MICROCHEMICAL SENSORS BASED ON FIBEROPTIC EXCITATION OF SURFACE-PLASMONS

In this paper the theoretical base and experimental results of a new c lass of fiber optical supported surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPRS) transducer is given. Surface plasmons were excited by polychro matic light, and the resonant excitation is detected as an intensity m inimum in the measured spectra at certain wavelengths. The excitation takes place at the end zone of a multimode fiber coated with a thin su rface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer. As examples for the la rge application field of this transducer a fiber optical immunosensor for the detection of antibodies against bovine serum albumin and a gas sensor for remote detection of tetrachloroethene was constructed and tested successfully. The sensors were constructed following the theore tical predictions for an optimal performance.