Plasmonic Enhanced Raman Sensors

This Small Business Innovation Research program will develop engineered substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy using novel plasmonic resonant cavities sensitive to linear polarization over a narrow wavelength range. Raman spectroscopy can identify a wide range of contaminants, including chemical/biological warfare agents, explosives, natural toxins in drinking water, and waste products requiring environmental clean-up. Detailed performance predictions will be obtained through finite element modeling (FEM) of the harmonic Maxwell’s equations. The FEM provides detailed field information, including E field, B field, energy density, and time dependent information with subwavelength resolution, which greatly aids in understanding the underlying physical mechanisms. Test structures will be made using well established nanofabrication facilities, and characterized with spectral and polarization sensitive far field techniques. Raman enhancement factors will be measured using molecules with well characterized cross sections.