Patent ID: 8023115
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A sensor that receives a measuring light beam incident into a sample, and outputs an emitted light beam having different physical properties depending on the sample, in the form of an optical resonator, comprising: a first reflecting body that exhibits semi transmissivity/semi reflectivity, wherein the first reflecting body, which is placed into contact with the sample, has a structure of protrusions and recesses, which are smaller than the wavelength of the measuring light beam; a transparent body; and a second reflecting body that exhibits one of reflectivity and semi transmissivity/semi reflectivity, provided in this order from the light incident side, wherein the average complex refractive index n2−ik2 and the thickness d of the transparent body together with the resonant wavelength λr sufficiently satisfy the following formula at the order of several nm, and so long as the average complex refractive index n2−ik2 of the transparent body is the same, the resonant wavelength λr can be changed by simply changing the thickness d of the transparent body such that the absorption peak of the measuring light beam by resonance in the optical resonator matches the absorption peak of the measuring light beam by local plasmon resonance generated at the surface and/or within the optical resonator, wherein d represents the thickness of the transparent body, λr represents the resonant wavelength, n2−ik2 represents average complex refractive index and m represents an integer.