CHIP-SIZE WAVELENGTH DETECTORS

Abstract

Chip-size wavelength detectors are described that can resolve the spectrum of the incident light with high accuracy over a broad spectral range. The devices can be configured either as compact spectrometers or precise wavelength shift detectors. Applications that are anticipated to benefit from the spectrometers include reagentless optical identification of analytes in fluidic and aerosol samples. The wavelength shift detector is widely applicable as read-out instrument for optical sensors in which a stimulus (e.g., temperature, strain, PH-value, etc.) results in a wavelength shift of an optical output signal, examples include the interrogation system for Fiber Bragg Grating sensors, photonic crystal sensors, Fabry-Perot type sensors, and sensors in which an analyte influences a laser cavity and thereby its emission wavelength.