Apparatus and method of optical transfer and control in plasmon supporting metal nanostructures
AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorsRobert M. Dickson, Louis A. Lyon
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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.
Claims37
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.
A light conversion method, comprising the steps of:
- providing a nanostructure;
- directing a first light at said nanostructure, wherein said first light has a first light energy;
- converting said first light energy into a surface plasmon polariton;
- transporting said surface plasmon potariton through said nanostructure;
- converting said surface plasmon polariton into a second light that has characteristics corresponding to said first light.
A light conversion apparatus comprising a:
- means for converting a first light energy into a surface plasmon polariton;
- means for transporting said surface plasmon polariton through a nanostructure;
- means for converting said surface plasmon polariton into a second light.
A light conversion method comprising the steps of:
- providing a nanostructure;
- directing a first light at said nanostructure, wherein said first light has a first light energy;
- converting said first light energy into an surface plasmon polariton;
- transporting said surface plasmon polariton through said nanostructure;
- controlling said surface plasmon polariton propagation through said nanostructure;
- converting said surface plasmon polariton into a second light that has characteristics corresponding to said first light.
A light conversion apparatus comprising:
- means for converting a first light energy into an surface plasmon polariton;
- means for transporting said surface plasmon polariton through a nanostructure;
- means for controlling said surface plasmon polariton propagation through said nanostructure;
- means for converting said surface plasmon polariton into a second light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.