We describe the use of one-dimensional porous silicon (p-Si) photonic crystals for guiding TE-polarized surface electromagnetic waves (SEWs). Although bulk and interface roughnesses might deteriorate the optical response of photonic structures, we observed reflection spectra presenting narrow (?6?nm) reflectivity anomalies associated with SEWs. In analogy with surface plasmons, SEWs are strongly sensitive to surface modifications. As a proof of principle for a sensor, we provide a direct real-time monitoring of the reversible interactions of organic vapors with the p-Si multilayer. We highlight the higher sensitivity of the SEW-based detection scheme as compared to a method exploiting perturbations of waveguide modes.
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