The authors demonstrate a hollow core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) surface-enhanced
Raman probe consisting of a HCPCF with Au nanoparticles coated on the inner surface of
the air holes serving as the substrate of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The
experimental results indicate that the confinement of light inside the HCPCF and the coating
of nanoparticles/analyte inside the air holes of the HCPCF offer a large area for the light to
interact with the SERS particles. An optimized design of the HCPCF is provided to further …

We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, a hollow core photonic crystal fiber
(HCPCF) surface-enhanced Raman probe. The probe consists of a HCPCF (also known as
a holey fiber) with a layer of Au nanoparticles coated on the inner surface of the air holes
serving as the substrate of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The sample being
tested enters the air holes by the capillary effect. The excitation light is coupled into the fiber
core from one end (measuring-tip) while the sample entrance is at the other end (probing …