Patent ID: 8094316
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A surface plasmon resonance coupler and disperser system, comprising: a light source emitting an optical wave through a collimating element; a sensor element facing the light source and comprising a diffraction grating having a periodically modulated surface to receive the optical wave directly projected from the light source and to simultaneously excite surface plasmons and disperse the optical wave via diffraction; and a detector facing the diffraction grating and in receipt of the diffracted optical wave that is diffracted off the sensor element to determine a wavelength spectrum of the diffracted optical wave that is coupled to the surface plasmons by measuring the spatial distribution of intensity of the diffracted optical wave, wherein the detector is located at a distance from the sensor element, which is determined by at least one of an angular separation of diffracted wavelength components, a wavelength spectrum of the incident optical wave, and a diameter of the incident optical wave.