Optical Sensing Based on Photonic Crystal Structures

• Published in: Fiber Optic Sensors Vol. 21; pp. 223 - 240
• Main Authors: Sevilla, J., Andueza, A.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 01.01.2017; Springer International Publishing
• Series: Smart Sensors, Measurement and Instrumentation
• Subjects: Bragg Diffraction; Fano Resonance; Laser technology & holography; Microwave technology; Photonic Band Structure; Photonic Molecule; Photonic Stop Band; Spectrum analysis, spectrochemistry, mass spectrometry
• ISBN: 3319426249; 9783319426242
• ISSN: 2194-8402; 2194-8410
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-42625-9_11

Photonic crystals (PhC) are materials which present periodic variations of the dielectric constant over distances of the same order of the light Wavelength. Their optical properties are highly dependent on construction details such as Dielectric constants and sizes of their different constituents. It is possible to turn Photonic Crystal (PhC) structures into optical Sensors by making some of their structural characteristics responsive to the desired Mesurand. These sensors are small, compact, compatible with electronic integration in some cases, and may present some other advantages like high sensitivity and Selectivity. In recent years the development of PhC sensors has experienced a substantial increase due to their performance and to the increasing demand of sensing applications such as instrumentation, healthcare, environment security, food quality and industrial control. In this paper we present an overview of PhC sensors focused on their physical working principles. It covers a description of PhC structures, their interaction with Radiation, the general strategies to make them responsive and, finally, a selection of sensor proposal of a variety of mesurands.