Surface-plasmon-generated light source and its use
OwnerOlivier Martininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structure for producing a localized light source in a medium is provided. The structure includes a source generating incident light, a surface-plasmon-supporting layer, and means for transmitting and localizing plasmons between the surface-plasmon-supporting layer and the medium. The transmitter-localizer means includes between the surface-plasmon-supporting layer and the medium a discontinuity for providing a localized electromagnetic field deviation and a plasmon-transmitting interface with predetermined electromagnetic properties at the medium. The incident light excites a surface plasmon in the surface-plasmon-supporting layer, which plasmon in turn produces the localized light source at the plasmon-transmitting interface by localizing the energy of the surface plasmon.
Claims20
A structure for producing a localized light source in a medium, comprising
- a source generating incident light,
- a surface-plasmon-supporting layer,
- means for transmitting and localizing plasmons between said surface-plasmon-supporting layer and said medium,
- said transmitter-localizer means including between said surface-plasmon-supporting layer and said medium
- a discontinuity for providing a localized electromagnetic field deviation and
- a plasmon-transmitting interface with predetermined electromagnetic properties at said medium
- wherein said incident light excites a surface plasmon in said surface-plasmon-supporting layer, which plasmon in turn produces said localized light source at said plasmon-transmitting interface by localizing the energy of said surface plasmon.
A method for generating a localized light source in a medium, comprising the following steps:
- generating incident light,
- exciting a surface plasmon from said incident light in a surface-plasmon-supporting element,
- transmitting said surface plasmon by plasmon transmission means to a localized interface with predetermined electromagnetic properties between said plasmon transmission means and said medium, in which so that said localized light source is generated at said interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.