Optical sensing based on multimode Fano resonances in metal-insulator-metal waveguide systems with X-shaped resonant cavities

Pressure and temperature dual-parameter optical sensor based on the MIM waveguide structure coupled with two T-shaped cavities

This paper elaborates on the design and simulation of a multifunctional optical sensor that features simultaneous detection of pressure and temperature, which is based on the metal-insulator-metal waveguide structure with two T-shaped resonant cavities. Depending on the simulation findings, pressure and temperature can be measured separately by two T-shaped cavities at different Fano resonance wavelengths. As the pressure applied to the upper T-shaped cavity increases, the resonance wavelength first shifts linearly due to the slight deformation of the cavity, and the maximum pressure sensitivity reaches 12.48 nm/MPa. After the pressure exceeds a threshold, the relationship between pressure and resonance wavelength transforms into a quadratic polynomial. In the lower T-shaped cavity, solid polydimethylsiloxane is sealed as a thermal-sensitive material, effectively preventing material overflow brought on by structural micro-vibration under pressure, and its high thermo-optical coefficient prompts a temperature sensitivity of 0.36 nm/°C. Furthermore, by optimizing the choice of Fano resonances, pressure and temperature can be sensed independently without mutual interference. The designed sensor provides extensive application possibilities for scenarios where multiparameter monitoring is required.

Digital coding Fano resonance based on active plasmonic metamaterials

A novel approach that employs active plasmonic metamaterials to create a digital coding Fano resonator is proposed, to the best of our knowledge. The meta-device consists of three concentric spoof localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonators and three positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) diodes positioned at three slits located in the middle and inner LSP resonators. Four Fano resonant modes can be independently switched by controlling the biased voltage applied to the three diodes. This provides a means for encoded modulation of multiple Fano resonances in metamaterials, which could have broad applications in fields such as multiway sensing, plasmonic circuits, and switching. We experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, which offers promising potential for practical implementation.

Quadruple Fano resonances in MIM waveguide structure with ring cavities for multisolution concentration sensing

In this paper, a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure is proposed to produce quadruple Fano resonances, which is composed of a side-coupled elliptical cavity, a half-ring cavity, a half-ring cavity with an opening, and a bus waveguide with a circular barrier. The simulation results show that the resonant wavelengths of the quadruple Fano resonances can be almost independently tuned by changing the structural parameters of the three cavities. The refractive index sensing based on different cavities is discussed, and the maximum sensitivity is 1048.6 nm/RIU with an excellent linear-sensing relationship. Finally, the simultaneous multisolution concentration sensing is demonstrated, and the sensitivities are 0.138n m L ^-1 g ^-1 for the plasma concentration, 0.120n m L ^-1 g ^-1 for the glucose solution concentration, and 0.180n m L ^-1 g ^-1 for the N H ₄ C l solution concentration. The results are conducive to promoting the applications of MIM waveguide structures in integrated optical sensing.

Refractive index sensor based on a ring with a disk-shaped cavity for temperature detection applications

In this study, we proposed a novel refractive index sensor structure, comprising a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide and a circular ring containing a disk-shaped cavity (CRDC). The finite element method was used to theoretically analyze the sensor characteristics. The simulation results showed that the disk-shaped cavity is the key to the asymmetric Fano resonance, and the radius of the CRDC has a significant influence on the performance of the sensor. A maximum sensitivity and figure of merit (FOM) of 2240 nm/RIU and 62.5, respectively, were realized. Additionally, the refractive index sensor exhibits the potential of aiding in temperature detection owing to its simple structure and high sensitivity of 1.186 nm/ºC.

Multiparameter Sensing Based on Tunable Fano Resonances in MIM Waveguide Structure with Square-Ring and Triangular Cavities

In this paper, a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) surface plasmon waveguide structure is proposed and numerically investigated. It is composed of a square-ring cavity with a silver baffle, an isosceles triangle cavity, and a bus waveguide with a silver baffle. The results show that the structure can produce triple Fano resonances that can be independently tuned by changing the structural parameters. The detection of refractive indexes at different positions in the structure was also accomplished, with a maximum sensitivity of 2259.56 nm/RIU. On the basis of this, the simultaneous measurement of multiple parameters (plasma concentration and glucose concentration) was performed. The numerical simulation results are beneficial to the applications of MIM waveguide structure in nanosensing and biosensing with time-sharing or simultaneous measurement of multiple parameters.

