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Philipp N Zeller

Rino Ernst Kunz

Guy Voirin

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The integrated-optical chemical and/or biochemical sensor comprises a resonant waveguide structure ( ). A chemical and/or biochemical substance ( ) to be sensed can be deposited on a surface of the waveguide structure ( ). Incident light ( ) is coupled into the waveguide structure ( ) by a grating structure (G), making use of a first set of degrees of freedom. The incoupled light ( ) interacts with the substance ( ), which emits fluorescent light ( ). Fluorescent light ( ) is coupled out by the same grating structure (G), making use of a second set of degrees of freedom which differs from the first set of degrees of freedom in at least one degree of freedom. For example, the incident light ( ) is coupled in using a first diffraction order m &equals;1, and the emitted ( ) light is coupled out using a second, different diffraction order m &equals;2. By this measure, the emitted outcoupled light ( ) is clearly separated from exciting light ( ) which is reflected and/or coupled out using the first diffraction order m &equals;1. Such a clear separation increases the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor signal.

Integrated-optical chemical and biochemical sensor

The integrated-optical chemical and/or biochemical sensor comprises a resonant waveguide grating structure ( , . . . ), e.g., a chirped grating. By illumination with incident light ( ), a resonant electromagnetic field is excited in the grating structure ( , . . . ). At least one parameter of the incident light, e.g., the angle of incidence (&thgr; ) or the wavelength (&lgr; ), is varied. Light ( ) excident from the grating structure ( , . . . ) is detected by detectors ( , . . . ). Optionally, means for providing a feedback from the detectors ( , . . . ) to the light sources may be provided, thus establishing a controlled closed-loop system. Hence independent simultaneous measurements in a multiple arrangement of such sensors (S , S , . . . ) is made possible. Moreover, a much higher density of sensors (S , S , . . . ) results.

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Philipp N Zeller