Optical Microbubble Resonators with High Refractive Index Inner Coating for Bio-Sensing Applications: An Analytical Approach

Abstract

The design of Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators (WGMRs) used as an optical transducer for biosensing represents the first and crucial step towards the optimization of the final device performance in terms of sensitivity and Limit of Detection (LoD). Here, we propose an analytical method for the design of an optical microbubble resonator (OMBR)-based biosensor. In order to enhance the OMBR sensing performance, we consider a polymeric layer of high refractive index as an inner coating for the OMBR. The effect of this layer and other optical/geometrical parameters on the mode field distribution, sensitivity and LoD of the OMBR is assessed and discussed, both for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarization. The obtained results do provide physical insights for the development of OMBR-based biosensor.

WGMode : A Matlab toolbox for whispering gallery modes volume computation in spherical optical micro-resonators

“…However, a future development of the WGMode toolbox could be envisaged to cover optical micro-bubble resonators [13].…”

“…For lasing applications of microresonators it is also related to the lasing characteristics since stimulated as well as spontaneous emission rates are inversely proportional to the mode volume whereas the lasing threshold is directly proportional to the mode volume [12]. For sensing applications of micro-resonators, the mode volume is a parameter connected with the coupling of the resonator and related to its sensitivity to external parameters [13].…”

Toward Real-Time Monitoring and Control of Single Nanoparticle Properties with a Microbubble Resonator Spectrometer

“…Various WGM microresonator geometries have been employed for sensing in solution, including microspheres, [9][10][11] microrings, 5,55 microtoroids, 6,56 microbubbles, [57][58][59] microdroplets, 60 microtubes, 61 and microbottles. 62,63 In particular, the variations and capabilities of hollow microresonators for sensing have been reviewed in detail elsewhere.…”

Whispering-Gallery Mode Resonators for Detecting Cancer

“…Optical resonator types are defined by their geometries and materials. The examples of geometries range from the heavily used mirroring [ 37 , 67 , 80 , 81 , 82 ] to microspheres [ 27 , 83 , 84 , 85 ], microgoblets [ 86 ], disks [ 21 , 80 , 87 ], microbubbles [ 88 , 89 ], microtoroids [ 90 ], and bottles [ 20 ]. Resonators generally utilize dielectric material.…”