title: Spiral-path high-sensitivity silicon photonic wire molecular sensor with temperature-independent response.
abstract: We demonstrate a new silicon photonic wire waveguide evanescent field (PWEF) sensor that exploits the strong evanescent field of the transverse magnetic mode of this high-index-contrast, submicrometer-dimension waveguide. High sensitivity is achieved by using a 2 mm long double-spiral waveguide structure that fits within a compact circular area of 150 microm diameter, facilitating compatibility with commercial spotting apparatus and the fabrication of densely spaced sensor arrays. By incorporating the PWEF sensor element into a balanced waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer circuit, a minimum detectable mass of approximately 10 fg of streptavidin protein is demonstrated with near temperature-independent response.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Microstructural Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0R6. adam.densmore@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Densmore
authors.forename: D-X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mischki
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lopinski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delâge
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheben
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lamontagne
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D007368:Interferometry; D008422:Materials Testing; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D017785:Photons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000379:methods; D019809:Streptavidin / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D019809:Streptavidin; D012825:Silicon