Theory of two-dimensional grating couplers

Plasticized poly(vinyl chloride)-based photonic crystal for ion sensing

In this study, we, for the first time, developed a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)-based two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D-PhC) optical sensor using nanoimprint lithography (NIL), which can perform highly sensitive, fast, and selective ion sensing based on ion extraction. Concerning the principle of response, present plasticized PVC-based PhC works as a waveguide and a grating. Incident light was guided in the bulk of plasticized PVC and, then, guided light of a specific wavelength was diffracted by a periodic nanostructure. The guided and diffracted light intensity changes of PVC-based PhCs possessing various thicknesses were monitored at 580 nm; then, we found that the 0.35 μm-thick PhC film exhibited the highest diffraction intensity. For the ion-sensing application, potassium-selective sensing elements involving potassium ionophore and lipophilic dye were dissolved in a plasticized PVC-based PhC, and the K(+)-selective response was successfully observed by monitoring the diffracted peak intensity change. The present 2D-PhC optical sensor exhibited a fast response within 5 s (95% response time) due to the use of thin film, and sensitivity was 20 times higher than that of a PVC plane-film optical sensor, due to efficient collection of diffracted light by employing a periodic nanostructure of the photonic crystal.

Resonances in ferromagnetic gratings detected by microwave photoconductivity

We investigate the impact of microwave excited spin excitations on the dc charge transport in a ferromagnetic (FM) grating. We observe both resonant and nonresonant microwave photoresistance, which are caused, respectively, by spin and charge dissipations of the microwave power into the FM. A macroscopic model based on Maxwell and Landau-Lifschitz equations reveals the mixing of spin and charge dissipations, which shows that the ferromagnetic anti-resonance is shifted when the conductivity is anisotropic. We find that the microwave photoconductivity provides a powerful new tool to study the interplay between photonic, spintronic, and charge effects in FM microstructures.