On-chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing

Abstract In this work we propose a method for on-chip detection of the complex refractive index of the sensing medium at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing. For the optical sensor to be selective, i.e. able to determine the substance present in the medium, either surface functionalization or...

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Main Authors: Raghi S. El Shamy, Mohamed A. Swillam, Xun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13033-3
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author Raghi S. El Shamy
Mohamed A. Swillam
Xun Li
author_facet Raghi S. El Shamy
Mohamed A. Swillam
Xun Li
author_sort Raghi S. El Shamy
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In this work we propose a method for on-chip detection of the complex refractive index of the sensing medium at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing. For the optical sensor to be selective, i.e. able to determine the substance present in the medium, either surface functionalization or absorption spectroscopy is often used. Surface functionalization is a complex process and is mainly limited to biological media. On the other hand, absorption spectroscopy is not suitable for on-chip sensing with micrometer dimensions as this will result in poor sensitivity, especially when working far from the substance absorption peaks. Here, we detect the dispersion of both the real n and imaginary k parts of the refractive index which are unique for each substance. This is done using a single micro-ring resonator (MRR) that exhibits multiple resonances over the operating wavelength range. The real and imaginary parts of the medium refractive index are determined at each resonance using the resonance wavelength and the absorption coefficient, respectively. In addition, using this technique the concentration composition of a multi-element medium can be determined by solving a system of linear equations that corresponds to the different wavelengths (resonances). We designed a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) ring-resonator operating in the near-infrared region from λ = 1.46 µm to λ = 1.6 µm. The ring exhibits 11 resonances over the 140 nm operating wavelength range where the corresponding medium refractive index is obtained. This design can detect four different substances namely, methanol, ethanol, propanol, and water. An average error of less than 0.0047% and 1.65% in the detection of the real and imaginary parts, respectively were obtained. Finally, the concentration composition of different multi-element media were successfully determined using the least square method with 97.4% detection accuracy.
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spelling doaj.art-7d99ac6064a64fd0874b401f4ea114ba2022-12-22T03:29:56ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-06-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-13033-3On-chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensingRaghi S. El Shamy0Mohamed A. Swillam1Xun Li2Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster UniversityDepartment of Physics, School of Science and Engineering, The American University in CairoFaculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster UniversityAbstract In this work we propose a method for on-chip detection of the complex refractive index of the sensing medium at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing. For the optical sensor to be selective, i.e. able to determine the substance present in the medium, either surface functionalization or absorption spectroscopy is often used. Surface functionalization is a complex process and is mainly limited to biological media. On the other hand, absorption spectroscopy is not suitable for on-chip sensing with micrometer dimensions as this will result in poor sensitivity, especially when working far from the substance absorption peaks. Here, we detect the dispersion of both the real n and imaginary k parts of the refractive index which are unique for each substance. This is done using a single micro-ring resonator (MRR) that exhibits multiple resonances over the operating wavelength range. The real and imaginary parts of the medium refractive index are determined at each resonance using the resonance wavelength and the absorption coefficient, respectively. In addition, using this technique the concentration composition of a multi-element medium can be determined by solving a system of linear equations that corresponds to the different wavelengths (resonances). We designed a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) ring-resonator operating in the near-infrared region from λ = 1.46 µm to λ = 1.6 µm. The ring exhibits 11 resonances over the 140 nm operating wavelength range where the corresponding medium refractive index is obtained. This design can detect four different substances namely, methanol, ethanol, propanol, and water. An average error of less than 0.0047% and 1.65% in the detection of the real and imaginary parts, respectively were obtained. Finally, the concentration composition of different multi-element media were successfully determined using the least square method with 97.4% detection accuracy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13033-3
spellingShingle Raghi S. El Shamy
Mohamed A. Swillam
Xun Li
On-chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing
Scientific Reports
title On-chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing
title_full On-chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing
title_fullStr On-chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing
title_full_unstemmed On-chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing
title_short On-chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing
title_sort on chip complex refractive index detection at multiple wavelengths for selective sensing
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13033-3
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AT xunli onchipcomplexrefractiveindexdetectionatmultiplewavelengthsforselectivesensing