Surface plasmon devices

• US 20030206708A1
• Filed: 05/06/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Original Assignee: University Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Estes, Michael J., Moddel, Garret
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/130
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/10 of the optical waveguide type G02B6/02, G02B6/24 take precedence; devices or arrangements for the control of light by electric, magnetic, electro-magnetic or acoustic means G02F1/00; transferring the modulation of modulated light G02F2/00; optical logic elements G02F3/00; optical analogue/digital converters G02F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12 of the integrated circuit kind electric integrated circuits H01L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1226 involving surface plasmon interaction

Abstract

A device including an input port configured to receive an input signal is described. The device also includes an output port and a structure, which structure includes a tunneling junction connected with the input port and the output port. The tunneling junction is configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within the structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to the input signal, (iii) which causes the structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of the surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward the output port such that the surface plasmons so directed interact with the electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces at the output port an output signal resulting from the particular interaction between the electrons and the surface plasmons.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a) an input port configured to receive an input signal;

b) an output port; and

c) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port and said output port, said tunneling junction being configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input signal, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the surface plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces at said output port an output signal resulting from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons.

2. A detector for detecting input electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, said detector comprising:

a) an input port configured to receive said input electromagnetic radiation;

b) an output port; and

c) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port and said output port, said tunneling junction being configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electromagnetic radiation, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the surface plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces at said output port an output electrical signal resulting from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons.

3. The detector of claim 2 wherein said input port includes an antenna structure for receiving said input electromagnetic radiation over a desired range of frequencies.

4. The detector of claim 2 wherein said input port includes a grating coupler for receiving said input electromagnetic radiation.

5. The detector of claim 2 wherein said input port includes an evanescent wave coupler for receiving said input electromagnetic radiation.

6. The detector of claim 2 wherein said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons causes at least a portion of said electrons to tunnel through said tunneling junction in order to produce said output electrical signal.

7. The detector of claim 2 wherein said structure further includes an antireflection layer disposed between said input port and said tunneling junction.

8. A detector for detecting input electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, said detector comprising:

a) an input port configured to receive said input electromagnetic radiation;

b) an output port; and

c) a structure including first and second tunneling junctions connected with each other and with said input port and said output port, said first and second tunneling junctions being configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electromagnetic radiation, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces an output electrical signal at said output port, wherein said output electrical signal results from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons such that said output electrical signal is a function of said input electromagnetic radiation.

9. The detector of claim 8 wherein said first tunneling junction is further configured in a way which said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons causes at least a portion of said electrons to tunnel through said first tunneling junction such that additional surface plasmons are produced to provide a given gain, and such that said output electrical signal is produced with said given gain at said output as a result of said particular interaction between said electrons and said first mentioned surface plasmons and said additional surface plasmons.

10. The detector of claim 9 wherein said second tunneling junction is further configured such that said particular interaction includes absorption of said first mentioned surface plasmons and said additional surface plasmons by the second tunneling junction to produce said output electrical signal.

11. The detector of claim 9 wherein said second tunneling junction is further configured such that said particular interaction includes absorption of said surface plasmons by the second tunneling junction to produce said output electrical signal.

12. A device comprising:

a) an input port configured to receive an input signal, and

b) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port configured such that said input signal produces a traveling wave along a predetermined path in said tunneling junction.

13. A device comprising:

a) an input port configured to receive an input signal, and

b) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port configured such that said input signal enters said tunneling junction from only one end so as to produce a traveling wave.

14. A device comprising:

a) a structure including a tunneling junction that transmits a traveling wave signal that exits said tunneling junction from only one end of the tunneling junction, and

b) an output port connected with said one end of said tunneling junction.