TARGET SUBSTANCE SENSOR AND METHOD THEREOF USING PHOTONIC CRYSTAL

摘要

A target material sensor using a photonic crystal being high in sensitivity to a target material to be detected and capable of being downsized, and a detection method for a target material. The sensor comprises an electromagnetic wave generating source for supplying an electromagnetic wave , a photonic sensor element and a detector. The photonic sensor element comprises a sensor waveguide having a photonic crystal structure to introduc e an electromagnetic wave, and a sensor resonator coupled electro-magnetically with the sensor waveguide to resonate an introduced electromagnetic wave at a specific wavelength, the characteristics of an electromagnetic wave emitted from the sensor resonator being changed when the sensor resonator is exposed to an atmosphere containing a target material. The detector recognizes the intensity change of an electromagnetic wave on receiving it emitted from the sensor resonator, and determines the concentration of a target material from this intensity change to output a concentration-indicating signal.