Numerical calculation of diffraction coefficients from building edges using FDTD method

Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) Method and software are applied to obtain diffraction waves from modulated Gaussian plane wave illumination for right angle wedges and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is used to get diffraction coefficients in a wideband in the illuminated lit region. Theta and Phi polarization in 3-dimensional, TM and TE polarization in 2-dimensional cases are considered respectively for soft and hard diffraction coefficients. Results using FDTD method of perfect electric conductor (PEC) wedge are compared with asymptotic expressions from Uniform Theory of Diffraction (UTD). Extend the PEC wedges to some homogenous conducting and dielectric building materials for diffraction coefficients that are not available analytically in practical conditions. ^

Determining polarization dependent diffraction coefficients from building edges using FDTD method

Electromagnetic waves in suburban environment encounter multiple obstructions that shadow the signal. These waves are scattered and random in polarization. They take multiple paths that add as vectors at the portable device. Buildings have vertical and horizontal edges. Diffraction from edges has polarization dependent characteristics. In practical case, a signal transmitted from a vertically polarized high antenna will result in a significant fraction of total power in the horizontal polarization at the street level. Signal reception can be improved whenever there is a probability of receiving the signal in at least two independent ways or branches. The Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method was applied to obtain the two and three-dimensional dyadic diffraction coefficients (soft and hard) of right-angle perfect electric conductor (PEC) wedges illuminated by a plane wave. The FDTD results were in good agreement with the asymptotic solutions obtained using Uniform Theory of Diffraction (UTD). Further, a material wedge replaced the PEC wedge and the dyadic diffraction coefficient for the same was obtained.

Characterization and modeling of multi-conductor transmission line using Finite-difference Time-Domain method

A two-dimensional, 2D, finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to analyze two different models of multi-conductor transmission lines (MTL). The first model is a two-conductor MTL and the second is a threeconductor MTL. Apart from the MTL's, a three-dimensional, 3D, FDTD method is used to analyze a three-patch microstrip parasitic array. While the MTL analysis is entirely in time-domain, the microstrip parasitic array is a study of scattering parameter Sn in the frequency-domain. The results clearly indicate that FDTD is an efficient and accurate tool to model and analyze multiconductor transmission line as well as microstrip antennas and arrays.

A micro-opto-electro-mechanical system (MOEMS) for microstructure manipulation

Microstructure manipulation is a fundamental process to the study of biology and medicine, as well as to advance micro- and nano-system applications. Manipulation of microstructures has been achieved through various microgripper devices developed recently, which lead to advances in micromachine assembly, and single cell manipulation, among others. Only two kinds of integrated feedback have been demonstrated so far, force sensing and optical binary feedback. As a result, the physical, mechanical, optical, and chemical information about the microstructure under study must be extracted from macroscopic instrumentation, such as confocal fluorescence microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. In this research work, novel Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical-System (MOEMS) microgrippers are presented. These devices utilize flexible optical waveguides as gripping arms, which provide the physical means for grasping a microobject, while simultaneously enabling light to be delivered and collected. This unique capability allows extensive optical characterization of the structure being held such as transmission, reflection, or fluorescence. The microgrippers require external actuation which was accomplished by two methods: initially with a micrometer screw, and later with a piezoelectric actuator. Thanks to a novel actuation mechanism, the "fishbone", the gripping facets remain parallel within 1 degree. The design, simulation, fabrication, and characterization are systematically presented. The devices mechanical operation was verified by means of 3D finite element analysis simulations. Also, the optical performance and losses were simulated by the 3D-to-2D effective index (finite difference time domain FDTD) method as well as 3D Beam Propagation Method (3D-BPM). The microgrippers were designed to manipulate structures from submicron dimensions up to approximately 100 μm. The devices were implemented in SU-8 due to its suitable optical and mechanical properties. This work demonstrates two practical applications: the manipulation of single SKOV-3 human ovarian carcinoma cells, and the detection and identification of microparts tagged with a fluorescent "barcode" implemented with quantum dots. The novel devices presented open up new possibilities in the field of micromanipulation at the microscale, scalable to the nano-domain.

