MIM waveguide structure consisting of a semicircular resonant cavity coupled with a key-shaped resonant cavity

Plasmonic nanosensor and pressure-induced transparency based on coupled resonator in a nanoscale system

Plasmonic nanosensors and the dynamic control of light fields are of the utmost significance in the field of micro- and nano-optics. Here, our study successfully demonstrates a plasmonic nanosensor in a compact coupled resonator system and obtains the pressure-induced transparency phenomenon for the first time to our knowledge. The proposed structure consists of a groove and slot cavity coupled in the metal-insulator-metal waveguide, whose mechanical and optical characteristics are investigated in detail using the finite element method. Simulation results show that we construct a quantitative relationship among the resonator deformation quantity, the applied pressure variation, and the resonant wavelength offset by combining the mechanical and optical properties of the proposed system. The physical features contribute to highly efficient plasmonic nanosensors for refractive index and optical pressure sensing with sensitivity of 1800 nm/RIU and 7.4 nm/MPa, respectively. Furthermore, the light waves are coupled to each other in the resonators, which are detuned due to the presence of pressure, resulting in the pressure-induced transparency phenomenon. It is noteworthy to emphasize that, unlike previously published works, our numerical results take structural deformation-induced changes in optical properties into account, making them trustworthy and practical. The proposed structure introduces a novel, to the best of our knowledge, approach for the dynamic control of light fields and has special properties that can be utilized for the realization of various integrated components.

Tunable electromagnetically induced absorption based on coupled-resonators in a compact plasmonic system

Electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) exhibits abnormal dispersion and novel fast-light features, making it a crucial aspect of nanophotonics. Here, the EIA phenomenon is numerically predicted in a compact plasmonic waveguide system by introducing a slot resonator above a square cavity. Simulation results reveal that the EIA response can be easily tuned by altering the structure's parameters, and double EIA valleys can be observed with an additional slot resonator. Furthermore, the investigated structures demonstrate a fast-light effect with an optical delay of ∼ -1.0 ps as a result of aberrant dispersion at the EIA valley, which enable promising applications in the on-chip fast-light area. Finally, a plasmonic nanosensor with a sensitivity of ∼1200 nm/RIU and figure of merit of ∼16600 is achieved based on Fano resonance. The special features of our suggested structure are applicable in realization of various integrated components for the development of multifunctional high-performance nano-photonic devices.

Refractive Index and Alcohol-Concentration Sensor Based on Fano Phenomenon

A novel nano-refractive index sensor based on the Fano resonance phenomenon is proposed in this paper. The sensor consists of the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide and a V-ring cavity with a groove (VRCG). We analyzed the performance of the nanoscale sensor using the finite element method. The simulation results show that the asymmetry of the geometric structure itself is the main factor leading to Fano resonance splitting. In Fano splitting mode, the Fano bandwidth of the system can be significantly reduced when the sensor sensitivity is slightly reduced, so that the figure of merit (FOM) of the sensor can be substantially improved. Based on the above advantages, the sensor's sensitivity in this paper is as high as 2765 nm/RIU, FOM = 50.28. In addition, we further applied the sensor to alcohol concentration detection. The effect is good, and the sensitivity achieves about 150. This type of sensor has a bright future in the precision measurement of solution concentrations.

A Nanoscale Sensor Based on a Toroidal Cavity with a Built-In Elliptical Ring Structure for Temperature Sensing Application

In this article, a refractive index sensor based on Fano resonance, which is generated by the coupling of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure and a toroidal cavity with a built-in elliptical ring (TCER) structure, is presented. The finite element method (FEM) was employed to analyze the propagation characteristics of the integral structure. The effects of refractive index and different geometric parameters of the structure on the sensing characteristics were evaluated. The maximum sensitivity was 2220 nm/RIU with a figure of merit (FOM) of 58.7, which is the best performance level that the designed structure could achieve. Moreover, due to its high sensitivity and simple structure, the refractive index sensor can be applied in the field of temperature detection, and its sensitivity is calculated to be 1.187 nm/℃.

Optical-fibre characteristics based on Fano resonances and sensor application in blood glucose detection

We propose an optical-fibre metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic sensor based on the Fano resonances of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Its structure consists of a coupling fibre that connects C-shaped and rectangular cavities and a main fibre that contains a semi-circular resonator. When incident light passes through the main fibre, it excites SPPs along the interface between the metal and medium. The SPPs at the resonator induce Fano resonances, owing to the coupling effect. The results show that the designed optical-fibre MIM plasmonic sensor could flexibly tune the number of Fano resonances by adjusting the structure and geometric parameters to optimise the sensing performance. The full width at half maximum of the Lorentzian resonance spectra formed by the electric and magnetic fields reached 23 nm and 24 nm, respectively. The wavelength of the Fano resonance shifted as the refractive index changed; thus, the proposed sensor could realise the application of sensing and detection. The highest sensitivity achieved by the sensor was 1770 nm/RIU. Finally, we simulated the designed sensor to human blood-glucose-level detection, and observed that the resonance wavelength would increase with the increase of glucose concentration. Our study shows that optical fibres have broad application prospects in the field of electromagnetic switching and 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.

Breaking the Symmetry of a Metal-Insulator-Metal-Based Resonator for Sensing Applications

This article designed a novel multi-mode plasmonic sensor based on a metal-insulator-metal waveguide side-coupled to a circular-shaped resonator containing an air path in the resonator. The electromagnet field distributions and transmittance spectra are investigated using finite element method-based simulations. Simulation results show that an air path in the resonator's core would impact the transmittance spectrum of SPPs. Besides, the air path is crucial in offering efficient coupling and generating multiple plasmon modes in the sensor system. The proposed structure has the advantage of multi-channel, and its sensitivity, figure of merit, and dipping strength can reach 2800 nm/RIU, 333.3 1/RIU, and 86.97%, respectively. The achieved plasmonic sensor can also apply for lab-on-chip in biochemical analysis for detecting the existence or nonappearance of diabetes through the human glucose concentration in urine.

