Photonics

Research in photonics at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences ranges in scope from fundamentally new tools, such as small-footprint, high-throughput multiphoton microscopes, through exceptionally high-power semiconductor lasers, to components and systems for next-generation optical networks for both the Internet and data centers, and into consumer equipment like 3-D displays. New areas are constantly explored by our nine faculty in the specialty, as photonics becomes more pervasive in our lives. Communications, displays, medicine, manufacturing and imaging are just a few applications.

The re-writable hologram of Albert Einstein shown as a 2-D figure was created with state-of-the-art technology developed by our group. Professor Masud Mansuripur, provoked considerable controversy by reminding the physics community that the commonly used Lorentz force law for charged particle motion is not relativistically invariant when applied to magnetic materials in the presence of an electric field; the suggested remedy is to return to an alternative force law proposed by Albert Einstein in 1908.

To view past updates, see the Research Updates Archive.

1) Biological Sensing Method Detects Substances at the Zeptomolar Level

Researchers, led by Judith Su, associate professor of optical sciences and biomedical engineering; have developed a groundbreaking biological sensing method capable of detecting substances at zeptomolar levels, an incredibly miniscule scale. The method, using Su's FLOWER device. Experts believe this represents a major leap forward in biosensing, with potential applications in drug discovery, toxin detection, and cancer screening. Su and her collaborators at UCLA won a $650,000 Phase 1, National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator grant last year to continue their investigations. Convergence Accelerator grants are awarded specifically to speed scientific research likely to produce beneficial applications for society.

In Matt Eichenfield's lab at Sandia National Laboratories, he and his team use multiple microwave frequencies to characterize a nonlinear phononic mixing device they built on a silicon wafer.

2) Good vibrations: New tech may lead to smaller, more powerful wireless devices

What if your earbuds could do everything your smartphone can do already, except better? What sounds a bit like science fiction may actually not be so far off. A new class of synthetic materials could herald the next revolution of wireless technologies, enabling devices to be smaller, require less signal strength and use less power.

3) Paper Explores Biochemical Sensors Capable of Detecting Single Molecules, Improves Usability with Less Fragile Sensors

A recent paper published by Light: Science & Applications, a Nature sub-journal with impact factor 19.5, in March 2024, titled "Ultra-high-Q free-space coupling to microtoroid resonators" focuses on Whispering gallery mode (WGM) microtoroid resonators. WGM are extremely sensitive biochemical sensors capable of detecting single molecules. However, their practical use is limited by the fragile and precise nature of the optical fiber coupling method. This research introduces a new method of free-space coupling using a long working distance objective lens and a digital micromirror device, achieving high sensitivity and eliminating the need for precise fiber positioning, which could pave the way for real-world applications of these sensors.

4) FLOWER is After Ovarian Cancer Detection

Prof. Judy Su’s work into FLOWER (frequency locked optical whispering evanescent resonator) is unlocking new possibilities for early detection of ovarian cancer before symptoms have even presented—meaning that many women can begin to receive treatment before the cancer has become severe. In Su’s recent paper, “An Integrated Approach to Protein Discovery and Detection From Complex Biofluids” Prof. Su discusses how the technology can sample items from the vaginal environment (a tampon, even) to detect proximal sources for tumor detection. This enables a proactive method for identifying ovarian cancer in patients with little to no risk—something that has the potential to become part of standard health tests that is less invasive than a pap smear.

5) Point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 sensing using lens-free imaging and a deep learning-assisted quantitative agglutination assay

The persistence of the global COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has continued to emphasize the need for point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests for viral diagnosis. The most widely used tests, lateral flow assays used in rapid antigen tests, and reverse-transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), have been instrumental in mitigating the impact of new waves of the pandemic, but fail to provide both sensitive and rapid readout to patients. Here, we present a portable lens-free imaging system coupled with a particle agglutination assay as a novel biosensor for SARS-CoV-2. This sensor images and quantifies individual microbeads undergoing agglutination through a combination of computational imaging and deep learning as a way to detect levels of SARS-CoV-2 in a complex sample.