Periodic polymer photonic bandgap structures for on-chip optical cavities

Integrated on-chip optical platforms enable high performance in applications of high-speed all-optical or electro-optical switching, wide-range multi-wavelength on-chip lasing for communication, and lab-on-chip optical sensing. Integrated optical resonators with high quality factor are a fundamental component in these applications. Periodic photonic structures (photonic crystals) exhibit a photonic band gap, which can be used to manipulate photons in a way similar to the control of electrons in semiconductor circuits. This makes it possible to create structures with radically improved optical properties. Compared to silicon, polymers offer a potentially inexpensive material platform with ease of fabrication at low temperatures and a wide range of material properties when doped with nanocrystals and other molecules. In this research work, several polymer periodic photonic structures are proposed and investigated to improve optical confinement and optical sensing. We developed a fast numerical method for calculating the quality factor of a photonic crystal slab (PhCS) cavity. The calculation is implemented via a 2D-FDTD method followed by a post-process for cavity surface energy radiation loss. Computational time is saved and good accuracy is demonstrated compared to other published methods. Also, we proposed a novel concept of slot-PhCS which enhanced the energy density 20 times compared to traditional PhCS. It combines both advantages of the slot waveguide and photonic crystal to localize the high energy density in the low index material. This property could increase the interaction between light and material embedded with nanoparticles like quantum dots for active device development. We also demonstrated a wide range bandgap based on a one dimensional waveguide distributed Bragg reflector with high coupling to optical waveguides enabling it to be easily integrated with other optical components on the chip. A flexible polymer (SU8) grating waveguide is proposed as a force sensor. The proposed sensor can monitor nN range forces through its spectral shift. Finally, quantum dot - doped SU8 polymer structures are demonstrated by optimizing spin coating and UV exposure. Clear patterns with high emission spectra proved the compatibility of the fabrication process for applications in optical amplification and lasing.

A Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical System (MOEMS) for Microstructure Manipulation

Microstructure manipulation is a fundamental process to the study of biology and medicine, as well as to advance micro- and nano-system applications. Manipulation of microstructures has been achieved through various microgripper devices developed recently, which lead to advances in micromachine assembly, and single cell manipulation, among others. Only two kinds of integrated feedback have been demonstrated so far, force sensing and optical binary feedback. As a result, the physical, mechanical, optical, and chemical information about the microstructure under study must be extracted from macroscopic instrumentation, such as confocal fluorescence microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. In this research work, novel Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical-System (MOEMS) microgrippers are presented. These devices utilize flexible optical waveguides as gripping arms, which provide the physical means for grasping a microobject, while simultaneously enabling light to be delivered and collected. This unique capability allows extensive optical characterization of the structure being held such as transmission, reflection, or fluorescence. The microgrippers require external actuation which was accomplished by two methods: initially with a micrometer screw, and later with a piezoelectric actuator. Thanks to a novel actuation mechanism, the “fishbone”, the gripping facets remain parallel within 1 degree. The design, simulation, fabrication, and characterization are systematically presented. The devices mechanical operation was verified by means of 3D finite element analysis simulations. Also, the optical performance and losses were simulated by the 3D-to-2D effective index (finite difference time domain FDTD) method as well as 3D Beam Propagation Method (3D-BPM). The microgrippers were designed to manipulate structures from submicron dimensions up to approximately 100 µm. The devices were implemented in SU-8 due to its suitable optical and mechanical properties. This work demonstrates two practical applications: the manipulation of single SKOV-3 human ovarian carcinoma cells, and the detection and identification of microparts tagged with a fluorescent “barcode” implemented with quantum dots. The novel devices presented open up new possibilities in the field of micromanipulation at the microscale, scalable to the nano-domain.