Slab Waveguide Optical Sensors Using Negative-Index Materials

Abstract

In this thesis, two waveguide structures were assumed as sensors for detection variation in the index of refraction of an analyte. The first structure comprises a Left-Handed Material (LHM) in the core layer whereas the second includes a LHM in the substrate. In each waveguide configuration, different mode orders were investigated. For a given mode order, the sensitivity of the proposed waveguide sensor was studied with the thickness of the core layer, frequency of the guided wave, and the parameters of the LHM. Moreover, with each waveguide structure, two analytes were presented: water and air. The results of the two waveguide configurations were compared to find out the optimal structure with the highest sensitivity. It was found that using LHMs in slab waveguide sensors can enhance the sensitivity and the LHM substrate structure has an improved sensitivity over the LHM core layer.