Spasers to speed up CMOS processors
AssigneeGeorgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorMark Stockman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A processor includes a transistor pair of a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor of the transistor pair is coupled to a Spaser and configured to output a drive current to the Spaser to pump the Spaser. Responsive to the drive current, the Spaser outputs surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) which are fed to a plasmonic interconnect wire. The plasmonic interconnect wire propagates the SPPs. Further, the SPPs propagated on the plasmonic interconnect wire are detected by a phototransistor. Responsive to detecting the SPPs, the phototransistor generates an output current that is fed to a gate terminal of the second transistor to charge the second transistor.
Claims29
A system, comprising:
- a device that is configured to generate and amplify nanolocalized optical fields via a Surface Plasmon Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (SPASER) action;
- a first transistor of a transistor pair coupled to the device and configured to supply drive current to the device to initiate a pumping action associated with the SPASER action;
- a phototransistor coupled to the device via an interconnect wire;
- and
- a second transistor of the transistor pair coupled to the phototransistor and configured to receive an output current from the phototransistor,
- wherein responsive to drive current, the device is configured to generate surface plasmons (SPs) that are coupled in a near-field to propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) of the interconnect wire, and
- wherein responsive to detection of the SPPs the phototransistor is configured to generate the output current for charging a gate of the second transistor.
A method of a nanostructure that generates and amplifies nanolocalized optical fields via Surface Plasmon Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (SPASER) action comprising:
- receiving, by the nanostructure, an electrical energy to initiate a pumping action associated with the SPASER action;
- and
- responsive to initiating the pumping action, outputting, by the nanostructure, surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) to a plasmonic interconnect wire that propagates the SPPs to a light-sensitive transistor that is configured to detect the SPPs and charge a gate of a transistor associated with a transistor pair.
A method, comprising:
- applying, by a first transistor of a transistor pair, drive current output to a device for Surface Plasmon Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (Spaser device) to directly modulate the SPASER device, the SPASER device responsive to the drive current to output surface plasmons (SPs) that couple in the near-field to propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) of an interconnect wire;
- and
- receiving, by a second transistor of the transistor pair, charging current from a phototransistor that is configured to detect the SPPs from the SPASER device, the phototransistor to generate the charging current responsive to the SPPs.
A processor, comprising:
- a transistor pair comprising a first transistor and a second transistor, the first transistor configured to output a drive current and the second transistor configured to receive a charging current;
- a device configured to generate surface plasmons (SPs) via a Surface Plasmon Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (SPASER) action responsive to the drive current output by the first transistor;
- and
- a phototransistor, connected to the device via an interconnect wire and configured to generate the charging current for charging a gate of the second transistor responsive to the SPs output by the device to the interconnect wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.