Optimizing detection limits in whispering gallery mode biosensing

A theoretical analysis of detection limits in swept-frequency whispering gallery mode biosensing modalities is presented based on application of the Cramer-Rao lower bound. Measurement acuity factors are derived assuming the presence of uncoloured and 1/f Gaussian technical noise. Frequency fluctuations, for example arising from laser jitter or thermorefractive noise, are also considered. Determination of acuity factors for arbitrary coloured noise by means of the asymptotic Fisher information matrix is highlighted. Quantification and comparison of detection sensitivity for both resonance shift and broadening sensing modalities are subsequently given. Optimal cavity and coupling geometries are furthermore identified, whereby it is found that slightly under-coupled cavities outperform critically and over coupled ones. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America