METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD DISTRIBUTIONS
This invention relates to a platform ( 11 ) and a method for generating electromagnetic field distributions. The invention relates in particular to optical sensors for measuring biological or chemical substances. The platform ( 11 ) according to the invention comprises a substrate ( 13 ), a structured layer ( 19 ) and, positioned between the substrate ( 13 ) and the structured layer ( 19 ), a multilayer assembly ( 17 ), said components being so matched relative to one another that upon appropriate impingement by electromagnetic radiation an electromagnetic field distribution is generated that is at a maximum within the structured layer ( 19 ).
1 . An optical element for generation of high electromagnetic intensities in layers comprising:
a substrate;
a layer whose refractive index is not higher, or insignificantly higher (<1%) than the refractive index of the substrate; and
a thin film multilayer assembly between the substrate and the layer,
said thin film multilayer assembly forming means for at least substantially decoupling an electromagnetic field distribution in the layer from the substrate.
2 . Optical element according to claim 1 where said layer is a waveguiding film and the optical element is a waveguiding system.
3 . Optical element according to claim 2 wherein said layer is a surface layer.
4 . Optical element according to claim 1 wherein said layer is a surface layer.
5 . Optical element according to claim 1 wherein said multilayer assembly is a non-metallic assembly.
6 . Optical element according to claim 2 wherein said multilayer assembly is a non-metallic assembly.
7 . Optical element according to claim 3 wherein said multilayer assembly is a non-metallic assembly.
8 . Optical element according to claim 4 wherein said multilayer assembly is a non-metallic assembly.
9 . Optical element according to claim 1 where the substrate is non-metallic.
10 . Optical element according to claim 2 where the substrate is non-metallic.
11 . Optical element according to claim 3 where the substrate is non-metallic.
12 . Optical element according to claim 4 where the substrate is non-metallic.
13 . Optical element according to claim 5 where the substrate is non-metallic.
14 . Optical element according to claim 6 where the substrate is non-metallic.
15 . Optical element according to claim 7 where the substrate is non-metallic.
16 . Optical element according to claim 8 where the substrate is non-metallic.