Papers by Author: Giancarlo C. Righini

Abstract: In the field of sensing, WGM microresonators are receiving a growing interest as optical structures suitable for the realization of miniature sensors with high sensitivity. When properly excited, WGM microresonators are able to strongly confine light, by means of total internal reflection,along the equatorial plane near their spherical surface. The corresponding supported resonances show low losses and a high quality factor Q (107-109). These high values of the Q factor make possible the detection of any minute event that occurs on the surface of the spherical microcavity. In fact, any minimum change in the surface of the sphere or in the physical and optical properties of the surrounding environment reduces the Q factor value and modifies the position of the resonancesinside the dielectric microcavity. From a direct measurement of this resonance shift, one can infer the amount of analyte that produces this variation.

Abstract: We report on fabrication and characterization of two different opal-like structures: (i) crystal exhibiting mechanochromism, i.e. change of colour when subjected to mechanical stress, composed of closely packed colloidal polystyrene particles (CPCP) embedded in a poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomeric matrix; (ii) metallo-dielectric systems (MDCS), based on the realization of inverse silica opal and following attachment of gold nanoparticles on the silica network of the inverse colloidal structure. Optical measurements, performed on the two structures, have demonstrated that: (i) when an horizontal strain is applied on the CPCP embedded in PDMS, a blue shift of the diffraction peak occurs as a function of the applied strain and (ii) MDCS have unique optical properties that combine the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with the photonic band gap features of colloidal crystal structures. Finally, preliminary results on MDCS used as SERS substrate evidence a higher increase of the Raman signal in respect to that observed for others metallic structures.