Plasmonic sensor based microstructured optical fibers with silver nanowires

Abstract

We propose and numerically characterize a design for a photonic crystal fiber based surface plasmonic resonance sensor for an aqueous environment. The coupling properties of the plasmonic modes and core-guided mode are investigated comprehensively by the finite element method. The sensor consists of selectively filled with silver nanowires analyte channels, which enhance the phase matching between the core-guided mode and plasmonic mode. Compared with the entirely filled structure, the selectively filled sensor design demonstrates lower transmission loss and better sensitivity, which is 2800nm/RIU (refractive index unit). Moreover, the resonance wavelength has an increase with the analyte index increase, and the increasing trend of wavelength separation with index change is linear.