MIM waveguide refractive index sensor with graphene enhanced three-ring nested resonator Fano resonance

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide featuring a three-ring nested cavity structure is proposed. We enhance and optimize this design by integrating graphene nanostructures into the ferrule resonance cavity, resulting in a hybrid graphene-MIM waveguide structure. The transmission spectra and electric fields generated by the structure are analyzed by using the finite element method (FEM), shedding light on the formation mechanism of various Fano resonance peaks. The validity of our theoretical analysis is confirmed using multimode interference coupled mode theory (MICMT), and the simulation results are largely aligning with the theoretical verification results. Next, by manipulating the chemical potential of graphene, the Fano resonance can be tuned across a wide range of wavelength bands. And this capability enables the realization of a dynamically tunable refractive index sensor for transmission spectroscopy. Under optimized parameter settings, the refractive index sensor achieves a maximum sensitivity of 1266.67 nm / RIU , and a maximum figure of merit (FOM) value of 199.67 RIU − 1 . Compared with conventional MIM waveguide devices, this design overcomes the difficulty of conventional MIM waveguide structures that cannot be dynamically tunable. Notably, the wavelength of the Fano resonance formed by the transmission spectrum can be dramatically altered when the refractive index of the medium in the surrounding environment is slightly changed. Therefore, this structure expands the repertoire of integrated optical devices with potential applications, particularly in the field of optical sensors.