Open AccessAll-silicon monolithic Mach-Zehnder interferometer as a refractive index and bio-chemical sensor
Author(s) -
Κωνσταντίνος Μισιακός,
Ioannis Raptis,
Eleni Makarona,
A. Botsialas,
Alexandros Salapatas,
Π. Οικονόμου,
A. Psarouli,
Panagiota Petrou,
Sotirios Kakabakos,
Kari Tukkiniemi,
Matti Sopanen,
G. Jobst
Publication year - 2014
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.22.026803
Subject(s) - interferometry , mach–zehnder interferometer , optics , astronomical interferometer , silicon , materials science , refractive index , optoelectronics , photodetector , silicon photonics , detector , physics
A complete Mach-Zehnder interferometer monolithically integrated on silicon is presented and employed as a refractive index and bio-chemical sensor. The device consists of broad-band light sources optically coupled to photodetectors through monomodal waveguides forming arrays of Mach-Zehnder interferometers, all components being monolithically integrated on silicon through mainstream silicon technology. The interferometer is photonically engineered in a way that the phase difference of light travelling through the sensing and reference arms is approximately wavelength independent. Consequently, upon effective medium changes, it becomes feasible even with a broad-band source to induce sinusoidal-type of detector photocurrents similar to the classical monochromatic counterparts. The device is completed with its fluidic and interconnect components so that on chip interferometric measurements can be performed. Examples of refractive index and protein sensing are presented to establish the potential of the proposed device for real-time in situ monitoring applications. This is the only silicon device that has achieved complete on-chip interferometry.