Optofluidic devices integrated with micro/nanochannels

Abstract

This doctorate thesis focuses on the theoretical and experimental study of optofluidic devices, which can be integrated on the lab-on-a-chip and micro/nanofluidic systems. Specifically, three aspects of this subject have been investigated: optofluidic prism, laser induced micro/nano-bubbles, and jets generated by two bubble interactions. The optofluidic prism is developed based on the configuration of two laminar flow streams in a microfluidic system. The prism shape is tuned by the variation of the flow rates, and the deviation angle and the position of the output light beam is adjusted accordingly. Next, laser induced micro/nanobubble and the bubble-bubble interaction are studied. Bubble dynamics is investigated in the micro/nanochannels and successfully modeled accounting for the wall shear stress, capillary forces, wetting properties of the channel, and gas diffusion. The analysis of micro/nanojets during bubble-bubble interaction indicates their dependence on the laser energy and the distance between the laser spot and boundaries. Inertia dominated dynamics is demonstrated still possible for sufficient short times.