Non-coplanar misalignment optical waveguide cantilever sensor with a monotonic response in a large operation range

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Nanotechnology and Sensors

Background:

• Traditional optical waveguide sensors often face limitations in operational range and response linearity.
• Developing sensors with monotonic responses is crucial for accurate and reliable measurements in micro- and nano-scale applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and simulate a novel non-coplanar misalignment optical waveguide cantilever sensor.
• To achieve a monotonic response and a large operation range for enhanced sensing capabilities.

Main Methods:

• A 1x2 Y-branch optical power splitter cantilever structure was designed.
• One branch of the Y-branch was intentionally reduced in thickness, creating a non-coplanar configuration.
• Optical misalignment coupling between the branches was analyzed to understand its effect on sensor response.

Main Results:

• The non-coplanar structure successfully induced a monotonic response in the optical waveguide cantilever sensor.
• Simulations demonstrated a high sensitivity of 6x10^-4 nm^-1.
• The sensor maintained a monotonic response across a large operation range of -1 to 1 µm.

Conclusions:

• The proposed non-coplanar optical waveguide cantilever sensor design is effective in achieving a monotonic response.
• This design offers a significant improvement in operational range compared to conventional sensors.
• The sensor shows promise for precise measurements in micro- and nano-scale sensing applications.