We describe a hybrid evanescent-wave sensor component that we fabricated by using an integrated optical interferometer with a specially adapted photodetector array. The design of the interferometer is based on the use of tapered waveguides to obtain two intersecting collimated beams. Phase shifts can be measured with an angular precision of better than 10(-3) rad, which corresponds to a superstrate index change inferior of 10(-6) with our structure. The interest in the device as a chemical sensor is experimentally demonstrated. The same optical component could be used in a variety of other sensor applications, e.g., biological and immunological sensors.
An improved method for fabricating single mode, low loss optical waveguides using a two step potassium and silver ion exchange in glass is reported. The waveguides are compatible with optical fibers and butt coupling of diode lasers. Propagation losses, down to 0.4 dB/cm, are measured for a wavelength of 780 nm. In the single mode waveguide, an index increase of 1% is obtained, which allows small bending losses for curvatures with a radius down to 2 mm.
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