Photon generator using frequency comb and nanoplasmonic technology and generating method thereof

• US 10,061,180 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Max Planck Postech/Korea Research Initiative
• Original Assignee: Max Planck Postech/Korea Research Initiative
• Inventors: Kim, Dongeon, Kim, Seungchul
• Primary Examiner(s): Petkovsek, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/486,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20180157148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/553 and using surface plasmons fluorescence excitation G01N21/648; enhanced Raman G01N21/658
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/554 detecting the surface plasmon resonance of nanostructured metals, e.g. localised surface plasmon resonance
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/008 Surface plasmon devices diffractive gratings with a pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength G02B5/1809; surface plasmons in integrated optics G02B6/1226; optical analysis of materials by means of surface plasmons G01N21/553
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/353 Frequency conversion, i.e. wherein a light beam is generated with frequency components different from those of the incident light beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/10 plasmon
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/15 involving resonance effects, e.g. resonantly enhanced interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/56 Frequency comb synthesizer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/781 Possessing nonosized surface openings that extend partially into or completely through the host material

Abstract

Provided is a photon generator. The photon generator includes a frequency comb generator configured to generate a frequency comb of a predetermined frequency band, and a controller configured to perform frequency locking for frequency stabilization of an optical frequency generated by the frequency comb generator.

Claims

1. A photon generator comprising:

a frequency comb generator configured to generate a frequency comb of a predetermined frequency band;

a controller configured to perform frequency locking for frequency stabilization of an optical frequency generated by the frequency comb generator; and

a surface plasmon resonance generator configured to generate a surface plasmon resonance state of the frequency comb for photon-plasmon conversion of a frequency comb.

2. The photon generator of claim 1, wherein the surface plasmon resonance generator comprises a nanohole array film having a nanohole array structure comprising a plurality of nanoholes.

3. The photon generator of claim 2, wherein the nanohole array film comprises a metal layer formed on a substrate, and the metal layer comprises a plurality of circular holes.

4. The photon generator of claim 3, wherein the metal layer comprises gold, and the substrate comprises a quartz layer coated with indium tin oxide.

5. The photon generator of claim 3, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of circular holes is about 150 nm to about 250 nm, and a pitch between the plurality of circular holes is about 500 nm to about 550 nm.

6. The photon generator of claim 3, wherein a thickness of the metal layer is about 80 nm to about 120 nm, and a thickness of the substrate is about 20 nm to about 30 nm.

7. A biosensor comprising the photon generator of claim 2.

8. The photon generator of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to frequency-lock the optical frequency generated by the frequency comb generator to an atomic frequency standard.

9. The photon generator of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises an atomic clock.

10. A biosensor comprising the photon generator of claim 1.

11. A photon generating method comprising:

generating a frequency comb of a predetermined frequency band;

frequency-locking an optical frequency to an atomic frequency standard for frequency stabilization of the optical frequency generated by a frequency comb generator; and

generating a surface plasmon resonance state of the frequency comb by a surface plasmon resonance generator for photon-plasmon conversion of a frequency comb.

12. The photon generating method of claim 11, wherein the generating of the surface plasmon resonance state comprises the frequency comb passing through a nanohole array film having a nanohole array structure comprising a plurality of nanoholes.

13. The photon generating method of claim 12, wherein the nanohole array film comprises a metal layer formed on a substrate, and the metal layer comprises a plurality of circular holes.

14. The photon generating method of claim 13, wherein the metal layer comprises gold, and the substrate comprises a quartz layer coated with indium tin oxide.

15. The photon generating method of claim 13, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of circular holes is about 150 nm to about 250 nm, and a pitch between the plurality of circular holes is about 500 nm to about 550 nm.

16. The photon generating method of claim 13, wherein a thickness of the metal layer is about 80 nm to about 120 nm, and a thickness of the substrate is about 20 nm to about 30 nm.

17. The photon generating method of claim 11, wherein the frequency comb is reconverted from a surface plasmonic mode to a photonic mode after being converted from the photonic mode to the surface plasmonic mode by the surface plasmon resonance generator.