A reverse symmetry optical waveguide sensor using a plasma substrate

作者：Taya Sofyan A^*; El Agez Taher M

来源：Journal of Optics, 2011, 13(7): 075701.

DOI：10.1088/2040-8978/13/7/075701

• optical sensors
• slab waveguides
• sensitivity
• nonabsorbing plasma

This paper presents an extensive theoretical treatment of an optical waveguide sensor consisting of thin dielectric film surrounded by an aqueous cladding and an ideal nonabsorbing plasma substrate. We consider the case when the frequency of the guided light is greater than the plasma frequency so that the refractive index of the substrate is less than unity. This structure provides a reverse symmetry configuration in which the refractive index of the substrate is less than that of the cladding. The sensitivity of the effective index of the proposed structure to changes in the refractive index of the aqueous cladding is studied with different parameters of the structure. The results show considerable enhancement of the sensitivity compared to a conventional optical waveguide structure with normal symmetry using a glass substrate. The effect of the plasma substrate on the Goos-Hanchen shift, on the effective index of the structure, and on the power flow in the waveguide structure is investigated.

• 出版日期2011-7