Fiber optic sensor and methods and apparatus relating thereto

A fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensing apparatus, comprising:

• an in-line transmission-based fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensor wherein the sensor comprises an optical fiber having a core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide and having an input end and an output end, wherein the optical fiber has a sensing area located between the input end and output end, and wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer selected from gold and silver in contact with at least a portion of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer;
• a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths whose output is applied to the input end of the optical fiber waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the input end towards the output end by total internal reflections;
• and
• a detection device for monitoring the radiation exiting the output end of the optical fiber.

An optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a terminated reflection-based optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor, wherein the sensor comprises an optical fiber having a core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide and having an input/output end and a terminal reflection end, wherein the terminal reflection end is defined by an end face of the core waveguide in contact with a mirrored layer, wherein the optical fiber has a sensing area located between the input/output end and terminal reflection end, and wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer selected from gold and silver in contact with at least a portion of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer;
• a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths whose output is applied to the input/output end of the optical fiber waveguide, and wherein the radiation propagates from the input/output end towards the terminal reflection end by total internal reflections, internally reflects off the mirrored layer in contact with the end face of the core waveguide, and propagates back down the optical fiber waveguide by total internal reflections towards the input/output end;
• and
• a detection device for monitoring the radiation exiting the input/output end of the optical fiber waveguide.

A method for detecting a sample, comprising:

• contacting the sample with an optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor, wherein the sensor comprises an optical fiber having a core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide, wherein the optical fiber has a first end and a second end and has at least one sensing area located between the first end and the second end or at the second end, wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer selected from gold and silver in contact with at least a portion of a surface of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer, and wherein the sensing area of the sensor is in contact with the sample;
• directing a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths into the first end of the optical fiber core waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the first end towards the second end by total internal reflections and exits the optical fiber, and wherein the propagating radiation interacts with the sensing area of the sensor which is in contact with the sample;
• and
• detecting the radiation exiting the optical fiber core waveguide.

A method for detecting a sample, comprising:

• contacting the sample with an in-line transmission based optical fiber sensor, wherein the sensor comprising an optical fiber having a core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide and having an input end and an output end, wherein the optical fiber has a sensing area located between the input end and output end, wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer selected from gold and silver in contact with at least a portion of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer, and wherein the sensing area of the sensor is in contact with the sample;
• directing a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths into the input end of the optical fiber waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the input end towards the output end of the optical fiber core waveguide by total internal reflections, and interacts with the sensing area of the sensor which is in contact with the sample;
• and
• detecting the radiation exiting the output end of the optical fiber waveguide.

A method for detecting a sample, comprising:

• contacting the sample with a terminated reflection-based optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor, wherein the sensor comprising an optical fiber having a core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide and having an input/output end and a terminal reflection end, wherein the terminal reflection end is defined by an end face of the core waveguide in contact with a mirrored layer, wherein the optical fiber has a sensing area located between the input/output end and terminal reflection end, wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer selected from gold and silver in contact With at least a portion of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer, and wherein the sensing area is in contact with the sample;
• directing a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths into the input/output end of the optical fiber core waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the input/output end towards the terminal reflection end by total internal reflections, internally reflects off the mirrored layer in contact with the end face of the core waveguide, and propagates back down the optical fiber core waveguide by total internal reflections towards the input/output end and wherein the propagating radiation interacts with the sensing area of the sensor which is in contact with the sample;
• and
• detecting the radiation exiting the input/output end of the optical fiber waveguide.

A fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensor, comprising an optical fiber having a silica core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide, wherein the optical fiber has a first end and a second end and has at least one sensing area located between the first end and the second end or at the second end, wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer in contact with at least a portion of a surface of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer;
• a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths whose output is applied to the first end of the optical fiber core waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the first end towards the second end by total internal reflections and exits the optical fiber;
• and
• a detection device for monitoring the radiation exiting the optical fiber.

A fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensing apparatus, comprising:

• an in-line transmission-based fiber optic surface plasmon resonance sensor wherein the sensor comprises an optical fiber having a silica core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide and having an input end and an output end, wherein the optical fiber has a sensing area located between the input end and output end, and wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer in contact with at least a portion of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer;
• a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths whose output is applied to the input end of the optical fiber waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the input end towards the output end by total internal reflections;
• and
• a detection device for monitoring the radiation exiting the output end of the optical fiber.

An optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a terminated reflection-based optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor, wherein the sensor comprises an optical fiber having a silica core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide and having an input/output end and a terminal reflection end, wherein the terminal reflection end is defined by an end face of the core waveguide in contact with a mirrored layer, wherein the optical fiber has a sensing area located between the input/output end and terminal reflection end, and wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer in contact with at least a portion of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer;
• a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths whose output is applied to the input/output end of the optical fiber waveguide, and wherein the radiation propagates from the input/output end towards the terminal reflection end by total internal reflections, internally reflects off the mirrored layer in contact with the end face of the core waveguide, and propagates back down the optical fiber waveguide by total internal reflections towards the input/output end;
• and
• a detection device for monitoring the radiation exiting the input/output end of the optical fiber waveguide.

A method for detecting a sample, comprising:

• contacting the sample with an optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor, wherein the sensor comprises an optical fiber silica core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide, wherein the optical fiber has a first end and a second end and has at least one sensing area located between the first end and the second end or at the second end, wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer in contact with at least a portion of a surface of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer, and wherein the sensing area of the sensor is in contact with the sample;
• directing a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths into the first end of the optical fiber core waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the first end towards the second end by total internal reflections and exits the optical fiber, and wherein the propagating radiation interacts with the sensing area of the sensor which is in contact with the sample;
• and
• detecting the radiation exiting the optical fiber core waveguide.

A method for detecting a sample, comprising:

• contacting the sample with an in-line transmission based optical fiber sensor, wherein the sensor comprising an optical fiber having a silica core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide and having an input end and an output end, wherein the optical fiber has a sensing area located between the input end and output end, wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer in contact with at least a portion of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer, and wherein the sensing area of the sensor is in contact with the sample;
• directing a source of electromagnetic radiation-of multiple wavelengths into the input end of the optical fiber waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the input end towards the output end of the optical fiber core waveguide by total internal reflections, and interacts with the sensing area of the sensor which is in contact with the sample;
• and
• detecting the radiation exiting the output end of the optical fiber waveguide.

A method for detecting a sample, comprising:

• contacting the sample with a terminated reflection-based optical fiber surface plasmon resonance sensor, wherein the sensor comprising an optical fiber having a silica core waveguide and a cladding or cladding/buffer layer surrounding the core waveguide and having an input/output end and a terminal reflection end, wherein the terminal reflection end is defined by an end face of the core waveguide in contact with a mirrored layer, wherein the optical fiber has a sensing area located between the input/output end and terminal reflection end, wherein the sensing area is defined by a surface plasmon resonance supporting metal layer in contact with at least a portion of the optical fiber core waveguide free from the surrounding cladding or cladding/buffer layer, and wherein the sensing area is in contact with the sample;
• directing a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths into the input/output end of the optical fiber core waveguide such that the radiation propagates from the input/output end towards the terminal reflection end by total internal reflections, internally reflects off the mirrored layer in contact with the end face of the core waveguide, and propagates back down the optical fiber core waveguide by total internal reflections towards the input/output end and wherein the propagating radiation interacts with the sensing area of the sensor which is in contact with the sample;
• and
• detecting the radiation exiting the input/output end of the optical fiber waveguide.