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Optical bio-chemical sensors on SNOW ring resonators
Mohammadreza Khorasaninejad1, Nigel Clarke, M P Anantram
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Optics Express
|September 22, 2011
Summary
This study introduces novel silicon nanowire optical waveguide (SNOW) ring resonator sensors, achieving a tenfold increase in sensitivity for biochemical detection. These compact, high-contrast devices enable highly sensitive real-time biomaterial analysis.
Area of Science:
- Nanophotonics
- Biochemical Sensing
- Optical Waveguides
Background:
- Ring resonators are crucial for optical sensing applications.
- Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) based ring resonators offer high performance but have limitations in sensitivity.
- Novel waveguide designs are needed to enhance biosensor sensitivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and analyze novel ring resonator based bio-chemical sensors on silicon nanowire optical waveguide (SNOW).
- To demonstrate an order of magnitude increase in sensor sensitivity compared to SOI-based resonators.
- To achieve high index contrast and compact device dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Design and simulation of ring resonators integrated with SNOW.
- Utilizing a hollow core in the SNOW to introduce biomaterial into the optical mode.
- Characterization of sensor performance for bulk refractive index changes and surface attachment detection.
Main Results:
- Achieved a sensitivity of 243 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) for bulk refractive index changes.
- Demonstrated detection of monolayer attachments as small as 1 Å on the silicon nanowire surface.
- Maintained high index contrast and compact device size.
Conclusions:
- SNOW-based ring resonator sensors offer significantly enhanced sensitivity for biochemical detection.
- The hollow core design effectively increases biomaterial interaction with the optical mode.
- These sensors represent a promising advancement for sensitive and compact biosensing platforms.
