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Nanophotonics and Fiber Optics Group
Magdalena Nawrocka
PROJECTS
Nanophotonic
bio- and chemical sensors based on Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)
The ability to fabricate nanostructures allows us to develop sensor
devices that can detect extremely small measurands. One of the most promising applications is for the purpose of
single-molecule detection using SERS phenomenon - which strongly increases the Raman signal from
molecules attached to metal nanoparticles. The SERS signal can be additionally gained by a resonant structure and
delivered by waveguides, thus allowing ultra-sensitive detection of single molecules such as DNA, hazardous chemicals
or bio-agents, and cancer cells. Integration of these lab-on-chips with optical fibers will allow in-situ monitoring
of analytes and early disease diagnoses with the possibility of simultaneously applied local therapy.
Fiber-optic interferometric sensors for
dynamic measurements of pressure and temperature
The most important advantage of optical fibers used for sensing
applications is that the information is carried by light. In contrast to conventional electronic devices, fiber-optic
sensors can be applied in the presence of high electromagnetic interference and harsh environments. Numerous
applications require dynamic pressure measurements, ranging from fields such as automotive engineering and aerodynamics,
to acoustics, fluid control, blast waves and medicine.
We designed, built and tested fiber-optic sensors based on highly-birefringent fibers for the
purpose of dynamic pressure and temperature measurements. Construction of the fiber-optic sensors reduces undesirable
resonance oscillations, thereby making it possible to operate at frequencies higher by about one order compared to well
known piezoelectric sensors. Low-coherence interferometry was applied to arrange multisensor arrays for simultaneous
measurements of pressure and temperature. We also optimized the sensors performance by numerical modeling of
birefringent-polarization-interference detection system for fiber-optic sensors.
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