Method for Producing Heavy Electrons
AssigneeU.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorJoseph M. Zawodny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for producing heavy electrons is based on a material system that includes an electrically-conductive material is selected. The material system has a resonant frequency associated therewith for a given operational environment. A structure is formed that includes a non-electrically-conductive material and the material system. The structure incorporates the electrically-conductive material at least at a surface thereof. The geometry of the structure supports propagation of surface plasmon polaritons at a selected frequency that is approximately equal to the resonant frequency of the material system. As a result, heavy electrons are produced at the electrically-conductive material as the surface plasmon polaritons propagate along the structure.
Claims20
A method of producing heavy electrons, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a material system that includes an electrically-conductive material, said material system having a resonant frequency associated therewith for a given operational environment;
- and
- forming a structure having a surface, said structure comprising a non-electrically-conductive material and said material system, said structure incorporating said electrically-conductive material at least at said surface of said structure, wherein a geometry of said structure supports propagation of surface plasmon polaritons at a selected frequency that is approximately equal to said resonant frequency of said material system, and
- producing heavy electrons at said electrically-conductive material as said surface plasmon polaritons propagate along said structure.
A method of making a device that produces heavy electrons, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a metal hydride having a resonant frequency associated therewith for a given operational environment;
- forming a structure that includes a non-electrically-conductive material and said metal hydride, said structure incorporating said metal hydride at least at a surface of said structure, wherein a geometry of said structure supports propagation of surface plasmon polaritons at a selected frequency that is approximately equal to said resonant frequency of said metal hydride;
- and
- applying energy to a portion of said structure to induce propagation of said surface plasmon polaritons at said portion, wherein heavy electrons are produced at said metal hydride as said surface plasmon polaritons propagate along said structure.
A method for selective enhancement of surface plasmon polaritons to initiate and sustain low energy number reaction in material systems, comprising the steps of:
- providing a material system comprising an electrically-conductive material, said material system having a resonant frequency associated therewith for a given operational environment;
- and
- forming a structure having a surface, said structure comprising a non-electrically-conductive material and said material system, said structure incorporating said electrically-conductive material at least at said surface of said structure, wherein a geometry of said structure supports propagation of surface plasmon polaritons at a selected frequency that is approximately equal to said resonant frequency of said material system, and
- applying energy to a portion of said structure to induce propagation of said surface plasmon polaritons at said portion, wherein heavy electrons are produced at said material system as said surface plasmon polaritons propagate along said structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.