ENHANCED WAVELENGTH SELECTIVITY IN MOLECULAR DYE MODIFIED HIGH-T-C SUPERCONDUCTING DETECTORS USING MIRROR-LAYER STRUCTURES

A new method for enhancing the wavelength selectivity and responsivity of hybrid dye/superconductor optical sensors is described. Here, refl ective ''mirror layers'' deposited atop the high-temperature supercond uctor, YBa2Cu3O7-delta, are used to enhance the optical performance ch aracteristics of such hybrid sensors. Quantification of the wavelength selectivity for such detector structures is detailed for both dye/hig h-T-c superconductor and dye/mirror-layer/high-T-c superconductor syst ems. Optical studies suggest that the inclusion of the mirror layer se rves to enhance the wavelength selectivity by reducing the amount of o ff-resonance signal generated by the detector. On the other hand, the on-resonance signals captured by the dye layer are effectively sensed by the superconductor element. Measurement of the wavelength-dependent optical responsivity of the mirror-layer-modified. hybrid detectors s hows that energy transfer between the dye and superconducting elements is not diminished by the presence of this reflective layer.