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High sensitivity refractive index sensing using zone plate metasurfaces with a conical phase profile
Manar Abdel-Galil1,2, Mohamed Swillam3, Yehea Ismail4
1Department of Electrical and Communications Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. manar.mansour@aucegypt.edu.
Scientific Reports
|June 1, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed compact zone plates from bulky Axicon lenses for high-sensitivity refractive index sensing. These devices enable precise methane gas detection by monitoring intensity changes in Bessel-Gauss beams.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Chemical Sensing
Background:
- Axicon lenses offer conical phase profiles but are bulky.
- Refractive index sensing is crucial for gas detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To transform a bulky Axicon lens into a compact binary zone plate.
- To design zone plates for high-sensitivity refractive index sensing.
- To complement previous mathematical work on maximizing Axicon lens sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of three zone plates using different materials.
- Design of zone plates to generate Bessel-Gauss beams at 3.3 microns.
- Utilizing the methane absorption peak for maximum refractive index change.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the transformation of a bulky Axicon lens into a compact zone plate.
- Developed zone plates capable of generating Bessel-Gauss beams.
- Showcased high sensitivity to refractive index changes.
Conclusions:
- Compact zone plates are effective for high-sensitivity refractive index sensing.
- The designed zone plates enable precise methane gas concentration measurement.
- This approach offers a sensitive method for gas detection via optical intensity monitoring.
