High speed electron tunneling device and applications

A detector array having an output and comprising a plurality of detectors, each one of said plurality of detectors having a detector area, each one of said plurality of detectors being configured for detecting electromagnetic radiation incident on the detector area over a desired range of frequencies and including:

• a voltage source for providing a bias voltage;
• first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that the bias voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, wherein the first non-insulating layer is formed of a metal, and wherein said first and second non-insulating layers are configured to form an antenna structure for receiving electromagnetic radiation over the desired range of frequencies and directing said electromagnetic radiation to a specific location within each one of said plurality of detectors;
• and
• an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the electromagnetic radiation being received at the antenna structure, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of responsivity, with respect to said bias voltage, and said arrangement further including a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that said responsivity, with respect to said bias voltage, is increased over and above said given value of responsivity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers, said arrangement being further configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling, and such that at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the antenna structure is converted to an electrical signal at the output, said electrical signal having an intensity which depends on the given responsivity, said plurality of detectors being arranged such that the detector array is capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation over a larger spatial area than the detector area of each one of said plurality of detectors.

An emitter for providing electromagnetic radiation of a desired frequency at an output, said emitter comprising:

• a voltage source for providing a bias voltage;
• first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that the bias voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers;
• and
• an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the bias voltage, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of negative differential resistance when the bias voltage is applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, with respect to said bias voltage, and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that said negative differential resistance, with respect to said bias voltage, is decreased below said given value of negative differential resistance by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers, and said arrangement being further configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling such that an oscillation in the transport of electrons results, said oscillation having an oscillation frequency equal to the desired frequency due to the negative differential resistance and causing an emission of electromagnetic radiation of the desired frequency at the output.

An emitter array having an output and comprising a plurality of emitters, each one of said plurality of emitters providing electromagnetic radiation at a given frequency and including:

• a voltage source for providing a bias voltage;
• first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that the bias voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers;
• and
• an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the bias voltage, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of negative differential resistance when the bias voltage is applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, with respect to the bias voltage, and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that said negative differential resistance, with respect to said bias voltage, is decreased below said given value of negative differential resistance by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers, and said arrangement being further configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling, and such that an oscillation in the transport of electrons results, said oscillation having an oscillation frequency equal to the given frequency due to the negative differential resistance and causing an emission of electromagnetic radiation of the given frequency at the output.

An emitter for providing electromagnetic radiation at an output, said emitter comprising:

• a voltage source for providing a bias voltage;
• a first arrangement including first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that said bias voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to form an antenna structure for emitting said electromagnetic radiation;
• and
• a second arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the bias voltage, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of negative differential resistance when the bias voltage is applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, with respect to the bias voltage, and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that said negative differential resistance, with respect to said bias voltage, is decreased below said given value of negative differential resistance by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers, and said arrangement being further configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of hot electron tunneling to cause an emission of electromagnetic radiation at said antenna structure, which antenna structure serves as the output.

A modulator for modulating an input electromagnetic radiation incident thereon and providing a modulated electromagnetic radiation at an output, said modulator comprising:

• a voltage source for providing a modulation voltage, which modulation voltage is switchable between first and second voltage values;
• first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that the modulation voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, said first and second non-insulating layers being configured to form an antenna structure for absorbing a given fraction of the input electromagnetic radiation with a given value of absorptivity, while a remainder of the input electromagnetic radiation is reflected by the antenna structure, wherein absorptivity is defined as a ratio of an intensity of the given fraction to a total intensity of the input electromagnetic radiation;
• and
• an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the modulation voltage, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with the first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling, with respect to the modulation voltage,
• said arrangement being further configured to cooperate with the first and second non-insulating layers such that the antenna structure exhibits a first value of absorptivity, when modulation voltage of the first voltage value is applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, and exhibits a distinct, second value of absorptivity, when modulation voltage of the second voltage value is applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, causing the antenna structure to reflect a different amount of the input electromagnetic radiation to the output as modulated electromagnetic radiation with a contrast ratio, said contrast ratio being defined as a ratio of said first value of absorptivity to said second value of absorptivity, said arrangement being still further configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of said contrast ratio, with respect to the modulation voltage, while said contrast ratio is increased over and above said given value of contrast ratio by the inclusion of said second insulating layer.

A modulator assembly for receiving a modulation signal, modulating an input electromagnetic radiation and providing an output electromagnetic radiation, said modulator assembly comprising:

• a voltage source for providing a bias voltage;
• first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that the bias voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, and wherein said first and second non-insulating layers are configured to form a first antenna structure for receiving the modulation signal, directing said modulation signal to a specific location within the modulator assembly and converting the modulation signal so received into a modulation voltage, which modulation voltage is also applied across the first and second non-insulating layers;
• an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the modulation voltage, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer in the arrangement would result in a given value of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said bias voltage, and said arrangement further including a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that said nonlinearity, with respect to said bias voltage, is increased over and above said given value of nonlinearity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer of material without the necessity for any additional layers, said arrangement being further configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling;
• and
• a second antenna structure having an absorptance value, which absorptance value depends on the aforementioned modulation voltage, wherein said second antenna structure is configured to receive and selectively absorb said input electromagnetic radiation in proportion to the absorptance value so as to produce the output electromagnetic radiation.

