Wed. Feb. 22nd

1
Ultrasensitive Refractive Index Measurement 101
Applications to Bioimaging and Environmental
Sensing
Samir Bali Physics Department Miami University
Abstract We present a refractometer that can
sensitively record real-time changes in the
refractive index of fluids over a wide range of
refractive indices. The device uses a divergent
laser beam and linear diode array, and has no
mechanical or optical moving parts, enabling the
real-time measurement of refractive index changes
at the 1 part-per-million level . Never before
has such a compact, portable, and inexpensive
refractometer been reported in the literature. We
explore the potential for applications of this
refractometer to the sensitive detection of
cancerous pre-cursors, and of toxins in the local
water/air supply, to name a few examples

• Wed. Feb. 22nd