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Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor
Published on: August 30, 2012
Tiny surface plasmon resonance sensor integrated on silicon waveguide based on vertical coupling into finite
Dong-Jin Lee1, Hae-Dong Yim, Seung-Gol Lee
1Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Inha University, 253, Yonghyun-dong, Nam-gu, Incheon 402-751, South Korea.
Optics Express
|October 15, 2011
Summary
We developed a compact surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor using a silicon waveguide and a metal-insulator-metal structure. This tiny sensor achieves high sensitivity for potential applications in optical sensing.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Nanotechnology
- Optical Sensing
- Plasmonics
Background:
- Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensors offer high sensitivity for detecting refractive index changes.
- Miniaturization of SPR sensors is crucial for integrated photonic devices and lab-on-a-chip applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and theoretically investigate a novel, ultra-compact SPR sensor.
- To optimize the sensor's resonant characteristics for enhanced performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a silicon waveguide integrated with a finite thickness metal-insulator-metal (f-MIM) plasmonic waveguide.
- Employing vertical coupling to create a Fabry-Perot resonator.
- Theoretical investigation and numerical optimization of resonant characteristics.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated an SPR sensor with an extremely small footprint of approximately 0.0375 μm².
- Achieved a high sensitivity of approximately 635 nm/RIU (refractive index unit).
- Designed the sensor for operation at a 1.55 μm transmission wavelength.
Conclusions:
- The proposed vertically coupled f-MIM plasmonic waveguide structure enables the design of highly sensitive, ultra-compact SPR sensors.
- This technology holds promise for advanced integrated optical sensing systems.
