Bloch surface wave structures for high sensitivity detection and compact waveguiding

Abstract

Resonant propagating waves created on the surface of a dielectric multilayer stack, called Bloch surface waves (BSW), can be designed for high sensitivity monitoring of the adjacent refractive index as an alternative platform to the metal-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing. The resonant wavelength and polarization can be designed by engineering of the dielectric layers unlike the fixed resonance of SPR, while the wide bandwidth low loss of dielectrics permits sharper resonances, longer propagation lengths and thus their use in waveguiding devices. The transparency of the dielectrics allows the excitation and monitoring of surface-bound fluorescent molecules. We review the recent developments in this technology. We show the advantages that can be obtained by using high index contrast layered structures. Operating at 1550 nm wavelengths will allow the BSW sensors to be implemented in the silicon photonics platform where active waveguiding can be used in the realization of compact planar integrated circuits for multi-parameter sensing.

Keywords:

• Bloch surface waves
• Optical sensors
• silicon photonics
• Resonant sensor
• Surface sensing
• Waveguide sensor
• Dielectric multilayer
• Planar optical circuit
• Label free sensing

Classification:

• 40 Optical, magnetic and electronic device materials
• 201 Electronics / Semiconductor / TCOs
• 204 Optics / Optical applications
• 208 Sensors and actuators
• 212 Surface and interfaces
• 505 Optical / Molecular spectroscopy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Acknowledgements

We thank John Justice and Pierre Lovera for sample fabrication and experimental assistance associated with Figure 8.