Waveguide Interferometer Configurations

Abstract

N.F. Hartman, D. Campbell and M. Gross, Georgia Technology Research Institute, Atlanta, GA. An interferometric chemical sensor based on a planar multimode waveguide configuration has been developed and tested. As a chemical sensor, thedevice is capableof detecting refractive index changes in the 10-5to 10-6range,oralternatively, thegrowthof a1 nanometerfilmon thesurfaceofthewaveguide. The enhanced sensitivity is achieved through a design that reduces or eliminates the interferometric temperature dependence and susceptibility to mechanical disturbances.