Optofluidic lenses with horizontal-to-vertical aspect ratios in the subunit regime

Elliptical optofluidic lenses can provide tunable optical parameters in different optical planes. This tunability is achieved through modifications to the aspect ratio (AR). We present an optofluidic lens with a subunit AR. In our experimental analysis, we alter the shape of the microdroplet and observe a 10% reduction in the AR on applying a high voltage across the microdroplet. In our theoretical analysis, we observe improved tunability of focal length, longitudinal spherical aberration, and beam cone angle in the subunit AR regime compared to the superunit AR regime. We ultimately test and characterize the optofluidic lens in an imaging application.

Nanophotonic implementation of optoelectrowetting for microdroplet actuation

The development and ultimate operation of a nanocomposite high-aspect-ratio photoinjection (HARP) device is presented in this work. The device makes use of a nanocomposite material as the optically active layer and the device achieves a large optical penetration depth with a high aspect ratio which provides a strong actuation force far away from the point of photoinjection. The nanocomposite material can be continuously illuminated and the position of the microdroplets can, therefore, be controlled to diffraction limited resolution. The nanocomposite HARP device shows great potential for future on-chip applications.