Label-free slot-waveguide biosensor for the detection of DNA hybridization

A finite element method based on the full-vectorial H-field formulation has been employed to achieve the maximum field penetration in the sensing medium of the slot-waveguide-based ring resonator biosensor. The use of nanometer scale guiding structure where optical mode is confined in a low-index region permits a very compact sensor with high optical intensity in the region, which makes it possible to detect minimum refractive index change, and offers higher sensitivities. We analyze the change in effective refractive index of mode, sensitivity, and power confinement of the proposed slot-waveguide-based ring resonator biosensor for the detection of DNA hybridization. The biosensor exhibited theoretical sensitivity of 856 nm per refractive index unit (RIU) and a detection limit of 1.43 x 10(-6) RIU. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America