Surface plasmon devices

A detector for detecting input electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, said detector comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive said input electromagnetic radiation;
• b) an output port;
• and
• c) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port and said output port, said tunneling junction being configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electromagnetic radiation, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the surface plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces at said output port an output electrical signal resulting from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons.

A detector for detecting input electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, said detector comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive said input electromagnetic radiation;
• b) an output port;
• and
• c) a structure including first and second tunneling junctions connected with each other and with said input port and said output port, said first and second tunneling junctions being configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electromagnetic radiation, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces an output electrical signal at said output port, wherein said output electrical signal results from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons such that said output electrical signal is a function of said input electromagnetic radiation.