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Optical Guided-wave Chemical and Biosensors I pp 21–54Cite as

High-Refractive-Index Waveguide Platforms for Chemical and Biosensing

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Part of the book series: Springer Series on Chemical Sensors and Biosensors ((SSSENSORS,volume 7))

Abstract

The field of chemical and biosensors based on waveguide technology is rapidly growing, with new developments focusing on higher sensitivity and stability. This key demand is prompting researchers and developers to explore new materials for waveguide sensor systems, with especially high-refractive-index materials as promising components. This chapter gives an overview of different sensor platforms implementing high-refractive-index waveguide materials, with applications in both research and commercial sensor systems. This is accompanied by a theoretical background of waveguide-sensing principles, especially focusing on the key steps to high sensor sensitivities.

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Abbreviations

CCD:

Charge coupled device

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

MZI:

Mach-Zehnder-Interferometer

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

c :

Speed of light in vacuum

d :

Thickness, diameter, distance

d eff :

Effective thickness of the waveguide

\( \vec D \) :

Electric displacement

\( \vec E \) :

Electric field

\( \vec H \) :

Magnetic field

i:

Imaginary unit

k:

Wave vector

L :

Interaction length

m:

Mode number

n :

Refractive index

n a :

Refractive index of the ambient medium

n ad :

Refractive index of the surface adlayer

n eff :

Effective refractive index of the waveguide

n w, n c, n s :

Refractive index of waveguide, cover and substrate

P :

Light intensity

P in :

Input power

P out :

Output power

t ad :

Thickness of the surface adlayer

TE:

Transverse electric

TM:

Transverse magnetic

Δz:

Penetration depth

α:

Coupling angle

β m :

Propagation constant of the mode m

ΔΓ:

Mass coverage

ε :

Permittivity

\( {\overline \varphi}_{cr} \) :

Critical angle

Δϕ:

Phase shift

κ:

Diffraction order

λ :

Wavelength

λ 0 :

Wavelength in vacuum

Λ :

Grating period

μ :

Permeability

τr :

Phase shift upon reflection

ω :

Angular frequency

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, Heidenhofstr. 8, 79110, Freiburg, Germany

    Katrin Schmitt

  2. Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques, Rosenhof, 37308, Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany

    Christian Hoffmann

Authors
  1. Katrin Schmitt
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  2. Christian Hoffmann
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Correspondence to Christian Hoffmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. GDG Environnement Ltée, rue St-Laurent, 2e étage 430, Trois-Rivieres, G8T 6H3, Canada

    Mohammed Zourob

  2. Dept. Engineering Science &, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, U.S.A.

    Akhlesh Lakhtakia

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Schmitt, K., Hoffmann, C. (2010). High-Refractive-Index Waveguide Platforms for Chemical and Biosensing. In: Zourob, M., Lakhtakia, A. (eds) Optical Guided-wave Chemical and Biosensors I. Springer Series on Chemical Sensors and Biosensors, vol 7. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88242-8_2

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