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Development of Whispering Gallery Mode Polymeric Micro-optical Electric Field Sensors
Published on: January 29, 2013
Modeling of slot waveguide sensors based on polymeric materials
Paolo Bettotti1, Alessandro Pitanti, Eveline Rigo
1Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Trento, via Sommarive 14, 38123 Povo, Italy. bettotti@science.unitn.it
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 14, 2011
Summary
Slot waveguides in low refractive index materials offer high sensitivity for optical sensing. Careful design enables cost-effective, CMOS-compatible devices using polymers.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Materials Science for Sensors
Background:
- Slot waveguides exhibit unique spatial mode profiles, making them suitable for optical sensing.
- The performance of slot waveguides is often linked to the refractive index contrast between constituent materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze mode confinement properties in slot waveguides made from low refractive index materials.
- To demonstrate that high sensitivity is achievable in low index materials through careful structural design.
- To explore the advantages and applications of low index slot waveguides.
Main Methods:
- Detailed theoretical analysis of mode confinement.
- Investigation of structure-sensitivity relationships in low index slot waveguides.
- Evaluation of material properties and fabrication considerations.
Main Results:
- Waveguide sensitivity is not solely dependent on refractive index contrast.
- High sensitivity slot waveguides can be realized using very low refractive index materials like polymers.
- Low index dielectrics offer benefits in cost, functionalization, and fabrication.
Conclusions:
- Careful design overcomes limitations, enabling high-performance optical sensors in low index materials.
- Low index slot waveguides are advantageous for CMOS-compatible and integrable photonic devices.
- These waveguides present viable alternatives to fiber capillary sensors and can be integrated into ring resonator systems.
