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Graduate Exam Abstract


yusra obeidat

M.S. Final
October 3, 2014, 11 am-1 pm
Mechanical Engineering Conference Room
MODELING OF OPTICAL WAVGUIDES WITH POROUS SILICA CLADDINGS AND THEIR USE IN LEAC SENSORS

Abstract: ABSTRACT



MODELING OF OPTICAL WAVGUIDES WITH POROUS
SILICA CLADDINGS AND THEIR USE IN LEAC SENSORS



Integrated optical biosensors have many
advantages such as, low-cost, portability and
the ability to detect multi-analytes on a
single waveguide. They can be used in many
important applications including biosensing
applications.
Previous research work focused on the
issues of design, modeling and measurement of
the local evanescent array coupled (LEAC)
biosensor. The sensors were made using
conventional dielectrics such as SiO2 and SiNx.
The large increase in the complexity of
the integrated circuits has increased the need
for developing low-k dielectrics as new
materials to cope with the integration
challenges and improve operating speed.
Furthermore, optical interconnects are required
to be used and replace electrical interconnects
in ICs to meet future goals. This increases the
need for simultaneous manufacturing of
electronics and optics on the same chip using a
CMOS process.
The research conducted during my Master
of Science studies has addressed two important
goals. The first was to use models to calculate
surface and volume scattering losses in optical
waveguides, especially, ones with porous silica
cladding. The second goal was to use the
simulation results to demonstrate the
possibility of using porous silica in designing
optical waveguides and LEAC sensors.
By applying these models to porous
silica optical waveguides described in previous
publications, the agreement between their
experimental results and the models results has
been proved. Thus, these models can be used in
the future to calculate the scattering losses
in optical waveguides including ones with
porous silica cladding.
The main methods that are used to
prepare porous silica and the models that are
used to determine the effective index of porous
silica have been discussed. A Matlab modesolver
was used to simulate porous silica waveguides.
Predictions for sensor sensitivity and
waveguide loss as a function of waveguide
dimension have been made using modesolver
simulation results. The results demonstrate the
ability to use porous silica in LEAC sensors in
the future.


Adviser: Kevin Lear
Co-Adviser: Kevin Lear
Non-ECE Member: Olivier Pinaud, Math
Member 3: Sudeep Pasricha, ECE
Addional Members: no more

Publications:
not yet


Program of Study:
ECE 450
ECE 451
ECE 480A2
ECE 481A1
ECE 520
ECE 534
ECE 580A5
ECE 536