Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
131 University of North Texas (142019)
Principal Investigator: Rout,Bibhudutta
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 160,260
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): No
Start and End Dates: 9/1/22 - 8/31/25
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Physics
Department, Center, School, or Institute: College of Science
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: Collaborative Research: PIC: Slow Wave Enhanced Electrooptically Tuned Michelson Interferometer Biosensor for On-Chip Dual Polarization Interferometry
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
National Science Foundation
CFDA Link: NSF
47.041
Program Title:
none
CFDA Linked: Engineering Grants
Note:
The COVID pandemic of 2020 demonstrated the need for low-cost, highly sensitive, rapid diagnostic testing of diverse pathogens across the globe. While silicon photonics enables such a label-free testing capability, a platform that works with a single wavelength laser and a single detector is still much desired. Fabrication imperfections lead to resonance wavelength offsets requiring a tunable laser or a wavelength filter in resonator type sensors, and phase errors in interferometric Mach-Zehnder sensors requiring external modulation-demodulation schemes. In this proposal, we propose a slow light silicon waveguide biosensor in an electro-optic (EO) phase shifter integrated asymmetric Michelson interferometer (aMI) for single-wavelength-laser-single-detector (SWLSD) sensing. Low voltage phase tuning is achieved with an energy-efficient thin film barium titanate (TFBTO) EO phase shifter integrated in a novel low-cost foundry compatible fabrication technique. Sensitivity is doubled compared to MZI by retracing the optical path in our device. Integrated on-chip dual polarization interferometry will enable real-time direct measurement of the thickness and refractive index of films in the vicinity of the sensor. The program will expose students to interdisciplinary research encompassing photonics, engineering, biochemistry and materials science. The project will culminate with the development of a USB powered palmtop optical biosensor kit with specific off-chip components offering hands-on research experience to high school and undergraduate students. Project members will engage in science and technology outreach targeting middle and high school students in greater Dayton, OH and greater Denton, TX counties by participating in successful programs already well-established at the two institutions.
Discussion: No discussion notes