Enhancement of refractive index sensitivity of Bragg-gratings based optical waveguide sensors using a metal under-cladding

Abstract

We theoretically analyze, a compact Bragg grating inscribed metal clad leaky ridge waveguide (MCLRW) as a refractive index sensor which can be integrated with other elements on a single chip. The grating is considered to be written in the photosensitive core. Using the quasi-TE mode of the structure, it is shown that a metal layer underneath the core enhances the evanescent field in the ambient region resulting in a significant increase in the ambient refractive index sensitivity. The obtained sensitivity and the figure of merit of the considered sensor structure are found to be almost 13–14 times higher than that of a ridge waveguide without any metal layer. Further, due to the higher modal loss of the quasi-TM mode, no in-line polarizer is required to assemble with the device. Effect of the loss due to metal layer on the peak reflectivity as well as bandwidth of the spectrum is also discussed.