A surface plasmon resonance sensor or critical angle sensor has a reflecting
surface
which is optically flat and exposed to air on one side. Light reflecting from a
sensing surface of the sensor which impinges on the reflecting surface at an angle
which is less than the critical angle passes into the air whereas light which impinges
at an angle which is equal to or greater than the critical angle is reflected onto
a photodetector. The critical angle reflection from the reflecting surface provides
a total internal reflection (TIR) characteristic which is used to calibrate the sensor.
