Evanescent wave sensor of sensitivity larger than a free space wave

Authors
Parriaux, O Lambeck, PV Hoekstra, HJWM Veldhuis, GJ Pandraud, G
Citation
O. Parriaux et al., Evanescent wave sensor of sensitivity larger than a free space wave, OPT QUANT E, 32(6-8), 2000, pp. 909-921
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Optics & Acoustics
Journal title
OPTICAL AND QUANTUM ELECTRONICS
ISSN journal
03068919 → ACNP
Volume
32
Issue
6-8
Year of publication
2000
Pages
909 - 921
Database
ISI
SICI code
0306-8919(200008)32:6-8<909:EWSOSL>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
A ray optic description of evanescent wave sensing allows a homogeneous tre atment of the sensitivity of free space and guided wave slab sensors. It is shown in particular that the sensitivity of evanescent wave sensors is gen erally smaller or much smaller than that of a Free space wave traversing th e probed medium except in thc remarkable case of large contrast slab wavegu ides propagating a restricted number of TM modes where the sensitivity can exceed that of a free space wave.