Vertical-cavity enhanced resonant thermal emitter
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsIvan Celanovic, John Kassakian, David Perrault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal emitter device includes a cavity structure that comprises an active medium for allowing thermal emissions to occur. A photonic crystal structure is positioned on one side of the cavity structure. The photonic crystal structure comprises alternating layers of high index and low index materials and acts as a first mirror for the cavity structure. A highly reflective mirror structure is positioned on another side of the cavity structure and acting as both the high-temperature source of radiation and a second mirror for the cavity structure.
Claims36
A narrow frequency band thermal radiation device based on a resonant cavity structure that comprises:
- a transparent medium for allowing thermal radiation enhancement;
- a highly reflective substantially non-absorbing structure that is positioned on one side of said cavity structure, said highly-reflective non-absorbing structure acting as a first mirror for said cavity structure;
- and
- a highly reflective mirror structure that is positioned on another side of said cavity structure and acting as both the high-temperature source of radiation and a second mirror for said cavity structure.
A method for producing a narrow frequency band thermal radiation device comprising:
- providing a cavity structure that comprises a cavity medium for allowing thermal radiation enhancement;
- positioning a highly reflective substantially non-absorbing structure on one side of said cavity structure;
- and
- positioning a highly reflective mirror structure on another side of said cavity structure that acts as both the high-temperature source of thermal radiation and as a second mirror for said cavity structure;
- and
- heating said highly reflective mirror structure.
A thermal emitter device:
- a cavity structure that comprises an active medium for allowing thermal emissions to occur;
- a photonic crystal structure that is positioned on one side of said cavity structure, said photonic crystal structure comprises alternating layers of high index and low index materials and acts as a first mirror for said cavity structure;
- and
- a highly reflective mirror structure that is positioned on another side of said cavity structure and acting as both the high-temperature source of radiation and a second mirror for said cavity structure.
A method of forming a thermal emitter device:
- providing a cavity structure that comprises an active medium for allowing thermal emissions to occur;
- positioning a photonic crystal structure on one side of said cavity structure, said photonic crystal structure comprises alternating layers of high index and low index materials and acts as a first mirror for said cavity structure;
- and
- positioning a highly reflective mirror structure on another side of said cavity structure and acting as both the high-temperature source of radiation and a second mirror for said cavity structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.