arXiv subjects

Milos Nedeljkovic

Publications and source records attributed to Milos Nedeljkovic.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Germanium-Based Mid-Infrared Photonics

The mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum in which most of the molecules have vibrational and rotational resonances. Ge-based photonic integrated circuits in this wavelength range have thus seen a burst of interest in the recent years, mainly driven by applications related with the detection of chemical and biological substances. Here we review the motivations and the recent developments in this field, from the different material platforms to active and nonlinear devices. We also discuss a few demonstrations of sensing that have already been conducted, attesting the potential applications of such devices. Finally, we conclude by discussing the challenges that have to be solved to transition from lab demonstrations to practical industrial devices.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Mid-infrared germanium-on-silicon waveguide sensor for therapeutic drug monitoring of phenytoin

We report the design, fabrication and characterization of evanescent mid-infrared germanium-on-silicon waveguide sensors for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). TDM requires rapid and accurate quantification of serum drug levels but existing clinical assays rely on laboratory-based instrumentation that limits point-of-care deployment. In this work, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy was used to analyze dried samples of the anti-seizure medication phenytoin in the spectral region of $λ$ = 5.6 - 6.0 $μ$m. A limit of detection of 2.20 mg/L was achieved for extracted samples, where phenytoin was first added to human serum and subsequently isolated using liquid-liquid extraction. This limit is significantly below the therapeutic window of 10 - 20 mg/L for phenytoin, enabling detection of sub-therapeutic concentrations. At the same time, the sensor maintains a consistent dose-dependent response up to 40 mg/L, demonstrating its capability to quantify concentrations across the therapeutic window and above the upper therapeutic limit. This validates the use of silicon photonics for biomedical infrared spectroscopy for patients undergoing drug therapy, whether the serum-drug concentration is either too high or too low. These results highlight the potential of mid-IR integrated photonics to form the basis of compact, scalable platforms for point-of-care TDM.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Hybrid Integration of Quantum Cascade Lasers with Germanium-on-Silicon waveguides for Mid-Infrared Sensing Applications

We present a novel scheme for hybrid integration of quantum cascade laser bars with germanium-on-silicon waveguides operating in the mid-infrared. The laser bars are flip-chip bonded onto a germanium-on-silicon target chip without active alignment, acheiving end-fire coupling efficiency of up to 45% (3.5 dB loss) in pulsed operation. Optical power estimates indicate 20-30 mW coupled into the waveguides. The passive alignment approach, combined with a CMOS-compatible photonic integrated circuit fabrication process, offers a scalable pathway to fully integrated mid-infrared photonic systems for sensing, free-space communications, and the realisation of novel light sources.

physics.optics↗