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Abstract

A sensor, particularly a resonant optical biosensor based on the principle of frustrated total reflection, includes an optical structure comprising: a) a cavity layer (3) of transparent dielectric material of refractive index n.sub.3, b) a dielectric substrate (1) of refractive index n.sub.1, and c) interposed between the cavity layer (3) and the substrate (1), a dielectric spacer layer (2) of refractive index n.sub.2. The arrangement is such that the optical structure may be illuminated by a beam of incident radiation, internal reflection occurring at the interface between the substrate (1) and the spacer layer (2). The device is characterised in that the cavity layer (3) or the spacer layer (2) absorbs at the wavelength of the incident radiation. The cavity layer (3) or the spacer layer (2) comprises a material which is either absorbing or is doped with an absorbing species, most preferably a fluorophore.

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