Design and Analysis of a Pressure Sensor Utilizing a 2D Photonic Crystal Structure

This research article introduces a pressure sensor design that incorporates a two-domains Photonic Crystal (2DPhCs) - based waveguide structure coupled with nanocavities on both sides, aimed at external pressure detection in the wavelength range of 1591.4 nm to 1601.5 nm. The sensors operational principle hinges on the linear relationship between the resonance wavelength shift and the applied external pressure. The photonic band structure of the designed crystal is assessed via the Plane Wave Expansion (PWE) method, while various sensing parameters are simulated using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method to numerically solve time-dependent Maxwell-equations, effectively modeling electromagnetic wave interactions within the specified propagation domain. The Remarkably, the pressure sensor exhibits a maximum quality factor of 16887, a peak pressure sensitivity (Sp) of 15 nm/GPa, a maximum refractive index sensitivity (SRI) of 365.85 nm/RIU, and an output power exceeding 89% in all cases. The proposed sensor demonstrates strong potential for future fabrication, positioning it as a promising choice for pressure-sensing applications.