Abstract
Combining the high sensitivity properties of surface plasmon resonance refractive index sensing with a tunable external cavity laser, we demonstrate a plasmonic external cavity laser (ECL) for high resolution refractometric sensing. The plasmonic ECL utilizes a plasmonic crystal with extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) as the wavelength-selective element, and achieves single mode lasing at the transmission peak of the EOT resonance. The plasmonic ECL refractometric sensor maintains the high sensitivity of a plasmonic crystal sensor, while simultaneously providing a narrow spectral linewidth through lasing emission, resulting in a record high figure of merit for refractometric sensing with an active or passive optical resonator. We demonstrate single-mode and continuouswave operation of the electrically-pumped laser system, and show the ability to measure refractive index changes with a 3σ detection limit of 1.79 × 10-6 RIU. The demonstrated approach is a promising path towards labelfree optical biosensing with enhanced signal-to-noise ratios for challenging applications in small molecule drug discovery and pathogen sensing.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 20347-20357 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Optics Express |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 17 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 25 2014 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics