A refractive index sensor with a free spectral range that is unlimited by neighboring mode spacing (10 fold increase with respect to 20 nm of an unmodified ring), based on an optical silicon-on-insulator microring resonator patterned with periodically arranged set of gold nanodisks, is presented and numerically verified. It is shown that the particular periodic arrangement of nanodisks selects a single resonance from a wide set of ring resonator modes and removes mode splitting. Extraction of the waveguided electromagnetic energy into evanescent plasmonic modes enhances light-analyte interaction and increases device sensitivity to variation of refractive index up to 176  nm/RIU (about 2-fold increase compared to the unmodified ring), which is useful for sensor applications. Proof of the concept is presented by finite-difference time-domain simulations of a design readily practicable by means of modern nanotechnology.

We present the experimental and numerical analysis of a microring resonator with an integrated one-dimensional photonic crystal fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator platform and show its applicability in bulk refractive index sensing. The photonic crystal is formed by periodically patterned, partially etched cylindrical perforations, whose induced photonic bandgap is narrower than the range of measurable wavelengths (1520-1620 nm). Of particular interest is that the microring operates in both air and dielectric bands, and the sensitivities of the resonances on both edges of the bandgap were investigated. We showed that a higher field localization inside the volume of the perforations for the air band mode leads to an increase in sensitivity.

The resonance structure coupling the light into the leaky guided modes, which are visible in the reflection spectra as sharp peaks (Wood's anomalies), is analyzed experimentally and numerically. The guided mode resonance structure of 428 nm period patterned in a carbonaceous film demonstrated sensitivity of 70 nm/RIU. The calculated mode diagram explained the nature and positions of the peaks registered experimentally. The reflection spectra, near/far field distributions and field penetration depth for the analyzed structure were simulated employing three numerical solvers. The set of weak Rayleigh's anomalies was indentified from the simulations and the experimental data.

Tailoring the spatial degree of freedom of light is an essential step towards the realization of advanced optical manipulation tools. A topical challenge consists of device miniaturization for improved performance and enhanced functionality at the micron scale. We demonstrate a novel approach that combines the additive three-dimensional (3D) structuring capability of laser polymerization and the subtractive subwavelength resolution patterning of focused ion beam lithography. As a case in point hybrid (dielectric/metallic) micro-optical elements that deliver a well-defined topological shaping of light are produced. Here we report on hybrid 3D binary spiral zone plates with unit and double topological charge. Their optical performances are compared to corresponding 2D counterparts both numerically and experimentally. Cooperative refractive capabilities without compromising topological beam shaping are shown. Realization of advanced designs where the dielectric architecture itself is endowed with singular properties is also discussed.

In this paper, we present numerical simulations of a refractive index sensor based on a perforated optical microring resonator. We show that the introduction of subwavelength perforations in the microring resonator increases the light–matter interaction and the sensitivity of the microring resonator. Here, the sensor performance is analyzed in two sensing schemes: bulk sensing and dielectric particle sensing. In both applications the perforated microring resonator sensor outperforms an ordinary microring resonator sensor and also maintains a high quality factor. The simulations were performed using finite-difference time domain and finite-element methods.