Design and characteristic analysis of an all-optical AND, XOR, and XNOR Y-shaped MIM waveguide for high-speed information processing

All-optical logic gates are exceptionally suited for Boolean ultrahigh-speed operation and logical computing. This study presents a plasmonic model that uses a Y-shaped metal-insulator-metal waveguide structure that realizes the ultrafast all-optical AND, XOR, and XNOR gate operation that is developed at a footprint of 6.6µm×3.4µm with a wavelength of 1.55 µm. This construction relies on the notion of linear interference. The insertion loss and extinction ratio of the model are observed as 1.49 dB and 21.49 dB for AND, 1.03 dB and 18.97 dB for XOR, and 2.06 dB, and 10.92 dB for XNOR, respectively. The transmission efficiency, response time, and speed of the structure also are calculated and are used to improve the performance of any complex circuit in the future. The theoretical analysis of the proposed structure is carried out using the finite-difference time-domain method.

A multichannel color filter with the functions of optical sensor and switch

This paper reports a multichannel color filter with the functions of optical sensor and switch. The proposed structure comprises a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) bus waveguide side-couples to six circular cavities with different sizes for filtering ultra-violet and visible lights into individual colors in the wavelength range of 350-700 nm. We used the finite element method to analyze the electromagnetic field distributions and transmittance properties by varying the structural parameters in detail. The designed plasmonic filter takes advantage of filtering out different colors since the light-matter resonance and interference between the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) modes within the six cavities. Results show that the designed structure can preferentially select the desired colors and confine the SPPS modes in one of the cavities. This designed structure can filter eleven color channels with a small full width at half maximum (FWHM) ~ 2 nm. Furthermore, the maximum values of sensitivity, figure of merit, quality factor, dipping strength, and extinction ratio can achieve of 700 nm/RIU, 350 1/RIU, 349.0, 65.04%, and 174.50 dB, respectively, revealing the excellent functions of sensor performance and optical switch, and offering a chance for designing a beneficial nanophotonic device.

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).

Formation Laws of Direction of Fano Line-Shape in a Ring MIM Plasmonic Waveguide Side-Coupled with a Rectangular Resonator and Nano-Sensing Analysis of Multiple Fano Resonances

Plasmonic MIM (metal-insulator-metal) waveguides based on Fano resonance have been widely researched. However, the regulation of the direction of the line shape of Fano resonance is rarely mentioned. In order to study the regulation of the direction of the Fano line-shape, a Fano resonant plasmonic system, which consists of a MIM waveguide coupled with a ring resonator and a rectangle resonator, is proposed and investigated numerically via FEM (finite element method). We find the influencing factors and formation laws of the ‘direction’ of the Fano line-shape, and the optimal condition for the generation of multiple Fano resonances; and the application in refractive index sensing is also well studied. The conclusions can provide a clear theoretical reference for the regulation of the direction of the line shape of Fano resonance and the generation of multi Fano resonances in the designs of plasmonic nanodevices.

Independently tunable triple Fano resonances based on MIM waveguide structure with a semi-ring cavity and its sensing characteristics

In this paper, a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure consisting of a side-coupled rectangular cavity (SCRC), a rightward opening semi-ring cavity (ROSRC), and a bus waveguide is reported. The finite element method is used to analyze the transmission characteristics and magnetic-field distributions of the structure in detail. The structure can support triple Fano resonances, and the Fano resonances can be tuned independently by altering the geometric parameters of the structure. Moreover, the structure can be applied in refractive index sensing and biosensing. The maximum sensitivity of refractive index sensing is up to 1550.38 nm/RIU, and there is a good linear relationship between resonance wavelength and refractive index. The MIM waveguide structure has potential applications in optical on-chip nano-sensing.

Metal-Insulator-Metal Waveguide-Based Racetrack Integrated Circular Cavity for Refractive Index Sensing Application

Herein, a novel cavity design of racetrack integrated circular cavity established on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide is suggested for refractive index sensing application. Over the past few years, we have witnessed several unique cavity designs to improve the sensing performance of the plasmonic sensors created on the MIM waveguide. The optimized cavity design can provide the best sensing performance. In this work, we have numerically analyzed the device design by utilizing the finite element method (FEM). The small variations in the geometric parameter of the device can bring a significant shift in the sensitivity and the figure of merit (FOM) of the device. The best sensitivity and FOM of the anticipated device are 1400 nm/RIU and ~12.01, respectively. We believe that the sensor design analyzed in this work can be utilized in the on-chip detection of biochemical analytes.

A Nanosensor Based on a Metal-Insulator-Metal Bus Waveguide with a Stub Coupled with a Racetrack Ring Resonator

A nanostructure comprising the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) bus waveguide with a stub coupled with a racetrack ring resonator is designed. The spectral characteristics of the proposed structure are analyzed via the finite element method (FEM). The results show that there is a sharp Fano resonance profile and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)-like effect, which are excited by a coupling between the MIM bus waveguide with a stub and the racetrack ring resonator. The normalized H_Z field is affected by the displacement of the ring from the stub x greatly. The influence of the geometric parameters of the sensor design on the sensing performance is discussed. The sensitivity of the proposed structure can reach 1774 nm/RIU with a figure of merit of 61. The proposed structure has potential in nanophotonic sensing applications.