Performance analysis and optimization of Surface Plasmon Polariton based sensing using Kretschmann-Raether configuration with gold layer

In this paper, we have studied one of the most recommended configurations for exciting Surface Plasmon Polariton (SPP), the Kretschmann-Raether structure, along with a less studied but very promising metal for inducing the resonance between plasmons and electromagnetic wave, Gold. We have presented several noteworthy characteristics of this particular material that can be taken into consideration while designing a biosensor with specific sensing requirements. A thorough analytical formulation of the SPP excitation problem and comparison of analytically expected behaviors with numerical simulation results, obtained from finite element modeling of the problem via `COMSOL Multiphysics' software, have been presented. Spectral responses of the sensor configuration, both in angular and energy domains, with varying analytes and prism materials have been evaluated and their pros and cons have also been observed and discussed.