Binary particle swarm optimization algorithm assisted to design of plasmonic nanospheres sensor

Abstract

In this study, a coherent perfect absorption (CPA)-type sensor based on plasmonic nanoparticles is proposed. It consists of a plasmonic nanospheres array on top of a quartz substrate. The refractive index changes above the sensor surface, which is due to the appearance of gas or the absorption of biomolecules, can be detected by measuring the resulting spectral shifts of the absorption coefficient. Since the CPA efficiency depends strongly on the number of plasmonic nanoparticles and the locations of nanoparticles, binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) algorithm is used to design an optimized array of the plasmonic nanospheres. This optimized structure should be maximizing the absorption coefficient only in the one frequency. BPSO algorithm, a swarm of birds including a matrix with binary entries responsible for controlling nanospheres in the array, shows the presence with symbol of (‘1’) and the absence with (‘0’). The sensor can be used for sensing both gas and low refractive index materials in an aqueous environment.