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Transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeters are advanced cryogenic detectors that use a superconducting film for particle or photon detection. We are establishing a new production line for TES detectors to serve as cryogenic anticoincidence (i.e., veto) devices. These detectors are made with a superconducting bilayer of titanium (Ti) and gold (Au) thin films deposited via electron beam evaporation in a high vacuum condition on a monocrystalline silicon substrate. In this work, we report on the development of such sensors, aiming to achieve stable sensing performance despite the effects of aging. For this purpose, patterned and non-patterned Ti/Au bilayer samples with varying geometries and thicknesses were fabricated using microfabrication technology. To characterize the detectors, we present and discuss initial results from repeated resistance-temperature (R-T) measurements over time, conducted on different samples, thereby augmenting existing literature data. Additionally, we present a discussion of the sensor's degradation over time due to aging effects and test a potential remedy based on an easy annealing procedure. In our opinion, this work establishes the groundwork for our new TES detector production line.

This paper investigates how the electromechanical response of MEMS/NEMS devices changes when the geometrical characteristics of their embedded flexural hinges are modified. The research is dedicated particularly to MEMS/NEMS devices which are actuated by means of rotary comb-drives. The electromechanical behavior of a chosen rotary device is assessed by studying the rotation of the end effector, the motion of the comb-drive mobile fingers, the actuator's maximum operating voltage, and the stress sustained by the flexure when the flexure's shape, length, and width change. The results are compared with the behavior of a standard revolute joint. Outcomes demonstrate that a linear flexible beam cannot perfectly replace the revolute joint as it induces a translation that strongly facilitates the pull-in phenomenon and significantly increases the risk of ruptures of the comb-drives. On the other hand, results show how curved beams provide a motion that better resembles the revolute motion, preserving the structural integrity of the device and avoiding the pull-in phenomenon. Finally, results also show that the end effector motion approaches most precisely the revolute motion when a fine tuning of the beam's length and width is performed.

This work presents a compact and sensitive refractive index sensor able to evaluate the concentration of an analyte in a sample. Its working principle leverages on the changes in the optical absorption features introduced by the sample itself on the evanescent waves of a light beam. The device's high compactness is achieved by embedding the sample-light interaction site and the detector in a 1 cm 2 glass substrate, thanks to microelectronics technologies. High sensitivity is obtained by employing a low-noise p-i-n hydrogenated amorphous silicon junction, whose manufacture process requires only four UV lithographic steps on a glass substrate, thus ensuring low production costs. The system's capabilities are investigated by sensing the sugar content in three commercial beverages. Sensitivities of 32, 53 and 80 pA/% and limits of detection of 47, 29 and 18 ppm are achieved. The above performance is comparable with state-of-the-art results available in the literature, where more complex optical setups, expensive instrumentation and bulky devices are used.

An optoelectronic, integrated system-on-glass for on-chip detection of biomolecules is here presented. The system's working principle is based on the interaction, detected by a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photosensor, between a monochromatic light travelling in a SU-8 polymer optical waveguide and the biological solution under analysis. Optical simulations of the waveguide coupling to the thin-film photodiode with a specific design were carried out. A prototype was fabricated and characterized showing waveguide optical losses of about 0.6 dB/cm, a photodiode shot noise current of about 2.5 fA/Hz and responsivity of 495 mA/W at 532 nm. An electro-optical coupling test was performed on the fabricated device to validate the system. As proof of concept, hemoglobin was studied as analyte for a demonstration scenario, involving optical simulations interpolated with experimental data. The calculated detection limit of the proposed system for hemoglobin concentration in aqueous solution is around 100 ppm, in line with colorimetric methods currently on the market. These results show the effectiveness of the proposed system in biological detection applications and encourage further developments in implementing these kinds of devices in the biomedical field.

In this paper we review the state of the art in the field of liquid-crystal tunable guided-wave photonic devices, a unique type of fill-once, molecular-level actuated, optofluidic systems. These have recently attracted significant research interest as potential candidates for low-cost, highly functional photonic elements. We cover a full range of structures, which span from micromachined liquid-crystal on silicon devices to periodic structures and liquid-crystal infiltrated photonic crystal fibers, with focus on key-applications for photonics. Various approaches on the control of the LC molecular orientation are assessed, including electro-, thermo- and all-optical switching. Special attention is paid to practical issues regarding liquid-crystal infiltration, molecular alignment and actuation, low-power operation, as well as their integrability in chip-scale or fiber-based devices.

We report on the investigation and characterization of an optically tunable filtering effect, observed in a waveguide grating made of alternated strips of photocurable polymer and a mixture of azo-dye-doped liquid crystal. The grating is sandwiched between two borosilicate glasses, one of which includes an ion-exchanged channel waveguide, which confines the optical signal to be filtered. Exposure to a low power visible light beam modifies the azo-dye molecular configuration, thus allowing the filtered wavelength to be tuned over a 6.6 nm range. Simulations of the filtering response are well described with our experimental findings.

We propose and numerically investigate a versatile and easy-to-realize configuration for a guided-wave voltage-tunable distributed feedback grating based on reorientation in nematic liquid crystal and coplanar comb electrodes. The device has a wide tuning range exceeding 100 nm and covers C and L bands for wavelength division multiplexing.

We design a distributed feedback guided-wave device in liquid crystals, utilizing a simple geometry based on electro-optic molecular reorientation in uniaxial nematics. We numerically test the structure and demonstrate an effective Bragg reflector with voltage-tunable resonance.

We report the fabrication and the optical characterization of a hybrid tunable integrated optical filter. It consists of a diffused ion-exchanged channel waveguide on a borosilicate glass substrate with a cover of the same glass to form a gap filled with a holographic grating. The grating morphology, called POLICRYPS (POlymer LIquid CRYstal Polymer Slices), is made of alternating stripes of polymer and liquid crystal acting as overlayer for the underneath waveguide. The filter structure includes aluminum coplanar electrodes to electrically control the grating properties, allowing the tunability of the filter. The electric driving power required to tune the filter obtained was in the range of submilliwatts due to the efficient liquid crystal electro-optic effect.

We propose a versatile guided-wave geometry encompassing electro-optic control for signal routing. A zero-gap directional coupler in liquid crystal can switch between two output states in the guide plane, permitting signal rerouting with modulation voltages as small as 70 mV. In the absence of an applied bias, no guiding--hence no modal output--is provided by the structure.

We demonstrate a compact, low-power and broadband electro-optic switch in a simple waveguide geometry with undoped nematic liquid crystals. We experimentally achieve near infrared switching and signal routing with voltage modulations as low as 0.21V and a device length of 0.16mm.

We report the diffraction properties at wavelengths of 632.8 and 1550 nm for volume transmission gratings made of a sequence of continuously aligned nematic liquid-crystal layers separated by isotropic polymer slices. The gratings are generated by holographically curing a solution of liquid crystal diluted in an isotropic prepolymer by means of a laser beam at a wavelength of 352 nm with a total intensity of approximately 10 mW/cm2. A diffraction efficiency of 98% was measured, and an electric field as low as 5 V/microm switches off the phase grating. Measured angular spectra are fitted by use of the modified coupled-mode theory including the effects of grating birefringence.