Numerical Study of a Dual-Mode Optical Sensor for Temperature and Refractive Index Sensing with Enhanced Temperature...

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Optical Sensing
• Integrated Optics

Background:

• Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides exhibit distinct sensitivities for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes to environmental changes.
• Microring resonators are sensitive optical devices, but limitations exist in their measurement range and simultaneous sensing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a photonic integrated optical sensor capable of simultaneous refractive index (RI) and temperature measurements.
• To enhance the temperature measurement range of microring resonators using angular gratings.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a dual-polarization microring resonator on an SOI waveguide.
• Exciting both TE and TM modes to leverage their distinct sensitivities.
• Incorporating angular gratings into the microring resonator to extend the free spectral range.

Main Results:

• Achieved simultaneous RI and temperature measurements with high precision.
• Demonstrated an extended simulated temperature measurement range of approximately 35 nm.
• Reported a temperature detection limit as low as 2.99×10-5.
• Obtained high sensitivities: TE0 mode (334 pm/°C, 13.33 nm/RIU) and TM0 mode (260 pm/°C, 76.66 nm/RIU).

Conclusions:

• The proposed dual-polarization microring resonator with angular gratings offers a novel and effective solution for simultaneous RI and temperature sensing.
• This sensor architecture significantly enhances the temperature measurement range and detection limit, suitable for demanding optical sensing applications.