Patent ID: 6483096
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An integrated-optical chemical and/or biochemical sensor comprising:a resonant waveguide structure; means for at least temporarily depositing a chemical and/or biochemical substance to be sensed on a surface of said resonant waveguide structure; means for irradiating said substance with first electromagnetic radiation and for causing said substance to interact with said first electromagnetic radiation in such a way that it emits second electromagnetic radiation which differs in at least one parameter from said first electromagnetic radiation and excites a resonant electromagnetic field in said resonant waveguide structure; a circular grating structure for coupling out said second electromagnetic radiation from said resonant waveguide structure, said circular grating structure being such that the outcoupling process differs from the irradiating process in the diffraction order, the polarization, the guided-mode order, the grating vector and/or the degree of resonance; and means for detecting second electromagnetic radiation exiting from said resonant waveguide structure.