title: Enabling novel functionality in heavily doped ZnO:Ga by nanostructuring: an efficient plasmonic refractive index sensor.
abstract: We demonstrate a proof-of-concept refractive index sensor based on heavily doped ZnO:Ga nanostructured in a grating configuration, which supports free space excitation of propagating surface plasmons. The bulk sensitivity of the sensor of 4.9 × 10(3) nm per refractive index unit, achieved in the mid-infrared spectral range with the first grating prototype, surpasses that of the noble metal counterparts by three to four times. Sensing performance is discussed in the light of numerical simulations of the spatial profile of the near field of surface plasmon polaritons.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstr. 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kuznetsov
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Wilfred
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prasai
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadofev
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalusniak