"Optofluidics" represents the marriage of optics, optoelectronics and nanophotonics with fluidics. Such integration represents a new approach for dynamic manipulation of optical properties at length scales both greater than and smaller than the wavelength of light. The capabilities in terms of fluidic control, mixing, miniaturization and optical property tuning afforded by micro-/nano- and electro-fluidics provides an ideal platform upon which to build such devices. Potential functionalities include (a) fluidically reconfigurable and tunable photonic devices (b) detection, manipulation, and sorting of cells, virus, and biomolecules in fluidics, (c) biophotonic system-on-a-chip (Bio-SOC), (d) delivery of optical gain media, non-linear liquids, or colloidal particles into arbitrary regions of photonic structures, and (e) new classes of resonant cavity biosensors incorporating targeted delivery of single or few molecules. Exciting new possibilities are envisioned within many areas including,

1. Optofluidic Integration: The use of liquids provides an order of magnitude increase in the achievable ∆n/n, compared with the application of electrical, acoustic or mechanical strain fields, enabling flexible fine-tuning and even dynamic reconfiguration of optical circuits. Examples of such devices which have recently been developed include adaptable photonic crystal lasers, fluid-fluid waveguides and lasers, optical switches, fluid based dispersion compensation in optical fibers.

2. BiofluidPhotonics: There is now a new major emphasis by biomedical and pharmaceutical corporations and by governments on proteomics and cell signaling assays. Optical technology is called upon elucidating the spatial and temporal aspects of cell signaling. The ability to sense specific biomolecules in body or environment is another major thrust being pushed by the Health, Security, and Defense agencies as well as companies.

A major purpose of this conference will be to bring together researchers in laser and electro-optic areas with those whose specialties lie within the micro- and nano-scale fluidic and biosensor and biomedical fields to discuss and present fundamental issues and solutions related to the integration of these two fields and develop novel new applications. Papers will be solicited in the following areas

• Fundamental and practical implementation of single and multi-phase fluidics as related to the transport of fluids, nano-particles, bio-entities and thermal energy into and around photonic structures.

• Manufacturing techniques for nanoscale integration of micro- and nano- fluidic channels and flow control elements (e.g. valves, pumps and electrokinetically based manipulation) with optical devices.

• Innovative integration techniques combining optics, fluidics, electronics, acoustics, magnetics, and other mechanisms for new and unique functions.

• Optofluidic applications including:

• Micro- and Nano-scale fluidics for creating tunable, adaptable or reconfigurable optical or photonic devices (e.g. photonic crystals, lasers, optical fibers).

• Waveguide based biosensors

• Patterning techniques and materials to enable an adequate environment for biomolecules

• Fluid based lensing, imaging and display devices.

• Chip-scale dye lasers and florescent light sources.

• Nanophotonics for single molecule detection and integrated biosensors.

• Bio system-on-a-chip.

• Cellular, molecular, and nanostructure detection and sorting.

• Biomedical applications including early-stage disease diagnosis and stem cell separation.

• Optofluidic information processing.
  

Advance Program

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Topic Committee
Invited Speakers