Interband cascade vertical surface emitting lasers for optofluidic biochemical sensors

用于光流控生化传感器的带间级联垂直表面发射激光器

• 批准号: 355852-2009
• 负责人: Saini, Simarjeet
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=505551
• 关键词: Interband; cascade; vertical; surface; emitting

The objectives of this research program is to design and demonstrate single wavelength and tunable vertical cavity surface emitting semiconductor laser (VCSEL) diodes for the mid to far infrared wavelength (IR) range (2-50 microns) and to demonstrate a pilot photonic sensing system for trace gas analysis and single molecule detection using these new sources. The availability of electrically pumped low-cost VCSELs in the mid-IR wavelength region could be a major breakthrough for laser based sensing applications. Real-time trace-level gas detection is an area of fast growth with applications in such diverse fields as medical diagnostics, process control, national security, and environmental air quality monitoring. For example in order to effectively monitor the green-house gases to control global warming, there is a strong need for a sensor system for detecting and measuring trace gases in the atmosphere, especially those released by iron and steel processes, semiconductor foundries, auto emissions and livestock in farmlands. Similarly for the medical field, sensitive detection of the breath gases has the potential of becoming a non-invasive diagnostic test of components of blood that have characteristics of specific human diseases or dysfunctions of important human organs. Mid-Infrared (MIR) laser spectroscopy is an extremely effective tool for detection of various molecular trace gases which have fundamental vibrational absorption bands from 3 microns to 10 microns. Laser based sensor systems also have inherent advantages compared to chemical detectors such as rapid data collection and analysis and non-contact approach for measurements in hazardous environments. Demonstration of the new low cost VCSEL sources which can be arranged in two dimensional arrays will help to revolutionize this market and allow for portable sensor systems.

该研究计划的目标是设计和演示单波长和可调谐垂直腔面发射半导体激光器（VCSEL）二极管的中到远红外波长（IR）范围（2-50微米），并演示一个试点光子传感系统的痕量气体分析和单分子检测使用这些新的来源。中红外波长区域的电泵浦低成本VCSEL的可用性可能是基于激光的传感应用的重大突破。实时痕量级气体检测是一个快速发展的领域，应用于医疗诊断、过程控制、国家安全和环境空气质量监测等不同领域。例如，为了有效地监测温室气体以控制全球变暖，强烈需要用于检测和测量大气中的痕量气体的传感器系统，特别是由钢铁工艺、半导体铸造厂、汽车排放物和农田中的牲畜释放的痕量气体。类似地，对于医学领域，呼吸气体的灵敏检测具有成为血液成分的非侵入性诊断测试的潜力，所述血液成分具有特定人类疾病或重要人类器官功能障碍的特征。中红外（MIR）激光光谱是一种非常有效的工具，用于检测具有3微米至10微米基本振动吸收带的各种分子痕量气体。与化学检测器相比，基于激光的传感器系统也具有固有的优势，例如快速数据收集和分析以及在危险环境中进行测量的非接触方法。新的低成本VCSEL光源的示范，可以安排在二维阵列将有助于彻底改变这个市场，并允许便携式传感器系统。