Abstract
We report a novel Mach−Zehnder interferometer (MZI) sensor that utilizes a weak one-dimensional field confinement silica waveguide (WCSW). The WCSW has a large horizontal and vertical aspect ratio and low refractive index difference, which features easy preparation and a large evanescent field for achieving high waveguide sensitivity. We experimentally achieved WCSW ultrahigh waveguide sensitivity of 0.94, MZI sensitivity of 44,364 π/RIU and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 6.1 × 10−7 RIU.
Highlights
Integrated optical sensors [1,2] have developed rapidly in recent years due to their significant advantages, such as compactness, stability, capability of integration and high level of sensitivity
We report on a high waveguide sensitivity close to 1 by utilizing a new
A 632.8 nm He-Ne laser was polarized by a Glan prism and coupled into a polarization maintaining (PM)
Summary
Integrated optical sensors [1,2] have developed rapidly in recent years due to their significant advantages, such as compactness, stability, capability of integration and high level of sensitivity. They have already been widely applied in areas such as food security, biological detection, medical hygiene and environmental monitoring. Various types of ultrahigh sensitivity refractive index optical sensors with a sensitivity of 103 –106 nm/RIU have been proposed, including plasmonic waveguides [3], Mach−Zehnder interferometers (MZI) [4,5,6] and ring resonators [7]. Optical waveguides are widely adopted as a core sensing platform due to their mechanical stability, miniaturization, ability to be mass produced and immunity to electromagnetic interference.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
