Sensitivity enhancement in surface plasmon resonance sensors: theoretical modeling

Presented study brings some theoretical results derived for Kretschmann SPR configuration with gold patterned structure at coupling prism (SF 10 glass). As the analyzed medium, air or water with simulated contamination are considered. The thickness of Au nano-layer is fixed at 44 nm, its patterning is supposed to have planar or lamellar feature with variable governing parameters (i.e. period, shape and fill-factor). The reflectivity is calculated for wavelength of 632.8 nm in the incidence angle interrogation by rigorous coupled wave algorithm (RCWA) implemented in own Matlab code. The partially new view to sensitivity criteria is applied to optimize SPR systems of various kinds.