Refractive-index sensor based on metal-insulator-metal waveguides

摘要

We propose a refractive sensor based on directional coupling between two metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides to measure the refractive index change of the insulator, which is designed to be with a structure of metal-insulator-metal-insulator-metal (MIMIM) in which surface plasmon waves (SPW) are excited. The propagation properties are analyzed by coupled mode theory, and the expressions about the coupling coefficient, coupling length and sensitivity are derived. The sensing properties based on simulation results are also discussed. Compared with a dielectric waveguide, the total size of our sensor with MIMIM waveguide is about one tenth that with dielectric materials, while the sensitivity is improved ten times larger than the former.