Photonic crystal with epsilon negative and double negative materials as an optical sensor

Abstract

Two ternary photonic crystals are proposed for sensing applications. The first one is composed of an air layer as an analyte sandwiched between two double negative material (DNM) layers whereas the second one consists of an air layer sandwiched between two epsilon negative material (ENM) layers. The transmission spectrum is studied for two different values of the refractive index of the analyte layer with ∆n = 0.01. A specific peak in the transmission spectrum is observed and the wavelength at which the peak occurs is determined. The wavelength shift due to any change in the index of the analyte layer is also determined. The effect of varying the parameters of the DNM and ENM on the sensitivity of the sensor is discussed. It is found that the sensitivity of the structure ENM/air/ENM is much greater than that of the structure DNM/air/DNM and it is estimated as 26 times of the sensitivity of the latter structure.