Abstract

We propose a design tool for dielectric optical resonator-based biochemical refractometry sensors. Analogous to the widely accepted photodetector figure of merit, the detectivity $D^{*}$, we introduce a new sensor system figure of merit, the time-normalized sensitivity $S^{*}$, to permit quantitative, cross-technology-platform comparison between resonator sensors with distinctive device designs and interrogation configurations. The functional dependence of $S^{*}$ on device parameters, such as resonant cavity quality factor (Q), extinction ratio, system noise, and light source spectral bandwidth, is evaluated by using a Lorentzian peak fitting algorithm and Monte Carlo simulations to provide theoretical insights and useful design guidelines for optical resonator sensors. Importantly, we find that $S^{*}$ critically depends on the cavity Q factor, and we develop a method of optimizing sensor resolution and sensitivity to noise as a function of cavity Q factor. Finally, we compare the simulation predictions of sensor wavelength resolution with experimental results obtained in ${\mathrm{Ge}}_{17}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{12}{\mathrm{S}}_{71}$ resonators, and good agreement is confirmed.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

Design of a near-infrared plasmonic gas sensor based on graphene nanogratings

Morteza Maleki, Mahdiyeh Mehran, and Arash Mokhtari
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 37(11) 3478-3486 (2020)

Effect of dispersion on sensing parameters of a racetrack resonator-based biosensor at 850  nm

Foroogh Khozeymeh and Mohammad Razaghi
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 35(11) 2734-2743 (2018)

Performance and noise analysis of optical microresonator-based biochemical sensors using intensity detection

Xiaoyan Zhou, Lin Zhang, and Wei Pang
Opt. Express 24(16) 18197-18208 (2016)

Excitation of surface plasmon resonance with sodium-based photonic crystal fiber for sensing applications

Zhiyong Yin and Xili Jing
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 40(9) 2356-2364 (2023)

Design guidelines for nanoparticle chemical sensors based on mode-splitting silicon-on-insulator planar microcavities

C. M. Campanella, M. Dunai, L. Calabrese, and C. E. Campanella
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 33(11) 2383-2394 (2016)