Waveguide-based optical chemical sensor

Patent · Tue Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2007

OSTI ID:902826

Grace, Karen M ^[1]; Swanson, Basil I ^[2]; Honkanen, Seppo ^[3]

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1. Ranchos de Taos, NM
2. Los Alamos, NM
3. Tucson, AZ

The invention provides an apparatus and method for highly selective and sensitive chemical sensing. Two modes of laser light are transmitted through a waveguide, refracted by a thin film host reagent coating on the waveguide, and analyzed in a phase sensitive detector for changes in effective refractive index. Sensor specificity is based on the particular species selective thin films of host reagents which are attached to the surface of the planar optical waveguide. The thin film of host reagents refracts laser light at different refractive indices according to what species are forming inclusion complexes with the host reagents.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of California (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)
• Patent Number(s): 7,190,851
• OSTI ID: 902826
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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