Integrated acousto-optical gas sensor - a proposal and first experimental verification.

We have experimentally demonstrated the feasibility of a novel integrated acousto-optical gas sensor in LiNbO3. Two-layer optical waveguides with increased refractive index sensitivity have been investigated, as well as TE-TM mode converters on these waveguides with low r.f. drive power. These two (optical and acoustic) parts of the proposed sensor show an adequate performance. The possibilities of the incorporation of a reference channel and the fabrication of a multisensor are also discussed.