Tunable multiple Fano resonances based on a plasmonic metal-insulator-metal structure for nano-sensing and plasma blood sensing applications

A base plasmonic metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure consisting of a baffle waveguide and an obround-shaped resonator is designed to produce Fano resonance. The simulation results exhibit that double Fano resonances can be achieved. Based on this structure, an inner obround-shaped resonator is spliced to the former obround-shaped resonator through a slot resonator to form the expanded structure. Then quadruple Fano resonances are produced by the interference between the broadband continuous state arising from the baffle waveguide and the narrowband discrete state arising from the interaction among the inner obround-shaped resonator, the outer obround-shaped resonator, and the slot resonator. The Fano resonance and refractive index sensing characteristics are investigated, and the sensitivity and the figure of merit can reach 1636 nm/RIU and 33562, respectively. Furthermore, the structure filled with blood plasma can be used for detecting plasma concentrations with different refractive indices, and the sensitivity can reach 2.88nm⋅L/g. The proposed structure with the simple baffle waveguide and obround-shaped resonators may have potential applications in biosensing and nanoscale optical sensing.

Slow Light Effect and Tunable Channel in Graphene Grating Plasmonic Waveguide

A graphene plasmon waveguide composed of silicon grating substrate and a silica separator is proposed to generate the slow-light effect. A bias voltage is applied to tune the optical conductivity of graphene. The tunability of the slow-light working channel can be achieved due to the adjustable bias voltage. With an increase in the bias voltage, the working channel exhibited obvious linear blue-shift. The linear correlation coefficient between the working channel and the bias voltage was up to 0.9974. The average value of the normalized delay bandwidth product (NDBP) with different bias voltages was 3.61. In addition, we also studied the tunable group velocity at a specific working channel. Due to the tunability of this miniaturized waveguide structure, it can be used in a variety of applications including optical storage devices, optical buffers and optical switches.

Tunable dual-channel slow light in a graphene grating plasmonic waveguide

We propose a plasmonic waveguide comprising a single-layer graphene, a silica dielectric layer, and a silicon grating substrate to realize dual-channel slow surface plasmon polaritons. The dual-channel results from the introduction of two kinds of periodic structures with defects in the waveguide. According to the Bragg equation, we match the appropriate structure parameters to ensure the slow light dual-channel working around λ₁=9369.1nm (32 THz) and λ₂=7138.2nm (42 THz). The influence of the structure parameters on the slow light effect is discussed, and the largest value of the normalized delay bandwidth product (NDBP) is up to 7.38. Then, by shifting the gate voltage, obvious linear blueshift of the dual-channel is achieved. In this process, the slow light performance of the dual-channel exhibits good stability, and the average values of the NDBP are 4.5 and 4.4. Due to the flexible tunability, the waveguide may pave the way for the design of slow light devices.

Significantly enhanced coupling effect and gap plasmon resonance in a MIM-cavity based sensing structure

Herein, we design a high sensitivity with a multi-mode plasmonic sensor based on the square ring-shaped resonators containing silver nanorods together with a metal–insulator-metal bus waveguide. The finite element method can analyze the structure's transmittance properties and electromagnetic field distributions in detail. Results show that the coupling effect between the bus waveguide and the side-coupled resonator can enhance by generating gap plasmon resonance among the silver nanorods, increasing the cavity plasmon mode in the resonator. The suggested structure obtained a relatively high sensitivity and acceptable figure of merit and quality factor of about 2473 nm/RIU (refractive index unit), 34.18 1/RIU, and 56.35, respectively. Thus, the plasmonic sensor is ideal for lab-on-chip in gas and biochemical analysis and can significantly enhance the sensitivity by 177% compared to the regular one. Furthermore, the designed structure can apply in nanophotonic devices, and the range of the detected refractive index is suitable for gases and fluids (e.g., gas, isopropanol, optical oil, and glucose solution).

Improved Refractive Index-Sensing Performance of Multimode Fano-Resonance-Based Metal-Insulator-Metal Nanostructures

This work proposed a multiple mode Fano resonance-based refractive index sensor with high sensitivity that is a rarely investigated structure. The designed device consists of a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide with two rectangular stubs side-coupled with an elliptical resonator embedded with an air path in the resonator and several metal defects set in the bus waveguide. We systematically studied three types of sensor structures employing the finite element method. Results show that the surface plasmon mode’s splitting is affected by the geometry of the sensor. We found that the transmittance dips and peaks can dramatically change by adding the dual air stubs, and the light–matter interaction can effectively enhance by embedding an air path in the resonator and the metal defects in the bus waveguide. The double air stubs and an air path contribute to the cavity plasmon resonance, and the metal defects facilitate the gap plasmon resonance in the proposed plasmonic sensor, resulting in remarkable characteristics compared with those of plasmonic sensors. The high sensitivity of 2600 nm/RIU and 1200 nm/RIU can simultaneously achieve in mode 1 and mode 2 of the proposed type 3 structure, which considerably raises the sensitivity by 216.67% for mode 1 and 133.33% for mode 2 compared to its regular counterpart, i.e., type 2 structure. The designed sensing structure can detect the material’s refractive index in a wide range of gas, liquids, and biomaterials (e.g., hemoglobin concentration).