Theory and method for enhancing sensitivity of multi-gas sensing based on slow light photonic crystal waveguide.

Abstract: A novel harmonic detection theory and method for multi-component gas sensing based on photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) slow light is proposed. The PCW is used as gas chamber, and harmonic detection method was adopted for signal processing. This system could real-time and remote monitoring multi-component gases simultaneously with sensitivities increased by 10,278, 8650 and 6282 times respectively compared with system PCW not used. The proposed theory and method possesses powerful practicability and favorable application prospects. It could be also applied to other fluid concentration detection system, thus providing a new idea for expanding applications of slow light in sensing fields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]