Integrated Spectral Sensitivity as Physics-Based Figure of Merit for Spectral Transducers in Optical Sensing
The design of optical sensors aims at providing, among other things, the highest precision in the determination of the target measurand. Many sensor systems rely on a spectral transducer to map changes in the measurand into spectral shifts of a resonance peak in the reflection or transmission spectr...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Felix L. McCluskey Anne van Klinken Andrea Fiore |
| author_facet | Felix L. McCluskey Anne van Klinken Andrea Fiore |
| author_sort | Felix L. McCluskey |
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| description | The design of optical sensors aims at providing, among other things, the highest precision in the determination of the target measurand. Many sensor systems rely on a spectral transducer to map changes in the measurand into spectral shifts of a resonance peak in the reflection or transmission spectrum, which is measured by a readout device (e.g., a spectrometer). For these spectral transducers, figures of merit have been defined which are based on specific assumptions on the readout and the data analysis. In reality, however, different transducers achieve optimal performance with different types of readout. Additionally, some transducers present a more complex spectral response for which existing figures of merit do not apply. In this paper, we investigate an approach to quantifying the potential performance of a given transducer for a more general class of readout methods. Starting from the Cramér–Rao lower bound, we define a new figure of merit, the integrated spectral sensitivity, which is directly related to the physical limit of precision and applicable to a wide variety of sensing systems. We apply this analysis to two different examples of transducers. The results bring useful insights into the design of optical sensors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea4dffeff7364744bd21db52b5082999 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea4dffeff7364744bd21db52b50829992025-01-24T13:48:56ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-01-0125244010.3390/s25020440Integrated Spectral Sensitivity as Physics-Based Figure of Merit for Spectral Transducers in Optical SensingFelix L. McCluskey0Anne van Klinken1Andrea Fiore2Department of Applied Physics and Science Education, Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The NetherlandsDepartment of Applied Physics and Science Education, Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The NetherlandsDepartment of Applied Physics and Science Education, Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The NetherlandsThe design of optical sensors aims at providing, among other things, the highest precision in the determination of the target measurand. Many sensor systems rely on a spectral transducer to map changes in the measurand into spectral shifts of a resonance peak in the reflection or transmission spectrum, which is measured by a readout device (e.g., a spectrometer). For these spectral transducers, figures of merit have been defined which are based on specific assumptions on the readout and the data analysis. In reality, however, different transducers achieve optimal performance with different types of readout. Additionally, some transducers present a more complex spectral response for which existing figures of merit do not apply. In this paper, we investigate an approach to quantifying the potential performance of a given transducer for a more general class of readout methods. Starting from the Cramér–Rao lower bound, we define a new figure of merit, the integrated spectral sensitivity, which is directly related to the physical limit of precision and applicable to a wide variety of sensing systems. We apply this analysis to two different examples of transducers. The results bring useful insights into the design of optical sensors.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/2/440optical sensorbiosensorsfigure of meritCramér–Rao lower boundphotonic crystalFabry–Pérot cavity |
| spellingShingle | Felix L. McCluskey Anne van Klinken Andrea Fiore Integrated Spectral Sensitivity as Physics-Based Figure of Merit for Spectral Transducers in Optical Sensing Sensors optical sensor biosensors figure of merit Cramér–Rao lower bound photonic crystal Fabry–Pérot cavity |
| title | Integrated Spectral Sensitivity as Physics-Based Figure of Merit for Spectral Transducers in Optical Sensing |
| title_full | Integrated Spectral Sensitivity as Physics-Based Figure of Merit for Spectral Transducers in Optical Sensing |
| title_fullStr | Integrated Spectral Sensitivity as Physics-Based Figure of Merit for Spectral Transducers in Optical Sensing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrated Spectral Sensitivity as Physics-Based Figure of Merit for Spectral Transducers in Optical Sensing |
| title_short | Integrated Spectral Sensitivity as Physics-Based Figure of Merit for Spectral Transducers in Optical Sensing |
| title_sort | integrated spectral sensitivity as physics based figure of merit for spectral transducers in optical sensing |
| topic | optical sensor biosensors figure of merit Cramér–Rao lower bound photonic crystal Fabry–Pérot cavity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/2/440 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT felixlmccluskey integratedspectralsensitivityasphysicsbasedfigureofmeritforspectraltransducersinopticalsensing AT annevanklinken integratedspectralsensitivityasphysicsbasedfigureofmeritforspectraltransducersinopticalsensing AT andreafiore integratedspectralsensitivityasphysicsbasedfigureofmeritforspectraltransducersinopticalsensing |