Optical Sensor Sensitivity Enhancement by Use of Diffraction Gratings

The remote point photonic sensing is established as an efficient environmental detection approach which offers a unique potential and advantageous operational characteristics. The use of nanocomposite materials exhibiting reversible changes upon exposure to various physical and chemical agents is combined here with the operation of diffractive optical structures to produce significant enhancement of sensitivity and lower detection limits. Direct laser microfabrication by deep ultraviolet radiation is an excellent fabrication tool managing the inherent lithographic incompatibility of the structurally sensitive thin film nanocomposites and producing the appropriate optical sensing interfaces.