Conference Agenda

Optical sensing exploiting plasmonics and other types of surface waves provides exceptional performance for chemical and biological detection due to its high sensitivity and real-time capabilities. This study explores the integration of thin films with plasmonic, specifically leveraging metallic and dielectric nano structures, fabricated through sputtering and colloidal synthesis techniques. Advanced surface wave excitations such as localized surface plasmon resonances (SPR), Tamm Plasmon Polaritons (TPP), Bloch surface waves, and surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) are used to amplify sensor performance. Simulations and experimental data show that these nanostructured coatings significantly enhance electromagnetic field confinement, leading to improved detection limits and sensor robustness, showcasing promising applications in environmental monitoring, gas detection, and biomedical diagnostics.

The range of applications using gold nanostructures for optical sensing increases rapidly, primarily utilizing the local surface plasmon resonance effect that increases the sensitivity. Among electrochemical and colloid chemical preparations, one of the most effective and widely used ways of preparing gold nanoparticles is sputtering or evaporation followed by thermal annealing. A broad range of recipes exists in the literature; however, the optimal parameters depend greatly on the initial thickness of the gold layer, the temperature profile, or the substrate material. We show that combinatorial preparation and in situ ellipsometry are powerful ways to optimize the amount of material and the temperature profile, respectively. We show that the sensitivity can be enhanced even more when ordered periodic gold nanostructures are used, one of the simplest forms of which is a gold grating. The limit of detection values for the ambient and overlayer were calculated using finite element optical simulations.

This paper presents a novel optical-comb-based refractive index sensor that simultaneously achieves high-sensitivity and high-precision by combining THz-comb-based frequency multiplication with active-dummy temperature compensation in a dual-comb configuration. In this approach, a little RI-induced shift of the comb mode spacing (frep) is frequency-multiplied via THz frequency comb, while the dual-comb scheme compensates for temperature drift in frep. Experimental results demonstrate a 3100-fold improvement in RI sensitivity and a 10-fold enhancement in measurement precision.

Achieving optimal wine quality depends on precise harvest timing, a traditionally laborious and subjective task. To address this challenge, this study proposes the integration of advanced sensing technologies. Proximal sensors, such as the Multiplex fluorescence sensor, and remote sensing via UAV-based imaging are combined to provide a comprehensive assessment of grape phenolic maturity. This integrated approach aims to deliver spatially explicit information, enabling accurate and efficient monitoring of grape quality and ultimately, optimizing wine production.