Lab-in-a-Needle – Multiplexed Fiber Sensors for Bio-Medical Applications

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Detlef Kip
• Subject Area: Microsystems ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 404370478

In this project, we will use our newly developed fabrication capabilities of optical-grade dicing of micro-optical elements to explore the concept of a lab-in-a-needle realized in an optical fiber. We will concentrate on a detailed, mostly experimental but also theoretical evaluation of this new sensor concept, i.e. multiplexing of several, closely spaced sensors at the tip of a single fiber – a topic that has been hardly investigated up to now. The planned tasks will not only include several Fabry-Pérot (FP) sensor cavities but also a combination with evanescent-field-type sensors. Open questions like e.g. the achievable sensitivity and accuracy when using several adjacent FP cavities, possible detrimental cross-talk among certain sensors, ways to circumvent the latter effect, as well as excitation and light collection efficiencies of the proposed evanescent field sensors will be investigated in detail.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants