High-Resolution, Low-Cost Spectrometer-on-Chip

ABSTRACT: aBeam Technologies, Inc. proposes a new type of miniature spectrometer based on digital planar holography (DPH). This may lead to a revolution in optics, similar to the transition from electron tubes to integrated circuits in electronics. The spectrometer is an optical chip just a few millimeters in size; it can be implemented to detect any desired substance. The spectrometer can potentially be integrated with microfluidic circuitry into a laboratory-on-chip or even into cell phones. The fabrication method is compatible with micro/nanofabrication technology, which makes the production inexpensive. We have demonstrated the principle of DPH. The goal of this project is to demonstrate the new class of spectrometer-on-chip with functionality unattainable by common spectrometers, to design and fabricate a spectrometer with ultrahigh resolution in multiple, separated wavelength ranges. This type of device will be ideal for sensing specific materials, for example, for detecting biological and chemical hazards. BENEFIT: Our approach will revolutionize the applications of photo-spectrometers by greatly miniaturizing the sizes of sensors, decreasing their cost, and improving their sensitivity. The first targeted application will be the handheld, low-cost Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy system. It will then be expanded into other areas of spectrometers, such as Raman spectroscopy and for development of laboratory-on-chip. There is a potential for spectrometers-on-chip to be implemented within cell phones for specific biological or chemical hazard detection.