Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a HAMR head in which the SSC is fabricated adjacent the NFT where the SSC is formed on a substrate that has been protected from NFT fabrication processing conditions. As such, the substrate remains smooth so that the SSC formed thereover, is not negatively impacted by the NFT process conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic device for extracting and isolating DNA from cells. The device includes a support having an inlet port for receiving a sample containing a cell, an outlet port for dispensing DNA isolated from the cell, and a microfluidic channel disposed within the support and extending from the inlet port to the outlet port. The microfluidic channel includes a micropillar array, an inflow channel disposed between the inlet port and the micropillar array, and an outflow channel disposed between the micropillar array and the outlet port. The micropillar array includes micropillars spatially configured to entrap, by size exclusion, the cell, to immobilize DNA released from the cell, and to maintain the immobilized DNA in elongated or non-elongated form when hydrodynamic force is applied to the microfluidic channel. Systems and methods of making and using the device are also provided herein.

Abstract: Periodic high-index-contrast photonic crystal (PhC) structures such as two-dimensional arrays of air holes in dielectric slabs inhibit light propagation in bands of frequencies and confine light in dislocations where the lattice periodicity is broken. The present invention is a conceptually different approach to photon localization in PhC structures. The disclosed design concept introduces structural perturbations uniformly throughout the fabricated crystal by deliberately changing the shape or orientations of elements that form the lattice. Optimized introduction of such random structural perturbations produces optical nanocavities with ultra-small modal volumes and high quality (Q) factors of over 250,000. Applications of such disordered photonic crystal structures are disclosed for optical sensing systems and random nano-lasers.

Abstract: The use of optical microcavities, high-Q resonators and slow-light structures as tools for detecting molecules and probing conformations and measuring polarizability and anisotropy of molecules and molecular assemblies using a pump-probe approach is described. Resonances are excited simultaneously or sequentially with pump and probe beams coupled to the same microcavity, so that a pump beam wavelength can be chosen to interact with molecules adsorbed to the microcavity surface, whereas a probe beam wavelength can be chosen to non-invasively measure pump-induced perturbations. The induced perturbations are manifest due to changes of resonance conditions and measured from changes in transfer characteristics or from changes of the scattering spectra of a microcavity-waveguide system. The perturbations induced by the pump beam may be due to polarizability changes, changes in molecular conformation, breakage or formation of chemical bonds, triggering of excited states, and formation of new chemical species.

Abstract: An optical device that comprises an input waveguide, an output waveguide, a high-Q resonant or photonic structure that generate slow light connected to the input waveguide and the output waveguide, and an interface, surface or mode volume modified with at least one material formed from a single molecule, an ordered aggregate of molecules or nanostructures. The optical device may include more than one input waveguide, output waveguide, high-Q resonant or photonic structure and interface, surface or mode volume. The high-Q resonant or photonic structure may comprise at least one selected from the group of: microspherical cavities, microtoroidal cavities, microring-cavities, photonic crystal defect cavities, fabry-perot cavities, photonic crystal waveguides.

Abstract: Periodic high-index-contrast photonic crystal (PhC) structures such as two-dimensional arrays of air holes in dielectric slabs inhibit light propagation in bands of frequencies and confine light in dislocations where the lattice periodicity is broken. The present invention is a conceptually different approach to photon localization in PhC structures. The disclosed design concept introduces structural perturbations uniformly throughout the fabricated crystal by deliberately changing the shape or orientations of elements that form the lattice. Optimized introduction of such random structural perturbations produces optical nanocavities with ultra-small modal volumes and high quality (Q) factors of over 250,000. Applications of such disordered photonic crystal structures are disclosed for optical sensing systems and random nano-lasers.

Abstract: The use of optical microcavities, high-Q resonators and slow-light structures as tools for detecting molecules and probing conformations and measuring polarizability and anisotropy of molecules and molecular assemblies using a pump-probe approach is described. Resonances are excited simultaneously or sequentially with pump and probe beams coupled to the same microcavity, so that a pump beam wavelength can be chosen to interact with molecules adsorbed to the microcavity surface, whereas a probe beam wavelength can be chosen to non-invasively measure pump-induced perturbations. The induced perturbations are manifest due to changes of resonance conditions and measured from changes in transfer characteristics or from changes of the scattering spectra of a microcavity-waveguide system. The perturbations induced by the pump beam may be due to polarizability changes, changes in molecular conformation, breakage or formation of chemical bonds, triggering of excited states, and formation of new chemical species.

Abstract: An optical device that comprises an input waveguide, an output waveguide, a high-Q resonant or photonic structure that generate slow light connected to the input waveguide and the output waveguide, and an interface, surface or mode volume modified with at least one material formed from a single molecule, an ordered aggregate of molecules or nanostructures. The optical device may include more than one input waveguide, output waveguide, high-Q resonant or photonic structure and interface, surface or mode volume. The high-Q resonant or photonic structure may comprise at least one selected from the group of: microspherical cavities, microtoroidal cavities, microring-cavities, photonic crystal defect cavities, fabry-perot cavities, photonic crystal waveguides.