Characterization of homogenous TM nonlinear waveguide sensors

Abstract

This work is devoted on a three-layer sensor bounded from one side by a nonlinear clad of intensity dependent refractive index. A normalized analysis of sensitivity of this configuration and the condition to maximize this sensitivity is introduced. Behavior of sensing sensitivity is accounted for through power flow and cut-off considerations. We establish a method of determining the proper dimensioning of the sensor to execute its maximum sensitivity. We found that the sensitivity is higher in nonlinear sensors than in linear case in spite of appearing at lower wave guiding widths so that nonlinear sensors are advisable in accurate sensing.