NONLINEAR AND GAIN OPTICAL DEVICES FORMED IN METAL GRATINGS

• US 20130308179A1
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Gang, Rapaport, Ronen
• Application Number:
  US13/950,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308179A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/345
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• 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: G02B 6/1226 involving surface plasmon interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3501 Constructional details or arrangements of non-linear optical devices, e.g. shape of non-linear crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2/004 Transferring the modulation of modulated light, i.e. transferring the information from one optical carrier of a first wavelength to a second optical carrier of a second wavelength, e.g. all-optical wavelength converter
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/10 plasmon
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/08 Construction or shape of optical resonators or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0809 Two-wavelenghth emission
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/091 using optical pumping
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/04256 characterised by the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/1042 Optical microcavities, e.g. cavity dimensions comparable to the wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/1046 Comprising interactions between photons and plasmons, e.g. by a corrugated surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/50 Amplifier structures not provided for in groups H01S5/02 - H01S5/30

Abstract

In one aspect, an optical gain device is provided. The optical gain device comprises a metallic film and an optical gain medium. The metallic film has a plurality of slits therethrough. The plurality of slits are configured such that the film selectively and resonantly transmits light over a preselected frequency range. The optical gain medium is situated within or substantially near at least one slit of the plurality of slits.

Claims

1. An optical gain device, comprising:

a metallic film, the film having a plurality of slits therethrough, the plurality of slits configured such that the film selectively and resonantly transmits light over a preselected frequency range; and

an optical gain medium, situated within or substantially near at least one slit of said plurality of slits.

2. The optical gain device of claim 1, wherein the film is configured to resonantly transmit light in a visible or near infra-red wavelength range.

3. The system as claim in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to drive current through the optical gain medium in one or more of the slits.

4. The system as in claim 3, wherein said one or more slits are Fabry-Perot cavities.

5. The system as in claim 4, wherein at least one of the electrodes is coupled to a voltage driver.

6. A method of generating light, comprising:

providing a metallic film with a substantially regular array of slits therethrough, the array configured to selectively pass light in a band, the band including wavelengths larger than a width of the slits of the array;

producing an electromagnetic field within the slits by illuminating a region of said metallic film with light, the region including the array; and

optically amplifying light in the slits while performing the producing.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the optically amplifying further comprises receiving pump light in the slits.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein one of the slits of the array of slits includes a Fabry-Perot cavity.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said pump light has a wavelength configured to resonantly excite surface plasmon modes on the film or a waveguide mode in the slits.

10. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising enhancing a transmission of a second wavelength of light on the metallic film that occurs in response to the step of illuminating a region of one side.