title: Highly compact refractive index sensor based on stripe waveguides for lab-on-a-chip sensing applications.
abstract: In this paper we report the design and experimental realisation of a novel refractive index sensor based on coupling between three nanoscale stripe waveguides. The sensor is highly compact and designed to operate at a single wavelength. We demonstrate that the sensor exhibits linear response with a resolution of 6 × 10(-4) RIU (refractive index unit) for a change in relative output intensity of 1%. Authors expect that the outcome of this paper will prove beneficial in highly compact, label-free and highly sensitive refractive index analysis.
authors.affiliation: Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4001, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Chamanei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.affiliation: Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4001, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Kristy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vernon
authors.affiliation: Australian National Nanofabrication Facility QLD node, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Juna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sathian
authors.affiliation: Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4001, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jaatinen
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davis
keywords: interferometer; sensing; surface plasmons; waveguides