Spectroscopic analysis and particle identification using out-of-plane imaging of multimode-interferometer waveguide scattering

A method, performed at a multimode-interferometric spectrometer comprising a sensor, one or more processors, and a multi-mode interference waveguide (MMI-WG), the method comprising:

• detecting, by the sensor, scattered light that scattered through a lateral surface of the MMI-WG, wherein the MMI-WG comprises:
• an input end;
• the lateral surface;
• and
• an input port disposed on the input end of the MMI-WG and configured to guide input light to enter the MMI-WG, such that light in the MMI-WG propagates in a direction away from the input end;
• generating, by the sensor, data based on the detected scattered light, wherein the data indicates an intensity of the scattered light;
• and
• determining, by the one or more processors, based on the intensity of the scattered light indicated by the data generated by the sensor, one or more wavelengths of the input light.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions configured to be executed by one or more processors of a multimode-interferometric spectrometer comprising a sensor and a multi-mode interference waveguide (MMI-WG), the instructions configured to cause the spectrometer to:

• detect, by the sensor, scattered light that scattered through a lateral surface of the MMI-WG, wherein the MMI-WG comprises:
• an input end;
• the lateral surface;
• and
• an input port disposed on the input end of the MMI-WG and configured to guide input light to enter the MMI-WG, such that light in the MMI-WG propagates in a direction away from the input end;
• generate, by the sensor, data based on the detected scattered light, wherein the data indicates an intensity of the scattered light;
• and
• determine, by the one or more processors, based on the intensity of the scattered light indicated by the data generated by the sensor, one or more wavelengths of the input light.

A system for particle identification, comprising:

• an excitation light source configured to excite a particle and to cause the particle to emit emission light;
• a multi-mode interference waveguide (MMI-WG), comprising:
• an input end;
• a lateral surface;
• and
• an input port disposed on the input end of the MMI-WG and configured to guide the emission light emitted from the particle to enter the MMI-WG, such that the emission light in the MMI-WG propagates in a direction away from the input end;
• a sensor configured to detect scattered light that scattered through the lateral surface of the MMI-WG, and to generate data based on the detected scattered light, wherein the data indicates an intensity of the scattered light;
• and
• one or more processors configured to determine, based on the intensity of the scattered light indicated by the data generated by the sensor, an identity of the particle.

A method, performed at a particle identification system comprising an excitation light source, a sensor, and a multi-mode interference waveguide (MMI-WG), the method comprising:

• exciting, by the excitation light source, a particle to cause the particle to emit emission light;
• detecting, by the sensor, scattered light that scattered through a lateral surface of the MMI-WG, wherein the MMI-WG comprises:
• an input end;
• the lateral surface;
• an input port disposed on the input end of the MMI-WG and configured to guide the emission light emitted from the particle to enter the MMI-WG, such that the emission light in the MMI-WG propagates in a direction away from the input end;
• generating, by the sensor, data based on the detected scattered light, wherein the data indicates an intensity of the scattered light;
• and
• determining, by one or more processors, based on the intensity of the scattered light indicated by the data generated by the sensor, an identity of the particle.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions configured to be executed by one or more processors of a particle identification system comprising an excitation light source, a sensor, and a multi-mode interference waveguide (MMI-WG), the instructions configured to cause the system to:

• excite, by the excitation light source, a particle to cause the particle to emit emission light;
• detect, by the sensor, scattered light that scattered through a lateral surface of the MMI-WG, wherein the MMI-WG comprises:
• an input end;
• the lateral surface;
• and
• an input port disposed on the input end of the MMI-WG and configured to guide the emission light emitted from the particle to enter the MMI-WG, such that the emission light in the MMI-WG propagates in a direction away from the input end;
• generate, by the sensor, data based on the detected scattered light, wherein the data indicates an intensity of the scattered light;
• and
• determine, by the one or more processors, based on the intensity of the scattered light indicated by the data generated by the sensor, an identity of the particle.