Integrated optical attenuated total reflection spectrometry of aqueous superstrates using prism-coupled polymer waveguides.

Attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectrometry of aqueous solutions in contact with polystyrene integrated optical waveguides has been investigated. The mode-dependent absorption of evanescent energy by fluorescein solutions adjacent to the waveguide surface was measured and compared to theoretical predictions based on a ray optics approach. Although enhanced sensitivity was observed with increasing mode number, the sensitivity for the highest order mode was less than that predicted by theory.