Surface plasmon sensing with different metals in single and double layer configurations

Abstract

The resolution of surface plasmon resonance sensors in the geometry of Kretschmann is estimated by numerical simulation for different thicknesses of combinations of silver (Ag), copper, and aluminum (Al) metallic layers with a gold coating layer at set of wavelengths in cases of detecting the change of the refractive index of the bulk medium and the change in optical thickness of an adsorption layer. The lowest resolution among the examined combinations of the sensors is achieved with a single Al layer for ultraviolet region and with a single Ag layer for longer wavelengths.