Surface plasmon coupler
First Claim
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1. A device for the efficient coupling of electromagnetic radiation into surface plasmon waves, particularly in the far-infrared or submillimeter spectral regions, said device comprising;
- a prism having multiple faces and constructed of a dielectric material which is substantially transparent in the selected spectral region, a first layer integrally formed on one face of the prism also of a material substantially transparent in the selected spectral region and having an index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the prism, and a second overcoat layer integrally formed on said first layer also of a material substantially transparent in the selected spectral region and having an index of refraction which is greater than the index of refraction of the first layer.
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Abstract
A device for efficiently coupling electromagnetic radiation in the far-infrared and submillimeter spectral regions to surface plasmon waves comprises a prism constructed of a dielectric material, a first layer integrally formed on one face of the prism having an index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the prism, and a second overcoat layer formed integrally on the first layer and having an index of refraction which is greater than the index of refraction of the first layer.
26 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A device for the efficient coupling of electromagnetic radiation into surface plasmon waves, particularly in the far-infrared or submillimeter spectral regions, said device comprising;
- a prism having multiple faces and constructed of a dielectric material which is substantially transparent in the selected spectral region, a first layer integrally formed on one face of the prism also of a material substantially transparent in the selected spectral region and having an index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the prism, and a second overcoat layer integrally formed on said first layer also of a material substantially transparent in the selected spectral region and having an index of refraction which is greater than the index of refraction of the first layer.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of fabricating a surface plasmon coupler to provide for efficient coupling of electromagnetic radiation into surface plasmon waves, particularly in the far-infrared and submillimeter spectral regions, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a prism having multiple faces and constructed of a dielectric material which is substantially transparent in the selected spectral region, integrally forming a first layer on one face of the prism also of a material substantially transparent in the selected spectral region and having an index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the prism, and integrally overcoating a second layer on the first layer also of a material substantially transparent in the selected spectral region and having an index of refraction which is greater than the index of refraction of the first layer.
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