Multiscale spectroscopy using a monolithic liquid core waveguide with laterally attached fiber ports

• Flow-through sensor concept for multiscale spectrophotometry has been developed.
• Sensor was realized by a liquid core waveguide having multiple fiber ports.
• A concentration range extension by a factor of 100 was achieved.
• Extended measurement capabilities (VIS) were verified by quantifying Rhodamine 6G.
• Determining attenuation coefficients of NO3− to show sensor’s capabilities (UV).

In conventional absorption spectrometers, the range of accessible concentrations of analytes in aqueous solution is significantly limited by the dynamic range of the measurement system. Here we introduce the concept of multiscale spectroscopy allowing extending that range by orders of magnitude within one single device. The concept relies on using multiple light-sample interaction lengths, boosting the accessible concentration range by a particular extension factor. We experimentally implement our concept by a liquid core waveguide having multiple fiber ports side-wise attached to the waveguide, thus probing the light propagating inside the core at predefined distances from the input. This configuration provides three orders of magnitude of interaction length in one device. To verify the concept we exemplarily determine the concentrations of nitrate and of Rhodamine 6G in water, showing one hundred times improved measurement capabilities. The multiscale spectrometer uses the entire sample volume and allows the simultaneous measurement of fluorescence and attenuance. Due to its integrated design and the extended measurements capabilities, we anticipate application of our device in many application-relevant areas such as water quality analysis or environmental science.

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