Patent ID: 8593638
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting a molecule, the method comprising: introducing optical energy into a resonant microcavity, the optical energy circulating within the resonant microcavity; before detection, determining a first frequency of a first mode and a second frequency of a second mode of optical energy circulating within the resonant micro-cavity; determining a pre-detection difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and detecting at least one molecule that binds to an outer surface of the microcavity based at least in part upon how the pre-detection difference changes to a detection difference between the first frequency and the second frequency due to the at least one molecule binding to the outer surface, the detection difference being expressed as wherein β is the detection difference between the first and second frequencies due to binding of at least one molecule to the outer surface, β δε(r E E E