Optical devices based on resonant configurational effects

• US 6,529,277 B1
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Weitekamp, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPEARS, ERIC J
• Application Number:
  US09/902,474
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 356/445
• US Class Current: 356/445
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 60/22 Probes, their manufacture, or their related instrumentation, e.g. holders
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 10/00 Quantum computing, i.e. information processing based on quantum-mechanical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/04 using optical elements ; using other beam accessed elements, e.g. electron or ion beam

Abstract

Techniques and devices based on configurational effects of at least one pair of parts with one nano-scale part in a nano-scale configuration to produce a resonance-enhanced optical response when subject to a small change in a relative geometrical configuration of the two parts. The resonance may be achieved by either a plasmon resonance or a quantum-confined resonance.

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising:

a first part with a dimension less than one wavelength of an input optical signal; and

a second part spaced from said first part by less than one wavelength of said input optical signal,

wherein at least one of said first and said second parts is formed of a material responsive to said input optical signal to produce an optical resonance at or near said wavelength of said input optical signal, and

wherein said first and said second parts are arranged to be movable relative to each other and are operable to interact with each other to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering said input optical signal as a relative geometric configuration between said first and said second parts changes.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein said first part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in.response to said input optical signal.

3. The device as in claim 2, wherein said'"'"'second part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in response to said input optical signal.

4. The device as in claim 2, wherein said second part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said input optical signal.

5. The device as in claim 4, wherein said second part includes a quantum dot.

6. The device as in claim 1, said-first part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said input optical signal.

7. The device as in claim 1, wherein said first and said second parts are movable relative to each other in a harmonic motion.

8. The device as in claim 1, wherein said property includes a signal amplitude.

9. The device as in claim 1, wherein said property includes a signal polarization.

10. The device as in claim 1, wherein said property includes a signal frequency.

11. The device as in claim 1, wherein said property includes a signal direction.

12. An optical device, comprising:

an optical switching element having at least a first part and a second part whose dimensions are less than one wavelength of an input optical signal, at least said first part formed of a nanoscale material to exhibit a resonance in response to said input optical signal, wherein said first and said second parts spaced by less than one wavelength of said input optical signal and arranged to be movable relative to each other to change a direction of an output optical signal produced from scattering said input optical signal as a relative geometric configuration between said first and said second parts changes; and

a switch transducer placed adjacent to said optical switching element and operable to cause a change in said relative geometric configuration in response to a control signal.

13. The device as in claim 12, wherein said switch transducer is operable to cause said change by a mechanical force.

14. The device as in claim 12, wherein said switch transducer is operable to cause said change by an electrical force.

15. The device as in claim 12, wherein said switch transducer is operable to cause said change by an optical interaction.

16. The device as in claim 12, wherein said switch transducer is operable to cause said change by a thermal expansion.

17. An optical device, comprising:

a probe tip having at least a first part and a second part, at least one of which has a dimension less than one wavelength of an input optical signal, and at least said first part formed of a material to exhibit an optical resonance in response to said input optical signal, wherein said first and said second parts are spaced by less than one wavelength of said input optical signal and are arrranged to be movable relative to each other to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering said input optical signal as a relative geometric configuration between said first and said second parts changes;

a sample platform configured to hold a sample with a sample surface to be measured;

a probe holder engaged to said probe tip and configured to hold said probe tip over said sample surface;

a light source operable to produce said input optical beam; and

an optical detector positioned relative to said probe tip to receive said output optical signal produced by said probe tip and operable to produce a detector output that indicates a property of said sample surface.

18. The device as in claim 17, further comprising a scanning mechanism to scan said probe tip relative to said sample surface.

19. The device as in claim 17, wherein said first part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in response to said input optical signal.

20. The device as in claim 17, wherein said first part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said input optical signal.

21. An optical device, comprising:

a radiation source to produce at least a probe excitation wave at a probe frequency;

a probe responsive to a probe excitation wave to produce a probe polarization;

a mechanical oscillator coupled to said probe to oscillate in response to an energy applied to said probe;

a nano-structure part with a dimension less than one wavelength of said probe excitation wave and arranged to be movable relative to said probe, wherein said nano-structure part is responsive to said probe excitations wave and is operable to interact with said probe to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering received optical energy as a relative geometric configuration between said nano-structure part and said probe changes;

a sample holder to hold a sample with a sample polarization in a proximity of said probe to expose the sample to a field produced by at least said probe polarization so as to cause a motion of said mechanical oscillator;

a detector module to measure movements of said mechanical oscillators; and

an optical detector to collect and measure said output optical signal.

22. The device as in claim 21, further comprising a vacuum chamber enclosing said mechanical oscillator.

23. The device as in claim 21, wherein said nano-structure part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in response to said probe excitation.

24. The device as in claim 21, wherein said nano-structure part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said probe excitation.

25. A device, comprising:

a sample holder to hold a sample;

a magnetic assembly to produce a static magnetic field at said sample holder and configured to include at least one sensing magnet to detect magnetic spin information of the sample;

an excitation source to produce a time-varying magnetic field at said sample holder;

a mechanical oscillator coupled to one of said sensing magnet and said sample holder to change a relative position between said sensing magnet and the sample in response to a magnetic interaction between said sensing magnet and the sample;

an optical probe source to produce a probe beam that excites an optical polarization in said sensing magnet;

a nano-structure part with a dimension less than one wavelength of said probe beam and arranged to be movable relative to said sensing magnet, wherein said nano-structure part is responsive to said probe beam and is operable to interact with said sensing magnet to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering said probe beam as a relative geometric configuration between said nano-structure part and said sensing magnet changes.

26. The device as in claim 25, further comprising a vacuum chamber enclosing said mechanical oscillator.

27. The device as in claim 25, wherein said nano-structure part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in response to said probe beam.

28. The device as in claim 25, wherein said nano-structure part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said probe beam.