Enhanced temperature sensing accuracy via hybrid superconducting–semiconducting photonic crystals

This study investigates the theoretical capabilities of an optical temperature sensor by analyzing the transmittance spectrum of transverse electric polarization in a one-dimensional defective photonic crystal. The crystal consists of alternating layers of bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide as a superconductor and indium antimonide as a semiconductor. The sensor is designed to detect temperature variations through shifts in the resonance peak wavelength located within the photonic band gap of the transmittance spectrum. The transfer matrix method is employed to carry out this analysis within the visible light range. The results demonstrate that temperature, angle of incidence, and the thickness of the defective layer significantly influence the position and behavior of the resonance peaks. By simultaneously tuning these independent parameters, the proposed sensor achieves a peak temperature sensitivity of approximately 1.716 nm/K, underscoring its potential for high-accuracy thermal detection. Such high-sensitivity temperature sensors are crucial for ensuring precision in industrial manufacturing, improving product quality, and enabling accurate diagnostics in the medical field. They also play a vital role in monitoring the performance of equipment under extreme conditions in the aerospace and defense sectors and in supporting climate research through the detection of subtle temperature changes within ecosystems.