Resonant photonic-crystal structures with a diffraction grating for refractive index sensing

A new planar configuration of an optical refractive index sensor based on the excitation of Bloch surface waves and containing a diffraction grating and a photonic crystal is proposed and numerically investigated. The structure under analysis is compared with the conventional sensor based on the Kretschmann configuration for two varying parameters: the angle and wavelength of incident light. The results of the study may find application in the design of novel on-chip refractive index sensors and spectral filters.