Optical Chemical Sensors (NATO Science Series II: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry)

This book covers optical chemical sensing by means of optical waveguides, from the fundamentals to the most recent applications. The book includes a historical review of the development of these sensors, from the earliest laboratory prototypes to the first commercial instrumentations. The book reprints a lecture by the Nobel Laureate Charles Townes on the birth of maser and laser, which lucidly illustrates the development of new science and new technology. Springer Table of Contents 6 Preface 10 List of contributors 12 Directors's list of participants 18 Editorial 25 List of ISQE courses 27 1 Birth of the maser and laser 33 2 Fiber optic chemical sensors and biosensors: a view back 48 Fundamentals of optical chemical sensing 76 3 Fundamentals of optoelectronics 77 4 Optical fibres for optical sensing 89 5 Absorption-based sensors 107 6 Fluorescence-based sensors 129 7 Vibrational spectroscopic sensors 147 8 Chemiluminescence-based sensors 186 9 Sensors based on spectroscopy of guided waves 208 10 Planar optical sensors and evanescent wave effects 222 11 Interferometry in bio- and chemosensing 245 12 Surface-enhanced Raman scattering 266 13 Planar waveguiding systems for optical sensing 287 14 Ultracompact optical sensors based on high index-contrast photonic structures 307 15 Polymers in optical sensors 322 16 Fundamentals of enzyme-based sensors 347 17 Sol-gels for optical sensors 377 18 Methods for attachment of antibodies onto optical biosensors 410 Applications of optical chemical sensing 425 19 The optical nose 426 20 Invasive sensors in medicine 437 21 Biosensors for detection of bioterrorist threats 456 22 Review of methods of optical gas 475 23 DNA and protein sensor arrays 496 24 Sensors for food safety and security 518 25 Optical chemical sensors for cultural heritage 532 Index 544 A 544 B 544 C 545 D 545 E 546 F 546 G 546 H 547 I 547 L 547 M 548 N 548 O 548 P 549 Q 550 R 550 S 551 T 551 U 552 V 552 W 552 X 552 Y 552 Z 552 ISBN-13:,9781402046100 Chemical sensing using optics is under extensive research all over the world and many optical chemical sensors are finding increasing application in industry, environmental monitoring, medicine, biomedicine and chemical analysis. This is evidenced by an annual growth in the number of international scientific conferences in which advances in the field of optical chemical sensors are reported. These conferences, are, however, focused on disseminating the latest scientific results rather than providing in-depth education in the field of optical chemical sensors. In addition, the topic of optical chemical sensors is only just beginning to find its way into the curricula of universities and colleges in Europe and in the US. Due to the prominence that optical sensors are assuming, it has become more and more important to establish a framework for discussion and interchange, in addition to traditional conferences, to aid research and education in this important field. In the summer of 2004, the NATO A. S. I. on the subject “Optical Chemical Sensors” was organised in Erice, Sicily. This NATO A. S. I. was th the 40 Course of the International School of Quantum Electronics, under the auspices of the “Ettore Majorana Foundation and Center for Scientific Culture” and was directed by Dr. J. Homola of the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronic (IREE) of the Academy of Sciences in Prague and by Dr. F. Baldini of the “Nello Carrara Institute of Applied Physics” (IFAC-CNR).

The book is the output of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Optical Chemical Sensors and is the 40th Course of the International School of Quantum Electronics. It covers all aspects related to optical chemical sensing by means of optical waveguides, from the fundamentals to the most recent applications.

The book also provides a view through the history of the development of these sensors, from the first laboratory prototypes up to the first commercial instrumentations, and contains also the lecture given by Nobel Laureate Charles Townes on the birth of maser and laser, which is considered to be a very important illustration on how new science and new technology develop.

Thanks to the high level of the contributors, among the most renowned specialists in their respective fields, and to its high interdisciplinary content, the book is an essential tool not only for any scientist who is working or intends to start working in the field of optical chemical sensing but for anyone who wishes to have a complete overview of the state of the art in the field.

The book is the output of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Optical Chemical Sensors and is the 40th Course of the International School of Quantum Electronics. It covers all aspects related to optical chemical sensing by means of optical waveguides, from the fundamentals to the most recent applications. The book also provides a view through the history of the development of these sensors, from the first laboratory prototypes up to the first commercial instrumentations, and contains also the lecture given by Nobel Laureate Charles Townes on the birth of maser and laser, which is considered to be a very important illustration on how new science and new technology develop. Thanks to the high level of the contributors, among the most renowned specialists in their respective fields, and to its high interdisciplinary content, the book is an essential tool not only for any scientist who is working or intends to start working in the field of optical chemical sensing but for anyone who wishes to have a complete overview of the state of the art in the field