Trapped rainbow techniques for spectroscopy on a chip and fluorescence enhancement

V. N. Smolyaninova, Towson University
I. I. Smolyaninov, University of Maryland College Park
Alexander V. Kildishev, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
V. M. Shalaev, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University

Abstract

We report on the experimental demonstration of the broadband "trapped rainbow" in the visible range using arrays of adiabatically tapered optical nanowaveguides. Being a distinct case of the slow light phenomenon, the trapped rainbow effect could be applied to optical signal processing, sensing in such applications as spectroscopy on a chip, and to providing enhanced light-matter interactions. As an example of the latter applications, we have fabricated a large area array of tapered nanowaveguides, which exhibit broadband "trapped rainbow" effect. Considerable fluorescence enhancement due to slow light behavior in the array has been observed.

Discipline(s)

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology