Waveguide mode enhancement of molecular fluorescence

Opt Lett. 1985 Aug 1;10(8):414-6. doi: 10.1364/ol.10.000414.

Abstract

We report the observation of enhanced fluorescence from molecules deposited on the surface of an optical waveguide structure. We attribute the enhancement to the near-field interaction between the Rhodamine B molecules and the waveguide's modal fields. The process does not require the use of prism or grating couplers and can give rise to an enhancement factor in excess of 2 orders of magnitude.