by exploiting the interaction of the optical field with its environment. While this sounds relatively simple, there are numerous methods of implementation. In this section, three of these will be discussed: (1) general evanescent- field based methods, (2) resonant cavity-based methods, and (3) surface plasmon-based methods. An overview of these different methods is contained in Table 2 Optical detection Optical detection is performed by exploiting the interaction of the optical field with its environment. While this sounds relatively simple, there are numerous methods of implementation. In this section, three of these will be discussed: (1) general evanescent- field based methods, (2) resonant cavity-based methods, and (3) surface plasmon-based methods. An overview of these different methods is contained in Table 2 Optical detection Optical detection is performed by exploiting the interaction of the optical field with its environment. While this sounds relatively simple, there are numerous methods of implementation. In this section, three of these will be discussed: (1) general evanescent- field based methods, (2) resonant cavity-based methods, and (3) surface plasmon-based methods. An overview of these different methods is contained in Table 2 Optical detection Optical detection is performed by exploiting the interaction of the optical field with its environment. While this sounds relatively simple, there are numerous methods of implementation. In this section, three of these will be discussed: (1) general evanescent- field based methods, (2) resonant cavity-based methods, and (3) surface plasmon-based methods. An overview of these different methods is contained in Table 2 Optical detection Optical detection is performed by exploiting the interaction of the optical field with its environment. While this sounds relatively simple, there are numerous methods of implementation. In this section, three of these will be discussed: (1) general evanescent- field based methods, (2) resonant cavity-based methods, and (3) surface plasmon-based methods. An overview of these different methods is contained in Table 2 Optical detection Optical detection is performed by exploiting the interaction of the optical field with its environment. While this sounds relatively simple, there are numerous methods of implementation. In this section, three of these will be discussed: (1) general evanescent- field based methods, (2) resonant cavity-based methods, and (3) surface plasmon-based methods. An overview of these different methods is contained in Table