Thin-film sensing with planar terahertz metamaterials: sensitivity and limitations.
The limiting effects of varying the thickness of a dielectric overlayer on planar double split-ring resonator (SRR) arrays are studied by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Uniform dielectric overlayers from 100 nm to 16 mum thick are deposited onto fixed SRR arrays in order to shift the resonance frequency of the electric response. We discuss the bounds of resonance shifting and emphasize the resulting limitations for SRR-based sensing. These results are presented in the context of typical biosensing situations and are compared to previous work and other existing sensing platforms.
MPA-CINT, Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, MS K771, Los Alamos, NewMexico 87545, USA. johara@lanl.gov
John F
JF
O'Hara
Ranjan
R
Singh
Igal
I
Brener
Evgenya
E
Smirnova
Jiaguang
J
Han
Antoinette J
AJ
Taylor
Weili
W
Zhang
D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D008567:Membranes, Artificial