Open AccessSurface plasmon interferometer in silicon-on-insulator: novel concept for an integrated biosensor
Author(s) -
Peter Debackere,
Stijn Scheerlinck,
Peter Bienstman,
Roel Baets
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.007063
Subject(s) - biosensor , interferometry , materials science , refractive index , surface plasmon , optics , silicon , wavelength , silicon on insulator , plasmon , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , physics
We propose a novel configuration for a highly integrated and highly sensitive optical biosensor. The basic element of the sensor is a surface plasmon interferometer consisting of a thin layer of gold embedded in a silicon membrane. We investigate the performance of the sensor by simulation using eigenmode expansion. We calculate that refractive index changes in the order of 10(-6) RIU should be easily detectable for a component of length 10 microm. Moreover, we illustrate that the operation wavelength of the sensor can be easily tuned to a desired wavelength for a wide range of environmental refractive indices, making our device suitable for chemo- and biosensing.