title: Integrated optical sensor using a liquid-core waveguide in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
abstract: We demonstrate experimentally an optical sensor based on a monolithically integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprising a liquid-core waveguide in one of the optical paths. The device is fabricated with a technique for self-forming microchannels in silica-on-silicon using standard photolithography and deposition processes. Refractometry with a resolution of better than 4x10(-6) is demonstrated using the thermo-optic effect of the liquid medium to vary its refractive index. The polarization dependence of the device response is analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Communications Research Centre Canada, Station H, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dumais
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Callender
authors.forename: Julian P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Noad
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ledderhof