Design of optical channel waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) for environmental sensor applications

Abstract

High sensitivity environmental sensors with a simple and compact structure are required to monitor unwanted pollution such as liquid waste. In this research, a component of environmental sensor based on optical channel waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) has been designed and also simulated. The materials used in the design were titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a core and silicon dioxide (SiO2) with air as cladding. The sensitivity value of the MZI sensor obtained by simulation using computer program was 11 nm/RIU at the angle of 16°. Meanwhile, the obtained fixed length of MZI sensing arm was 4 μm. The proposed design can be used for identifying the existence of liquid material precisely.