Title
Modeling of slot waveguide sensors based on polymeric materials.
Abstract
Slot waveguides are very promising for optical sensing applications because of their peculiar spatial mode profile. In this paper we have carried out a detailed analysis of mode confinement properties in slot waveguides realized in very low refractive index materials. We show that the sensitivity of a slot waveguide is not directly related to the refractive index contrast of high and low materials forming the waveguide. Thus, a careful design of the structures allows the realization of high sensitivity devices even in very low refractive index materials (e.g., polymers) to be achieved. Advantages of low index dielectrics in terms of cost, functionalization and ease of fabrication are discussed while keeping both CMOS compatibility and integrable design schemes. Finally, applications of low index slot waveguides as substitute of bulky fiber capillary sensors or in ring resonator architectures are addressed. Theoretical results of this work are relevant to well established polymer technologies.
Year
DOI
Venue
2011
10.3390/s110807327
SENSORS
Keywords
Field
DocType
slot waveguide,polymeric materials,optical sensor
Slot-waveguide,Optical fiber,Refractometry,Resonator,Waveguide,Optics,Electronic engineering,Refractive index contrast,Engineering,Optoelectronics,Fabrication,Refractive index
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
11
8
1424-8220
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
2
0.77
1
Authors
6