Demonstration of long-range surface plasmon-polariton waveguide sensors with asymmetric double-electrode structures

Abstract

We demonstrate a long-range surface plasmon-polaritons (LRSPP) refractive-index sensor using an asymmetric double-electrode LRSPP waveguide configuration. The LRSPP sensor is inherently self-referencing by virtue of two Bragg wavelengths in the transmission spectrum generated by a Bragg grating. The measured sensitivity is about 130 nm/RIU and 27 pm/K, which means a sensing resolution of similar to 10(-6) RIU and a temperature determination with an inaccuracy of 0.04 K under measurement accuracy of the Bragg wavelength of 1 pm. The sensor dimensions of 1.95 mm in total length and submicrometer in fluidic-channel thickness may be desirable for highly integrated sensors based on LRSPP.