Title :
A Compact Integrated Planar-Waveguide Refractive-Index Sensor Based on a Corrugated Metal Grating
Author :
Nemova, Galina ; Kashyap, Raman
Author_Institution :
Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Montreal
Abstract :
In this paper, a theoretical model of a new planar integrated surface plasmon-polariton (SPP)-excitation-based refractive-index sensor is presented and comprehensively investigated. The main principle of operation of this device is based on energy transfer by means of a corrugated metal grating between a p-polarized guided mode propagating in a waveguide layer and the SPP propagating in the opposite direction in a metal layer. The corrugated grating is engraved in the metal layer in contact with the sensed medium. This device is free from any moving parts and can be simply integrated into any planar-waveguide system. Our sensor simulations are based on the transfer-matrix method with the mode-matching technique and have been performed at commercialized telecom wavelengths.
Keywords :
Bragg gratings; mode matching; optical planar waveguides; optical sensors; polaritons; refractive index; surface plasmons; corrugated metal Bragg grating; energy transfer; mode-matching technique; p-polarized guided mode; planar integrated planar-waveguide refractive-index sensor; surface plasmon-polariton excitation; theoretical model; transfer-matrix method; Electromagnetic waveguides; Gratings; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber sensors; Optical sensors; Optical surface waves; Optical waveguides; Permeability; Physics; Planar waveguides; Bragg grating; optical sensors; refractive index; surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs);
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JLT.2007.899794
