Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor

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dc.citation.firstpagee4304en_US
dc.citation.journalTitleJournal of Visualized Experimentsen_US
dc.citation.volumeNumber66en_US
dc.contributor.authorAstley, Victoriaen_US
dc.contributor.authorReichel, Kimberlyen_US
dc.contributor.authorMendis, Rajinden_US
dc.contributor.authorMittleman, Daniel M.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2015-01-06T19:20:33Zen_US
dc.date.available2015-01-06T19:20:33Zen_US
dc.date.issued2012en_US
dc.description.abstractRefractive index (RI) sensing is a powerful noninvasive and label-free sensing technique for the identification, detection and monitoring of microfluidic samples with a wide range of possible sensor designs such as interferometers and resonators [1,2]. Most of the existing RI sensing applications focus on biological materials in aqueous solutions in visible and IR frequencies, such as DNA hybridization and genome sequencing. At terahertz frequencies, applications include quality control, monitoring of industrial processes and sensing and detection applications involving nonpolar materials. Several potential designs for refractive index sensors in the terahertz regime exist, including photonic crystal waveguides [3], asymmetric splitring resonators [4], and photonic band gap structures integrated into parallel-plate waveguides [5]. Many of these designs are based on optical resonators such as rings or cavities. The resonant frequencies of these structures are dependent on the refractive index of the material in or around the resonator. By monitoring the shifts in resonant frequency the refractive index of a sample can be accurately measured and this in turn can be used to identify a material, monitor contamination or dilution, etc. The sensor design we use here is based on a simple parallel-plate waveguide [6,7]. A rectangular groove machined into one face acts as a resonant cavity (Figures 1 and 2). When terahertz radiation is coupled into the waveguide and propagates in the lowest-order transverse-electric (TE1) mode, the result is a single strong resonant feature with a tunable resonant frequency that is dependent on the geometry of the groove [6,8]. This groove can be filled with nonpolar liquid microfluidic samples which cause a shift in the observed resonant frequency that depends on the amount of liquid in the groove and its refractive index [9]. Our technique has an advantage over other terahertz techniques in its simplicity, both in fabrication and implementation, since the procedure can be accomplished with standard laboratory equipment without the need for a clean room or any special fabrication or experimental techniques. It can also be easily expanded to multichannel operation by the incorporation of multiple grooves [10]. In this video we will describe our complete experimental procedure, from the design of the sensor to the data analysis and determination of the sample refractive index.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAstley, Victoria, Reichel, Kimberly, Mendis, Rajind, et al.. "Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor." <i>Journal of Visualized Experiments?,</i> 66, (2012) JoVE: e4304. http://dx.doi.org/10.3791/4304.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.3791/4304en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/78893en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherJoVEen_US
dc.rightsArticle is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.en_US
dc.titleTerahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensoren_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.type.dcmiTexten_US
dc.type.publicationpublisher versionen_US
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