Abstract: An integrated optofluidic system for trapping and transporting particles for analysis is provided comprising a planar substrate; a microfluidic channel; and a waveguide integrated with the channel. A microsphere particle in the integrated optofluidic system can act as a cavity, allowing light to circulate many thousands of times around the circumference of the microsphere. Optical trapping and transport is used for nanoscale positioning to excite the microsphere resonances. Sensitive measurements on molecules can be accomplished by monitoring changes in whispering gallery modes (WGMs) that propagate around the circumference of the microsphere. By using a broadband or supercontinuum light source, a microsphere can be trapped and many WGM resonances can be excited through the visible and near-infrared wavelengths simultaneously. After the resonances are measured using the waveguide transmission, the microsphere can be freed by decreasing the optical power and the process repeated with a different microsphere.

Abstract: A spectrometer is provided, the spectrometer having an interferometer generating an interferogram by splitting an interferometer input signal between a reference arm and a variable delay arm, and introducing a delay between the split interferometer input signals prior to interfering the split interferometer input signals. The spectrometer additionally has a controllable delay element operable to adjust the delay introduced by the interferometer and a dispersive element outputting a plurality of narrowband outputs representative of a received broadband input signal. The interferometer and dispersive element are optically connected to output a plurality of narrowband interferograms representative of a spectra of a spectrometer input signal received by the spectrometer, and the plurality of narrowband interferograms are received by a detector array for analysis.

Abstract: An integrated optofluidic system for trapping and transporting particles for analysis is provided comprising a planar substrate; a microfluidic channel; and a waveguide integrated with the channel. A microsphere particle in the integrated optofluidic system can act as a cavity, allowing light to circulate many thousands of times around the circumference of the microsphere. Optical trapping and transport is used for nanoscale positioning to excite the microsphere resonances. Sensitive measurements on molecules can be accomplished by monitoring changes in whispering gallery modes (WGMs) that propagate around the circumference of the microsphere. By using a broadband or supercontinuum light source, a microsphere can be trapped and many WGM resonances can be excited through the visible and near-infrared wavelengths simultaneously. After the resonances are measured using the waveguide transmission, the microsphere can be freed by decreasing the optical power and the process repeated with a different microsphere.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods are described herein for a spectrometer comprising at least two dispersive elements configured to receive at least one input optical signal and generate two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, at least a portion of the at least two dispersive elements being implemented on a first substrate; and a single detector array coupled to the at least two dispersive elements and configured to receive and measure two or more pluralities of narrowband optical signals derived from the two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, respectively.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods are described herein for a spectrometer comprising at least two dispersive elements configured to receive at least one input optical signal and generate two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, at least a portion of the at least two dispersive elements being implemented on a first substrate; and a single detector array coupled to the at least two dispersive elements and configured to receive and measure two or more pluralities of narrowband optical signals derived from the two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, respectively.

Abstract: Embodiments of optofluidic devices or methods according to the application can provide on-chip, label-free, massively parallel analysis of analytes. An embodiment of the optofluidic device can comprise a microresonator, a waveguide optically coupled to the microresonator, and a fluidic channel that exposes an analyte to an evanescent field from the microresonator, wherein the light signal has a linewidth lesser than the width of at least one resonance of the light signal propagating in the microresonator. The light signal can be tuned across a spectrum of light wavelengths, wherein the spectrum of wavelengths includes one or more wavelengths defining the at least one resonance in the microresonator. The light transmission through the waveguide over the spectrum of wavelengths of the input light can be detected, and an absorption spectrum of the analyte can be determined.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods are described herein for a spectrometer comprising at least two dispersive elements configured to receive at least one input optical signal and generate two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, at least a portion of the at least two dispersive elements being implemented on a first substrate; and a single detector array coupled to the at least two dispersive elements and configured to receive and measure two or more pluralities of narrowband optical signals derived from the two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, respectively.

Abstract: An interferometer comprising a planar substrate is provided. The interferometer has a splitter formed on the planar substrate to split a received optical signal, a sample arm formed on the planar substrate to receive a first portion of the split optical signal and direct the first portion toward a sample, a reference arm formed on the planar substrate to receive a second portion of the split optical signal, and a detector element to receive an interferogram generated by interfering the second portion of the split optical signal with a received sample signal generated by the first portion of the split signal interacting with the sample.

Abstract: A spectrometer is provided, the spectrometer having an interferometer generating an interferogram by splitting an interferometer input signal between a reference arm and a variable delay arm, and introducing a delay between the split interferometer input signals prior to interfering the split interferometer input signals. The spectrometer additionally has a controllable delay element operable to adjust the delay introduced by the interferometer and a dispersive element outputting a plurality of narrowband outputs representative of a received broadband input signal. The interferometer and dispersive element are optically connected to output a plurality of narrowband interferograms representative of a spectra of a spectrometer input signal received by the spectrometer, and the plurality of narrowband interferograms are received by a detector array for analysis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods are described herein for a spectrometer comprising at least two dispersive elements configured to receive at least one input optical signal and generate two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, at least a portion of the at least two dispersive elements being implemented on a first substrate; and a single detector array coupled to the at least two dispersive elements and configured to receive and measure two or more pluralities of narrowband optical signals derived from the two or more pluralities of spatially separated spectral components, respectively.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods are described herein for implementing pixel-shifting or an interpixel shift to increase the effective dispersion and effective spectral resolution of a spectrometer in a manner which is faster, less complicated and more robust compared to conventional techniques that employ mechanical motion to implement pixel-shifting in a spectrometer that uses free space optical components.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses, systems and methods are described herein related to a spectrometer that can generate a plurality of narrowband optical signals having a wavenumber linear format without using an increased number of optical components and without an increase in signal processing.

Abstract: An integrated optofluidic system for trapping and transporting particles for analysis is provided comprising a planar substrate; a microfluidic channel; and a waveguide integrated with the channel. A microsphere particle in the integrated optofluidic system can act as a cavity, allowing light to circulate many thousands of times around the circumference of the microsphere. Optical trapping and transport is used for nanoscale positioning to excite the microsphere resonances. Sensitive measurements on molecules can be accomplished by monitoring changes in whispering gallery modes (WGMs) that propagate around the circumference of the microsphere. By using a broadband or supercontinuum light source, a microsphere can be trapped and many WGM resonances can be excited through the visible and near-infrared wavelengths simultaneously. After the resonances are measured using the waveguide transmission, the microsphere can be freed by decreasing the optical power and the process repeated with a different microsphere.

Abstract: Embodiments of optofluidic devices or methods according to the application can provide on-chip, label-free, massively parallel analysis of analytes. An embodiment of the optofluidic device can comprise a microresonator, a waveguide optically coupled to the microresonator, and a fluidic channel that exposes an analyte to an evanescent field from the microresonator, wherein the light signal has a linewidth lesser than the width of at least one resonance of the light signal propagating in the microresonator. The light signal can be tuned across a spectrum of light wavelengths, wherein the spectrum of wavelengths includes one or more wavelengths defining the at least one resonance in the microresonator. The light transmission through the waveguide over the spectrum of wavelengths of the input light can be detected, and an absorption spectrum of the analyte can be determined.