Differential refractive index sensor based on photonic molecules and defect cavities.

We present a novel differential refractive index sensor prototype based on a matrix of photonic molecules (PM) of soda-lime glass cylinders (ε_c = 4.5) and two defect cavities. The measured and simulated spectra in the microwave range (8-12 GHz) show a wide photonic stop band with two localized states: the reference state, bound to a decagonal ring of cylinders and the sensing state, bound to the defect cavities. The defect mode is very sensitive to the permittivity of the material inserted in the cavity while the state in the PM remains unperturbed. We find that the response of the sensor is linear. These results can be extrapolated to the visible range due to scale invariance of Maxwell equations.