Evanescent wave based optical profiler array

A method comprising:

• providing (i) a support structure comprising an optical fiber cladding and defining therein a plurality of substantially parallel cavities extending from a first side of the support structure to a second side of the support structure and (ii) a plurality of optical fiber cores, wherein each respective optical fiber core of the plurality of optical fiber cores extends from the second side of the support structure through a corresponding cavity of the plurality of substantially parallel cavities and includes an axial protrusion that protrudes axially from the optical fiber cladding at the first side of the support structure, wherein the axial protrusion of each respective optical fiber core tapers from a first diameter at the first side of the support structure down to a second diameter at an end of the axial protrusion;
• emitting light into the plurality of optical fiber cores by a light emitter optically connected to the plurality of optical fiber cores at the second side of the support structure, wherein a cut-off size associated with the light is greater than or equal to the second diameter such that, upon reaching a cut-off portion of the axial protrusion having the cut-off size, the light is reflected at the cut-off portion and generates an evanescent electromagnetic wave at the cut-off portion;
• and
• measuring, for each respective optical fiber core of the plurality of optical fiber cores, an intensity of the light reflected from the cut-off portion of the respective optical fiber core by a corresponding light detector optically connected to the respective optical fiber core at the second side of the support structure.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

• causing a light emitter to emit light into a plurality of optical fiber cores, wherein the light emitter is optically connected to the plurality of optical fiber cores at a second side of a support structure, wherein the support structure comprises an optical fiber cladding and defines therein a plurality of substantially parallel cavities extending from a first side of the support structure to the second side of the support structure, wherein each respective optical fiber core of the plurality of optical fiber cores extends from the second side of the support structure through a corresponding cavity of the plurality of substantially parallel cavities and includes an axial protrusion that protrudes axially from the optical fiber cladding at the first side of the support structure, wherein the axial protrusion of each respective optical fiber core tapers from a first diameter at the first side of the support structure down to a second diameter at an end of the axial protrusion, and wherein a cut-off size associated with the light is greater than or equal to the second diameter such that, upon reaching a cut-off portion of the axial protrusion having the cut-off size, the light is reflected at the cut-off portion and generates an evanescent electromagnetic wave at the cut-off portion;
• receiving, from each respective light detector of a plurality of light detectors, a signal indicating an intensity of the light reflected from the cut-off portion of a corresponding optical fiber core, wherein each respective light detector of the plurality of light detectors is optically connected at the second side of the support structure to the corresponding optical fiber core;
• and
• determining, for each respective optical fiber core and based on the signal, a distance between the cut-off portion of the respective optical fiber core and a sample disposed adjacent to the end of the axial protrusion of the respective optical fiber core.