Theory and sensitivity optimization of plasmo-photonic Mach-Zehnder interferometric sensors.

We demonstrate a novel theoretical framework for refractive index Mach-Zehnder interferometric (MZI) sensors that can accurately calculate the sensor FSR and sensitivity while taking into account waveguide effective index dispersion and dip splitting effects. In contrast to the state-of-the-art mathematical equation that relates sensitivity with FSR, our analysis concludes to a mathematical expres...