Characterization of Evanescent Field Gas Sensor Structures Based on Silicon Photonics

Photonic sensors that operate in the mid-infrared spectral range are an emerging field for photonic microsystems. In this paper, we present a photonic gas sensor concept based on silicon waveguides using infrared evanescent field absorption. The waveguides were specifically designed for CO<inline...

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Main Authors: Christian Ranacher, Cristina Consani, Natalie Vollert, Andreas Tortschanoff, Markus Bergmeister, Thomas Grille, Bernhard Jakoby
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2018-01-01
Series:IEEE Photonics Journal
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8444677/
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author Christian Ranacher
Cristina Consani
Natalie Vollert
Andreas Tortschanoff
Markus Bergmeister
Thomas Grille
Bernhard Jakoby
author_facet Christian Ranacher
Cristina Consani
Natalie Vollert
Andreas Tortschanoff
Markus Bergmeister
Thomas Grille
Bernhard Jakoby
author_sort Christian Ranacher
collection DOAJ
description Photonic sensors that operate in the mid-infrared spectral range are an emerging field for photonic microsystems. In this paper, we present a photonic gas sensor concept based on silicon waveguides using infrared evanescent field absorption. The waveguides were specifically designed for CO<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> sensing at a wavelength of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda ={\text{4.26}}\,\mathrm{\mu m}$</tex-math></inline-formula> as possible application for the proposed sensor platform. The waveguide cross section as well as the substructure were investigated using finite-element simulations and the devised structures were fabricated using mass fabrication processes exclusively. In order to evaluate the potential for long interaction path lengths using polysilicon strip waveguides, a study on the intrinsic losses of polysilicon waveguides was conducted. The lowest intrinsic damping that was obtained for polysilicon strip waveguides was 3.98 dB/cm. Furthermore, the sensing capability of the devised waveguides was tested with quantitative CO<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{2}$</tex-math></inline-formula> measurements down to a concentration of 500 ppm CO <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>. From the quantitative measurements, the evanescent field ratio was estimated and was in the range between <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta ={\text{14}{\%}}\hbox{--}{\text{16}{\%}}$</tex-math></inline-formula>.
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publishDate 2018-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-6a865e1e1abd475e8c23e0422463d9292025-08-20T03:31:21ZengIEEEIEEE Photonics Journal1943-06552018-01-0110511410.1109/JPHOT.2018.28666288444677Characterization of Evanescent Field Gas Sensor Structures Based on Silicon PhotonicsChristian Ranacher0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5646-7230Cristina Consani1Natalie Vollert2Andreas Tortschanoff3Markus Bergmeister4Thomas Grille5Bernhard Jakoby6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2918-7150Carinthian Tech Research AG, Villach, AustriaCarinthian Tech Research AG, Villach, AustriaCarinthian Tech Research AG, Villach, AustriaCarinthian Tech Research AG, Villach, AustriaInfineon Technologies Austria AG, Villach, AustriaInfineon Technologies Austria AG, Villach, AustriaInstitute for Microelectronics and Microsensors, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, AustriaPhotonic sensors that operate in the mid-infrared spectral range are an emerging field for photonic microsystems. In this paper, we present a photonic gas sensor concept based on silicon waveguides using infrared evanescent field absorption. The waveguides were specifically designed for CO<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> sensing at a wavelength of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda ={\text{4.26}}\,\mathrm{\mu m}$</tex-math></inline-formula> as possible application for the proposed sensor platform. The waveguide cross section as well as the substructure were investigated using finite-element simulations and the devised structures were fabricated using mass fabrication processes exclusively. In order to evaluate the potential for long interaction path lengths using polysilicon strip waveguides, a study on the intrinsic losses of polysilicon waveguides was conducted. The lowest intrinsic damping that was obtained for polysilicon strip waveguides was 3.98 dB/cm. Furthermore, the sensing capability of the devised waveguides was tested with quantitative CO<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{2}$</tex-math></inline-formula> measurements down to a concentration of 500 ppm CO <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>. From the quantitative measurements, the evanescent field ratio was estimated and was in the range between <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta ={\text{14}{\%}}\hbox{--}{\text{16}{\%}}$</tex-math></inline-formula>.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8444677/Optical gas sensingintegrated silicon photonicssilicon waveguideevanescent field absorptionintrinsic losses.
spellingShingle Christian Ranacher
Cristina Consani
Natalie Vollert
Andreas Tortschanoff
Markus Bergmeister
Thomas Grille
Bernhard Jakoby
Characterization of Evanescent Field Gas Sensor Structures Based on Silicon Photonics
IEEE Photonics Journal
Optical gas sensing
integrated silicon photonics
silicon waveguide
evanescent field absorption
intrinsic losses.
title Characterization of Evanescent Field Gas Sensor Structures Based on Silicon Photonics
title_full Characterization of Evanescent Field Gas Sensor Structures Based on Silicon Photonics
title_fullStr Characterization of Evanescent Field Gas Sensor Structures Based on Silicon Photonics
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Evanescent Field Gas Sensor Structures Based on Silicon Photonics
title_short Characterization of Evanescent Field Gas Sensor Structures Based on Silicon Photonics
title_sort characterization of evanescent field gas sensor structures based on silicon photonics
topic Optical gas sensing
integrated silicon photonics
silicon waveguide
evanescent field absorption
intrinsic losses.
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8444677/
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AT cristinaconsani characterizationofevanescentfieldgassensorstructuresbasedonsiliconphotonics
AT natalievollert characterizationofevanescentfieldgassensorstructuresbasedonsiliconphotonics
AT andreastortschanoff characterizationofevanescentfieldgassensorstructuresbasedonsiliconphotonics
AT markusbergmeister characterizationofevanescentfieldgassensorstructuresbasedonsiliconphotonics
AT thomasgrille characterizationofevanescentfieldgassensorstructuresbasedonsiliconphotonics
AT bernhardjakoby characterizationofevanescentfieldgassensorstructuresbasedonsiliconphotonics