Women in Physics and Astronomy talk: Marty Baylor, Carleton College

Crystals, Fluids, Lithography…Oh My! Towards Miniaturizing Optical Processors Using Photo-sensitive Polymers  

Light not only has the power to help us learn about the physical world, but it can also help us solve problems that are hard to solve in other ways. That is, if we can get the optical systems out of the lab and into the field. I work with photopolymers (i.e., light-sensitive plastics) to facilitate the fabrication of integrated optofluidic devices. These devices combine optical and microfluidic components into a single portable chip using processing techniques that are potentially easier than current methods of creating these devices. I will start this talk by describing the device that motivated me to start miniaturizing devices. Then I will talk about what I am doing and plan to do with integrated optofluidic devices.