Performance Analysis of Surface Plasmon Resonance Waveguide for Sensing Applications

Abstract

Non-contact type of measurements with the help of optical technologies in the field of sensing and instrumentation has become a revolutionary idea in the present scenario. The advanced feature of optical fiber/waveguide such as exceptional senstivity and accuracy towards external environment has made research arena inevitable and forced us to develop a new thought. This property has given a way of a new variety of optical sensors which are free from electromagnetic interference. In parallel to these advantages, optical sensor technology has a perfect coordination between optoelectronic and fiber optic communication industry. Current scenario observes an improved quality of optical sensors which thereby increases the possibility to replace traditional sensors. Presently numerous research work are undergoing using fiber optic sensors with different interrogation techniques. Consequently, combination of optical fiber with material technology has also opened a new field to sensing platform. This thesis highlights the basic theory, fundamentals of SPR technology and the phenomena of SPR biosensor. This thesis also presents a new idea of performance analysis of Surface Plasmon Resonance waveguide for sensing applications. Multilayer grated structure is herby proposed as simple as versatile waveguide sensors. We further discuss the current developments and future applications of SPR based waveguide sensor. Different structures and geometry of grating and multilayer methods is investigated. The work gives an insight about the scope of metal slotted dielectric waveguide with a high refractive index material in which surface plasmon can propagate. Study of several symmetrical metal dielectric metal structures, it is analysed that slot waveguide geometry shows many intriguing properties with the use of high refractive index material that are not shown in the single interface metal dielectric. The surface plasmon resonance of slot MDM waveguide are studied and simulated using finite difference time domain method.