Integrated optical Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZI) can be used as high sensitivity sensors through the interaction of the evanescent field of the waveguide with liquids or gases surrounding the sensor. We present here the design of polymer-based MZIs fabricated by hot-embossing and printing technologies. Simulations of an integrated MZI system with regard to variations of the waveguide cross-section and the refractive indices of the core layer are carried out to guarantee single mode behavior and optimize high sensitivity to external refractive index changes of analytes. The simulation of propagation losses induced by the Y-coupleres is also presented. Furthermore, transmission as a function of different interaction window lengths are also simulated on the entire MZI structure using a mixture of water and ethanol as an analyte on the sensing arm. Finally, we calculate the coupling efficiency of a laser diode into a tapered waveguide and estimate that a value of 30% is possible.

Date Published: 27 February 2015
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 9365, Integrated Optics: Devices, Materials, and Technologies XIX, 93651F (27 February 2015); doi: 10.1117/12.2079276

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9365:
Integrated Optics: Devices, Materials, and Technologies XIX
Jean-Emmanuel Broquin; Gualtiero Nunzi Conti, Editor(s)