Refractive index sensing using quasi one-dimensional nanoslit arrays.

This letter describes the optical properties of quasi one-dimensional (1D) Au nanoslit arrays on a microscale pitch. The transmission spectra exhibited multiple minima that were well characterized by 1D surface plasmon polariton Bloch wave modes. We found that all higher order modes showed a linear response to small changes of refractive index (RI) with sensitivities up to 560 nm per RI unit, which is comparable to that of two-dimensional nanohole arrays. By calibrating the RI response of the nanoslit arrays, we could use the multiple modes to determine the RI of unknown, nonabsorbing solutions.