Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Biochemical Sensor Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Rib Waveguide with Large Cross Section

A high-sensitivity Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) biochemical sensing platform based on Silicon-in-insulator (SOI) rib waveguide with large cross section is proposed in this paper. Based on the analyses of the evanescent field intensity, the mode polarization and cross section dimensions of the S...

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Main Authors: Dengpeng Yuan, Ying Dong, Yujin Liu, Tianjian Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-08-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/9/21500
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author Dengpeng Yuan
Ying Dong
Yujin Liu
Tianjian Li
author_facet Dengpeng Yuan
Ying Dong
Yujin Liu
Tianjian Li
author_sort Dengpeng Yuan
collection DOAJ
description A high-sensitivity Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) biochemical sensing platform based on Silicon-in-insulator (SOI) rib waveguide with large cross section is proposed in this paper. Based on the analyses of the evanescent field intensity, the mode polarization and cross section dimensions of the SOI rib waveguide are optimized through finite difference method (FDM) simulation. To realize high-resolution MZI read-out configuration based on the SOI rib waveguide, medium-filled trenches are employed and their performances are simulated through two-dimensional finite-difference-time domain (2D-FDTD) method. With the fundamental EH-polarized mode of the SOI rib waveguide with a total rib height of 10 μm, an outside rib height of 5 μm and a rib width of 2.5 μm at the operating wavelength of 1550 nm, when the length of the sensitive window in the MZI configuration is 10 mm, a homogeneous sensitivity of 7296.6%/refractive index unit (RIU) is obtained. Supposing the resolutions of the photoelectric detectors connected to the output ports are 0.2%, the MZI sensor can achieve a detection limit of 2.74 × 10−6 RIU. Due to high coupling efficiency of SOI rib waveguide with large cross section with standard single-mode glass optical fiber, the proposed MZI sensing platform can be conveniently integrated with optical fiber communication systems and (opto-) electronic systems, and therefore has the potential to realize remote sensing, in situ real-time detecting, and possible applications in the internet of things.
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spelling doaj.art-5dc55f8ea76343e78dbabcc1980484e72022-12-22T02:55:45ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202015-08-01159215002151710.3390/s150921500s150921500Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Biochemical Sensor Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Rib Waveguide with Large Cross SectionDengpeng Yuan0Ying Dong1Yujin Liu2Tianjian Li3Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, J209A, Tsinghua Campus, University Town of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaGraduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, J209A, Tsinghua Campus, University Town of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaGraduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, J209A, Tsinghua Campus, University Town of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaGraduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, J209A, Tsinghua Campus, University Town of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaA high-sensitivity Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) biochemical sensing platform based on Silicon-in-insulator (SOI) rib waveguide with large cross section is proposed in this paper. Based on the analyses of the evanescent field intensity, the mode polarization and cross section dimensions of the SOI rib waveguide are optimized through finite difference method (FDM) simulation. To realize high-resolution MZI read-out configuration based on the SOI rib waveguide, medium-filled trenches are employed and their performances are simulated through two-dimensional finite-difference-time domain (2D-FDTD) method. With the fundamental EH-polarized mode of the SOI rib waveguide with a total rib height of 10 μm, an outside rib height of 5 μm and a rib width of 2.5 μm at the operating wavelength of 1550 nm, when the length of the sensitive window in the MZI configuration is 10 mm, a homogeneous sensitivity of 7296.6%/refractive index unit (RIU) is obtained. Supposing the resolutions of the photoelectric detectors connected to the output ports are 0.2%, the MZI sensor can achieve a detection limit of 2.74 × 10−6 RIU. Due to high coupling efficiency of SOI rib waveguide with large cross section with standard single-mode glass optical fiber, the proposed MZI sensing platform can be conveniently integrated with optical fiber communication systems and (opto-) electronic systems, and therefore has the potential to realize remote sensing, in situ real-time detecting, and possible applications in the internet of things.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/9/21500Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI)Silicon-on-insulator (SOI)biochemical sensorrib waveguidefinite difference-time domain (FDTD) method
spellingShingle Dengpeng Yuan
Ying Dong
Yujin Liu
Tianjian Li
Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Biochemical Sensor Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Rib Waveguide with Large Cross Section
Sensors
Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI)
Silicon-on-insulator (SOI)
biochemical sensor
rib waveguide
finite difference-time domain (FDTD) method
title Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Biochemical Sensor Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Rib Waveguide with Large Cross Section
title_full Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Biochemical Sensor Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Rib Waveguide with Large Cross Section
title_fullStr Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Biochemical Sensor Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Rib Waveguide with Large Cross Section
title_full_unstemmed Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Biochemical Sensor Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Rib Waveguide with Large Cross Section
title_short Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Biochemical Sensor Based on Silicon-on-Insulator Rib Waveguide with Large Cross Section
title_sort mach zehnder interferometer biochemical sensor based on silicon on insulator rib waveguide with large cross section
topic Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI)
Silicon-on-insulator (SOI)
biochemical sensor
rib waveguide
finite difference-time domain (FDTD) method
url http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/9/21500
work_keys_str_mv AT dengpengyuan machzehnderinterferometerbiochemicalsensorbasedonsilicononinsulatorribwaveguidewithlargecrosssection
AT yingdong machzehnderinterferometerbiochemicalsensorbasedonsilicononinsulatorribwaveguidewithlargecrosssection
AT yujinliu machzehnderinterferometerbiochemicalsensorbasedonsilicononinsulatorribwaveguidewithlargecrosssection
AT tianjianli machzehnderinterferometerbiochemicalsensorbasedonsilicononinsulatorribwaveguidewithlargecrosssection