Combination lightwave antenna and spectral analyzer and methods

A system for analyzing spectral characteristics of lightwaves of an object, the apparatus comprising:

• a non-linear reradiating substrate;
• a nanoscale antenna, mounted on the substrate for receiving lightwaves from the object;
• a variable electromagnetic lightwave frequency sweep local oscillator providing a swept reference signal output, wherein the reference signal output is directed toward the antenna so as to mix with the lightwaves from the object,
• so that a radio frequency heterodyne signal resulting from a difference of the swept reference signal output received by the antenna with lightwaves received by the antenna from an object is reradiated by the substrate.

A method of analyzing the spectral characteristics of a lightwave, the method comprising:

• providing a non-linear reradiating substrate on which is mounted a nano-scaled antenna, using the nano-scaled antenna for receiving the lightwaves from the object;
• directing a swept reference signal toward the antenna so as to mix with the lightwaves from the object,
• so that a radio frequency heterodyne signal resulting from a difference of the swept reference signal received by the antenna with the lightwaves received by the antenna from the object is re-radiated by the substrate, and
• receiving and demodulating the radio frequency heterodyne signal to provide an output signal responsive to the spectral characteristics lightwaves of the object.