Apparatus and method of optical transfer and control in plasmon supporting metal nanostructures

• US 6,539,156 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Lyon, Louis A., Dickson, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAO, CHIH CHENG G
• Application Number:
  US09/704,931
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 385/129, 385/130, 385/131, 385/141, 385/14
• US Class Current: 385/129
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/554 detecting the surface plasmon resonance of nanostructured metals, e.g. localised surface plasmon resonance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B
• 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 6/1226 involving surface plasmon interaction

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for converting light into a surface plasmon polariton on a plasmon supporting nanostructure and then controlling the emission of the re-emitting light. A circuit component is also described that is constructed of a nanostructure, which is comprised of at least one plasmon supporting metal. The metal can propagate the light, as a surface plasmon polariton, through the one-dimensional nanostructure and re-emit the light. The metal is a plasmon supporting metal, for example but not limited to, gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.

Claims

1. A circuit component that functions as a unidirectional conduit comprising a nanostructure having at least one metal, wherein said metal can propagate a first light through said nanostructure and re-emit a second light that has characteristics corresponding to said first light, wherein said nanostructure further comprises a first segment and a second segment, wherein said first segment has a higher potential energy barrier and said second segment has a lower non-zero potential energy barrier and wherein said first segment is a first plasmon supporting metal and said second segment is a second plasmon supporting metal.

2. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein said first light is propagated through said nanostructure using a nanostructure-confined surface plasmon.

3. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein said at least one metal is a plasmon supporting metal.

4. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein said at least one metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.

5. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein said first plasmon supporting metal is gold.

6. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein said second plasmon supporting metal is silver.

7. The circuit component of claim 1 that is designed to function as a transistor.

8. The circuit component of claim 1 that is designed to function as a switch.

9. The circuit component of claim 1 that is designed to function as an amplifier.

10. The circuit component of claim 1 that is designed to function as a filter.

11. The circuit component of claim 1 that can perform electrical functions.

12. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein said nanostructure is coated with a propagation altering material.

13. The circuit component of claim 12, wherein said propagation altering material is a chemical component.

14. The circuit component of claim 12, wherein said propagation altering material is a biological component.

15. The circuit component of claim 14, wherein said biological component alters said reemission of the light.

16. A circuit component comprising a nanostructure having at least one metal, wherein said metal can propagate a first light through said nanostructure and re-emit a second light that has characteristics corresponding to said first light, wherein said nanostructure further comprises a first segment and a second segment, wherein said first segment has a higher potential energy barrier and said second segment has a lower non-zero potential energy barrier.

17. The circuit component of claim 16, wherein said first light is propagated through said nanostructure using a nanostructure-confined surface plasmon.

18. The circuit component of claim 16, wherein said at least one metal is a plasmon supporting metal.

19. The circuit component of claim 16, wherein said at least one metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.

20. The circuit component of claim 16 that is designed to function as a unidirectional conduit.

21. The circuit component of claim 20, wherein said first segment is a first plasmon supporting metal and said second segment is a second plasmon supporting metal.

22. The circuit component of claim 21, wherein said first plasmon supporting metal is gold.

23. The circuit component of claim 21, wherein said second plasmon supporting metal is silver.

24. The circuit component of claim 16 that is designed to function as a transistor.

25. The circuit component of claim 16 that is designed to function as a switch.

26. The circuit component of claim 16 that is designed to function as an amplifier.

27. The circuit component of claim 16 that is designed to function as a filter.

28. The circuit component of claim 16 that can perform electrical functions.

29. The circuit component of claim 16, wherein said nanostructure is coated with a propagation altering material.

30. The circuit component of claim 29, wherein said propagation altering material is a chemical component.

31. The circuit component of claim 29, wherein said propagation altering material is a biological component.

32. The circuit component of claim 29, wherein said biological component alters said reemission of the light.