Optical transistor with sub-wavelength aperture

• US 7,302,129 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Howard, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAHM, SARAH UH YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/962,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20060078249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/16
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/025 in an optical waveguide structure G02F1/017, G02F1/2257 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0316 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/035 in an optical waveguide structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3515 All-optical modulation, gating, switching, e.g. control of a light beam by another light beam G02F1/353, G02F1/37, G02F1/39 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/30 grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/10 plasmon

Abstract

An optical switch has a conductor and one or more sub-wavelength apertures. The switch is activated and periodic perturbations are dynamically formed in proximity to the conductor. Photons are directed toward and impinge upon the switch, and a greater amount of light propagates through the sub-wavelength apertures in the activated switch as compared to an unactivated switch.

Claims

1. An optical switch comprising:

a conductor;

one or more sub-wavelength apertures; and

means to dynamically alter an electromagnetic environment in proximity to a surface of said conductor by one or more of an electrical signal, a standing wave, and a magnetic field;

wherein upon alteration of said electromagnetic environment in proximity to said surface of said conductor, periodic perturbations are formed in proximity to said surface of said conductor.

2. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein photons impinge upon said surface of said conductor, and light propagates through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

3. The optical switch according to claim 2, wherein plasmons are formed in proximity to said conductor.

4. The optical switch according to claim 3, wherein said plasmons propagate from a first side of said switch, through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures, to a second side of said switch.

5. The optical switch according to claim 1,

wherein said conductor encloses a channel;

and

further wherein said channel comprises a P/N junction.

6. The optical switch according to claim 1,

wherein photons of light impinge upon said switch;

and further wherein said light propagates through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

7. The optical switch according to claim 6,

wherein said photons, upon impinging said switch, are converted into plasmons;

and further wherein said plasmons propagate through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

8. The optical switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical coating on one or more sides of said conductor; and

one or more terminals positioned on said optical coating;

wherein said terminals are electrically coupled to a signal source.

9. The optical switch according to claim 8,

wherein said means to dynamically alter an electromagnetic environment comprise activating said optical switch by applying a signal to said terminals;

and further wherein said periodic perturbations comprise different refractive indices in said optical coating.

10. The optical switch according to claim 9,

wherein photons of light impinge on said switch;

and further wherein light propagates through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

11. The optical switch according to claim 10,

wherein said photons of light cause the formation of plasmons;

and further wherein said plasmons propagate through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

12. The optical switch according to claim 8, wherein said terminals and said optical coating are transparent.

13. The optical switch according to claim 1,

wherein said means to dynamically alter an electromagnetic environment comprise an actuator and periodic spatial electromagnetic perturbations, said periodic spatial electromagnetic perturbations comprising a conductive coating;

and

further comprising means to connect said actuator to said periodic spatial electromagnetic perturbations.

14. The optical switch according to claim 13,

wherein a signal is applied to said actuator, causing said actuator to change in size and shape;

and further wherein said change in size and shape of said actuator causes a change in distance between said conductor and said conductive coating of said periodic spatial electromagnetic perturbations, thereby causing a change in capacitance between said conductor and said periodic spatial electromagnetic perturbations, said change in capacitance comprising said periodic perturbations.

15. The optical switch according to claim 14,

wherein photons of light impinge upon said switch;

and further wherein said light propagates through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

16. The optical switch according to claim 15,

wherein said photons cause the formation of plasmons;

and

further wherein said plasmons propagate through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

17. The optical switch according to claim 13, wherein said actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

18. The optical switch according to claim 13, wherein said actuator is a magnetostrictive actuator.

19. The optical switch according to claim 1,

further comprising a substrate upon which said conductor is disposed.

20. The optical switch according to claim 19,

wherein said substrate is transparent.

21. The optical switch according to claim 19,

wherein said means to dynamically alter an electromagnetic environment comprise an acoustic wave applied to said substrate;

and further wherein said acoustic wave physically alters said substrate and said conductor.

22. The optical switch according to claim 21,

wherein said periodic perturbations comprise said physical alteration of said substrate and said conductor.

23. The optical switch according to claim 21,

wherein photons of light impinge upon said switch;

and further wherein said light propagates through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

24. The optical switch according to claim 23,

wherein said photons cause the formation of plasmons;

and further wherein said plasmons propagate through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

25. The optical switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical coating on said conductor; and

a standing pump beam impinging upon said switch;

wherein said pump beam comprises one or more intensities of light;

and wherein said one or more intensities of light alter said electromagnetic environment in proximity to said conductor;

and further wherein said one or more intensities of light create different indices of refraction within said optical coating, said different indices of refraction forming said periodic perturbations.

26. The optical switch according to claim 25, further comprising:

a write beam impinging upon said switch.

27. The optical switch according to claim 26,

wherein photons of light from said write beam propagate through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

28. The optical switch according to claim 27,

wherein said photons of light from said write beam cause the formation of plasmons;

and

further wherein said plasmons propagate through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

29. The optical switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

a ferromagnetic coating on one or more sides of said conductor; and

one or more terminals positioned on said ferromagnetic coating;

wherein said terminals are electrically coupled to a signal source.

30. The optical switch according to claim 29,

wherein said means to dynamically alter an electromagnetic environment comprise activating said optical switch by applying a signal to said terminals, thereby causing a current to run through said one or more terminals;

and further wherein said current creates a magnetic field in proximity of said terminals;

and further wherein said periodic perturbations comprise different permeabilities caused by said magnetic field.

31. The optical switch according to claim 30,

wherein photons of light impinge on said switch;

and further wherein light propagates through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

32. The optical switch according to claim 3,

wherein said photons of light cause the formation of plasmons;

and further wherein said plasmons propagate through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

33. The optical switch according to claim 29, wherein said terminals and said ferromagnetic coating are transparent.

34. The optical switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

a ferromagnetic coating and a non-ferromagnetic coating on one or more sides of said conductor, said ferromagnetic coating and said non-ferromagnetic coating disposed on said conductor in an alternating fashion.

35. The optical switch according to claim 34,

wherein said means to dynamically alter an electromagnetic environment comprise applying a magnetic field to said switch, thereby altering a permeability of said ferromagnetic coating;

and further wherein said periodic perturbations comprise said different permeabilities of said ferromagnetic coating and said non-ferromagnetic coating.

36. The optical switch according to claim 35,

wherein photons of light impinge on said switch;

and further wherein light propagates through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

37. The optical switch according to claim 36,

wherein said photons of light cause the formation of plasmons;

and further wherein said plasmons propagate through said one or more sub-wavelength apertures.

38. The optical switch according to claim 34, wherein said ferromagnetic coating and said non-ferromagnetic coating are transparent.

39. A process to increase the amount of light propagated through a sub-wavelength aperture in an optical switch, comprising the steps of:

providing an optical switch, said optical switch comprising one or more sub-wavelength apertures;

applying an acoustic wave to said switch, said acoustic wave creating periodic perturbations in said switch; and

directing photons to impinge upon said switch;

wherein light from said photons propagate through said sub-wavelength aperture.

40. A process to increase the amount of light propagated through a sub-wavelength aperture in an optical switch, comprising the steps of

providing an optical switch, said optical switch comprising a conductor, said conductor coated with an optically active coating;

directing a standing beam to impinge on said optically active coating, said standing beam creating different refractive indices within said optically active coating; and

directing a write beam to impinge on said optically active coating;

wherein light from said write beam propagates through said sub-wavelength aperture.