Optofluidics is a merger of the fields of optics and microfluidics. Most optofluidic applications involve the use of fluids of various refractive indexes to create lenses. The main advantage of this approach is the dynamic reconfigurability of the lens. Additionally, microfluidic flow enables easy integration of this technology in microscopes achieving resolutions that were previously unattainable. In the field of microfluidics focusing of light in a microfluidic device is important for lab-on-a-chip applications that require optical characterization. Efficient illumination and reflection of light from the microchannel is crucial in the performance of the device.
FLOW-3D is used to simulate the hydrodynamics involved in the formation of microfluidic lenses such as the L2 (Liquid core-liquid cladding) lens.
Read the Optofluidics: Modeling L2 lenses blog.