Connecting optical communications with bio-sensing and bio-actuation

Abstract

Light(i.e., an optical signal) in its physical nature is an electromagnetic wave at a very high frequency and with a very small wavelength capable of interacting with micro and nano-scale structures. Leveraging these properties of optical signals at the nano-scale, we can design nano-systems for actuation and sensing that could enable the next generation of human-machine interfaces, medical treatment procedures, or the next generation of sensing technologies. In this dissertation, we have connected these technological advances in optical communication and merged them with the state of art bio-actuation technologies such as optogenetics and optogenomics and state-of-the-art nano-sensing technologies such as plasmonic sensing. We achieve this by leveraging the advances made in nanotechnology and nano-communication over the last decade and utilizing the material properties at nano-scale high-frequency designs. First, we present the design, analysis, and experimental results of such systems to support optogenetic excitation at cellular level resolution along with the optogenomic excitation. Then, we present the communication channel models for communications to the plasmonic sensing implants using optical frequencies with strategies to overcome the channel losses. In addition, we present the design and architecture of the optical beam forming system to dynamically steer optical signals that can target the sensing and actuation applications and enable precise control at excitation, reflection, and reception of optical signals. In the end, we present a novel concept of joint sensing and communication using plasmonic nano-antennas, along with a detailed analysis of excitation waveform, detection methods, and communication performance. --Author's abstract