SENSORS EMPLOYING INTERFERENCE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES PASSING THROUGH WAVEGUIDES HAVING FUNCTIONALIZED SURFACES

摘要

Chemical and biosensors are disclosed. An optical waveguide (11) is used to conduct electromagnetic radiation by total internal reflection in parallel through a reference waveguide portion (12) and at least one analyte waveguide portion (14). The electromagnetic radiation is then converged into an exit beam. The external surface of at least the analyte portion is covalently modified, or functionalized, relative to the reference portion. Resulting interaction of the functionalized surface with molecules comprising an analyte causes a phase change in the electromagnetic radiation passing through the analyte portion relative to the reference portion sufficient to generate a corresponding and measurable interference pattern in the exit beam.