Integrated Mid-Infrared optical microcavity sensors

We propose to produce the first optical microcavity sensors fabricated from high-purity chalcogenide glasses that operate in the molecular fingerprint region of the spectrum between 2.5 and 20µm. The devices will be capable of detecting trace quantities of toxic or illicit substances such as poisons, pesticides, drugs and explosives as well as molecular gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane. The project, therefore, involves development of optimized materials and structures that lead to label-free mid-infrared (MIR) optical microcavity sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity and selectivity for multi-species sensing.