Reconfigurable optofluidic switch for generation of optical pulse width modulation based on tunable reflective interface

摘要

We present a numerical method for generation of optical pulse width modulation (PWM) based on tunable reflective interface by using a microfluidic droplet. We demonstrate a single layer, planar, optofluidic PWM switch that is driven by excited alternating microbubbles. The main parameters of generation of this PWM such as frequency and speed of switching can be controlled by the mass flow rates of input fluids, and the shape of plug or droplet. Advantages of this design are the reconfigurability in design and the easy control of the switching parameters. The validation of the proposed design is carried out by employing the finite element method (FEM) for the mechanical simulation and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) for the optical simulation. (C) 2015 Optical Society of America