Surface phonon-polariton raman laser

• US 7,471,448 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Chen, Gang, Chen, Xiaoyuan
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLDA, ERIC L
• Application Number:
  US11/371,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20070211771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 359/334, 372/3, 372/43.01, 977/951
• US Class Current: 359/334
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3526 using two-photon emission or absorption processes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/365 in an optical waveguide structure G02F1/377, G02F1/395 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/36 Micro- or nanomaterials
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/30 using scattering effects, e.g. stimulated Brillouin or Raman effects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/951 Laser

Abstract

An optical device includes an input optical source that provides and optical signal to the optical device. A surface phonon polariton (SPP) nanostructure receives the optical signal that interacts with the SPP nanostructure to excite a Raman process and produce a Raman light signal. The Raman light signal comprises a broad spectral range from near infrared to far infrared.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising:

an input optical source that provides an optical signal to said optical device;

a plurality of Raman active materials comprising materials having low optical loss and high nonlinear coefficient; and

a plurality of surface phonon polariton (SPP) nanostructures that receive said optical signal that interacts with said SPP nanostructures and said Raman active materials to excite a Raman process and produce a Raman light signal, said Raman light signal comprising a broad spectral range from near infrared to far infrared.

2. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said input optical source comprises an optical pump.

3. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said input optical source comprises a hot source.

4. The optical device of claim 2, wherein said SPP nanostructure comprises a 3D dot structures.

5. The optical device of claim 3, wherein said SPP nanostructure receives directly a propagated wave from said hot source.

6. The optical device of claim 4 further comprising a waveguide structure for guiding said Raman light.

7. The optical device of claim 5 further comprising grating structures for emitting said Raman light.

8. The optical device of claim 6, wherein said optical devices defines a laser.

9. The optical device of claim 7, wherein said optical device defines an emitter.

10. A method of producing surface phonon polariton (SPP) modes in an optical device comprising:

providing an optical signal to said optical device; and

allowing said optical signal to interact with a plurality of SPP nanostructures and Raman active materials to excite a Raman process and produce a Raman light signal, said Raman light signal comprising a broad spectral range from near infrared to far infrared.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said providing an optical signal comprises using an optical pump.

12. The optical device of claim 10, wherein said providing an optical signal comprises using a hot source.

13. The optical device of claim 11, wherein said allowing said optical signal to interact with a SPP nanostructure comprises using a 3D dot structure.

14. The optical device of claim 12, wherein said allowing said optical signal to interact with a SPP nanostructure comprises receiving directly a propagated wave from said hot source.

15. The optical device of claim 13 further comprising providing a waveguide structure for guiding said Raman light.

16. The optical device of claim 14 further comprising providing grating structures for emitting said Raman light.

17. The optical device of claim 15, wherein said optical devices defines a laser.

18. The optical device of claim 16, wherein said optical device defines an emitter.