A novel detection method enabled by electro-optically tunable waveguide-coupled surface plasmon resonance sensors is demonstrated. Both the WCSPR response of sensor and the interrogation light are varied simultaneously in this hybrid scheme. Modulation and demodulation of the sensor's response are achieved by applying a high-frequency AC electrical signal and electrically filtering the detected signal. Scanning the incident angle at a lower speed yields an angular dependent response. Theoretical analyses and experimental results show that the angular-dependent signal is closely related to the derivative of the SPR reflectivity with a sharp, linear jump near the minimum of the SPR peak. Thus, simple linear-fitting and zero-finding algorithms can be used to locate the SPR angle, and sophisticated data processing algorithms and electronic hardware can be avoided.
(c) 2008 Optical Society of America