported a figure of merit of 1.36×10^4 RIU^-1.

Conclusions:

• The all-polymeric Fabry-Perot resonator offers a simplified fabrication process.
• Its performance is comparable to state-of-the-art photonic crystal and whispering gallery mode resonators.
• This device presents a promising platform for high-performance optofluidic sensing applications.