Straight Long-Range Surface Plasmon Polariton Waveguide Sensor Operating at λ0 = 850 nm

A bulk refractive index sensor based on a straight long-range surface plasmon polariton (LRSPP) waveguide is theoretically designed. The waveguide sensor consists of an Au stripe that is embedded in ultraviolet sensitive polymer SU-8. The geometric parameters are optimized by finite difference eigenmode method at the optical wavelength of 850 nm. The sensitivity of 196 dB/RIU/mm can be obtained with a 1.5 μm wide, 25 nm thick Au stripe waveguide. Straight LRSPP waveguides are fabricated by a double layer lift-off process. Its optical transmission is characterized to experimentally prove the feasibility of the proposed design. This sensor has potential for the realization of a portable, low-cost refractometer.