Chiral properties in metamaterials and magnetic materials for the design of biosensing devices

• Grant number: 17/25587-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal researcher: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior
• Grantee: Jhon James Hernández Sarria
• Home Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/14262-7 - Nanostructured films from biologically-relevant materials, AP.TEM

Abstract

The electromagnetic response of biological samples at microwave frequencies may be exploited in various applications, including for detection of chiral molecules. In this research project, we aim at designing microwave near-field biosensors for chiral molecules through the analysis of microwave field distributions in the vicinity of thin-film ferrite disks using the RF module of the software COMSOL Multiphysics. The electromagnetic fields scattered from a subwavelength ferrite-disk due to precessing electron spins are relevant because the ferrite particles generate microwave superchiral fields (in which field lines turn around a principal axis) with strong localization of electromagnetic (EM) energy. Such fields are useful for the characterization of chemical and biological objects with chiral properties, as in biomedical diagnostics. Herein we shall investigate the topological properties of microwave fields generated by configurations of small ferrite disks to propose an effective microwave biosensor that can be developed experimentally. (AU)