An optical device for sensing an incident optical wave within a wavelength
range includes a first array and a second array of electrodes superposed
on a substrate, and a sensor connected to the contacts. The arrays are
interdigitated. Each array includes its own parameters: contact width,
contact thickness, groove width, and a groove dielectric constant. A
structure associated with the arrays resonantly couples the incident wave
and a local electromagnetic resonance or hybrid mode including at least a
surface plasmon cavity mode (CM). For coupling the CM, an aspect ratio of
contact thickness to spacing between electrodes is at least 1. A
preferred structure for coupling a hybrid mode for high bandwidth and
responsivity includes a higher dielectric constant in alternating
grooves. The substrate may include silicon, including
silicon-on-insulator (SOI). An SOI device having a alternating grooves
with a higher dielectric, e.g., silicon oxide, provides 0.25 A/W and 30
GHz bandwidth.