Multimode interference structures as sensing elements integrated into Mach-Zehnder interferometers in polymer foils

Yanfen Xiao; Alexa Langenecker; Meike Hofmann; Stanislav Sherman; Uwe Gleissner; Claas Mueller; Hans Zappe

doi:10.1117/12.2247610

4 November 2016 Multimode interference structures as sensing elements integrated into Mach-Zehnder interferometers in polymer foils

Yanfen Xiao, Alexa Langenecker, Meike Hofmann, Stanislav Sherman, Uwe Gleissner, Claas Mueller, Hans Zappe

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10025, Advanced Sensor Systems and Applications VII; 100250V (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2247610
Event: SPIE/COS Photonics Asia, 2016, Beijing, China

Abstract

Integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) based on flexible polymer materials have been demonstrated as evanescent field sensors for the detection of refractive indices and molecule concentrations. The used application of a measurement window in classical MZIs is difficult in a roll-to-roll fabrication process. We have previously demonstrated foil-based asymmetric MZIs with different widths in sensing and reference arm which do not need a measurement window. Here we present the use of a multimode interference structure (MMI) inserted into the sensing arm of the interferometer to increase the sensitivity. We consider the expected interference signal from numerical simulations and optimize the system in terms of sensitivity, dimensions and absorption losses. The fabricated MMI-MZI foils are tested experimentally to demonstrate the function of the MMI-MZI system by applying water/glucose solutions with different refractive indices.

Citation Download Citation

Yanfen Xiao, Alexa Langenecker, Meike Hofmann, Stanislav Sherman, Uwe Gleissner, Claas Mueller, and Hans Zappe "Multimode interference structures as sensing elements integrated into Mach-Zehnder interferometers in polymer foils", Proc. SPIE 10025, Advanced Sensor Systems and Applications VII, 100250V (4 November 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2247610

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KEYWORDS

Brain-machine interfaces

Refractive index

Waveguides

Sensors

Glucose

Polymers

Structural sensing

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