A field effect transistor for receiving an external signal, switching an input signal according to the received, external signal and providing an output signal, said external signal being switchable between a first value and a second value, said field effect transistor comprising:

• a voltage source for providing a bias voltage;
• a diode structure including
• i) a source electrode for receiving said input signal,
• ii) a drain electrode spaced apart from said source electrode such that the bias voltage can be applied across the source and drain electrodes, and
• iii) an arrangement disposed between the source and drain electrodes and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said source and drain electrodes, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling with a given value of a tunneling probability,
• a shielding layer at least partially surrounding said diode structure;
• and
• a gate electrode disposed adjacent to said shielding layer, said gate electrode being configured to receive said external signal and to apply said external signal as said bias voltage across said source and drain electrodes such that, when said first value of external signal is received at the gate electrode, a first signal value is provided as the output signal at the drain electrode and, when said second value of external signal is received at the gate electrode, a second signal value is provided as the output signal at the drain electrode and said output signal exhibits a output ratio, which output ratio is defined as the ratio of the first signal value to the second signal value
• wherein said arrangement in the diode structure is configured such that, using only said first amorphous insulating layer would result in a first value of output ratio exhibited by the output signal, and wherein said arrangement in the diode structure further includes a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the output signal exhibits a second value of output ratio, which second value of output ratio is higher than said first value of output ratio.

A junction transistor comprising:

• a voltage source for providing a bias voltage;
• an emitter electrode;
• a base electrode spaced apart from said emitter electrode such that the bias voltage can be applied across the emitter and base electrodes and, consequently, electrons are emitted by the emitter electrode toward the base electrode;
• a first tunneling structure disposed between said emitter and base electrodes and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said emitter and base electrodes, said first tunneling structure including at least a first amorphous insulating layer and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling with a tunneling probability, wherein said tunneling probability depends on said bias voltage;
• a collector electrode spaced apart from said base electrode;
• and
• a second tunneling structure disposed between said base and collector electrodes and configured to serve as a transport, between said base and collector electrodes, of at least a portion of said electrons emitted by said emitter electrode such that the portion of the electrons is collected by said collector electrode with a collection efficiency, wherein said transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling.

An optoelectronic amplification element for receiving an input electromagnetic radiation, which input electromagnetic radiation has an input intensity, and producing an output electromagnetic radiation, which output electromagnetic radiation has an output intensity, said optoelectronic amplification element comprising:

• A) a detector for detecting an input electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, said detector including:
• 1) a first voltage source for providing a first bias voltage;
• 2) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that the first bias voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, wherein the first non-insulating layer is formed of a metal, and wherein said first and second non-insulating layers are configured to form an antenna structure for receiving said input electromagnetic radiation and directing said electromagnetic radiation to a specific location within the detector, and
• 3) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers at said specific location and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the input electromagnetic radiation being received at the antenna structure, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling, and such that at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the antenna structure is converted to an electrical signal switchable between at least a first value and a second value:
• B) a field effect transistor for receiving said electrical signal, switching an input signal according to the received, electrical signal and providing a modulation signal, said field effect transistor including:
• 1) a second voltage source for providing a second bias voltage;
• 2) a diode structure including
• a) a source electrode for receiving said input signal,
• b) a drain electrode spaced apart from said source electrode such that the second bias voltage can be applied across the source and drain electrodes, and
• c) an arrangement disposed between the source and drain electrodes and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said source and drain electrodes, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling with a given value of a tunneling probability,
• 3) a shielding layer at least partially surrounding said diode structure;
• and
• 4) a gate electrode disposed adjacent to said shielding layer, said gate electrode being configured to receive said electrical signal and to apply said electrical signal as said second bias voltage across said source and drain electrodes such that, when said first value of electrical signal is received at the gate electrode, a first signal value is provided as the modulation signal at the drain electrode and, when said second value of electrical signal is received at the gate electrode, a second signal value is provided as the modulation signal at the drain electrode:
• and
• C) an emitter for providing output electromagnetic radiation, said emitter including:
• 1) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another, said first non-insulating layer being configured to receive said modulation signal and to apply said modulation signal as a third bias voltage across the first and second non-insulating layers;
• and
• 2) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the third bias voltage, said arrangement being further configured to exhibit a given value of negative differential resistance when the third bias voltage is applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer configured such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling, and such that an oscillation in the transport of electrons results due to the negative differential resistance and causes an emission of said output electromagnetic radiation, wherein said output intensity of said output electromagnetic radiation is substantially larger than said input intensity of said input electromagnetic radiation.

An optoelectronic mixer element for simultaneously receiving at least two distinct frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and producing an output signal having a beat frequency, which beat frequency is a combination of said two distinct frequencies, said optoelectronic mixer element comprising:

• a voltage source for providing a bias voltage;
• first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that the bias voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, wherein the first non-insulating layer is formed of a metal, and wherein said first and second non-insulating layers are configured to form an antenna structure for receiving electromagnetic radiation of said two distinct frequencies and directing said electromagnetic radiation to a specific location within the optoelectronic mixer element;
• and
• an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers at said specific location and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the two distinct frequencies of electromagnetic radiation being received at the antenna structure, said arrangement including at least a first amorphous insulating layer and a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of resonant tunneling, and such that at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the antenna structure is converted to the output signal having said beat frequency.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, the first non-insulating layer being formed of a semiconductor material and the second non-insulating layer being formed of a metal;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer would result in a given degree of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that said nonlinearity in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given degree of nonlinearity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, the first non-insulating layer being formed of a semiconductor material and second non-insulating layer being formed of a metal;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer would result in a given degree of asymmetry in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that said asymmetry in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given degree of asymmetry by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, the first non-insulating layer being formed of a semiconductor material and the second non-insulating layer being formed of a metal;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer would result in a given value of differential resistance in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that said differential resistance in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, is decreased below said given value of differential resistance by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, the first non-insulating layer being formed of a semi-metal and the second non-insulating layer being formed of a metal;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only first amorphous insulating layer would result in a given degree of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that said nonlinearity in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given degree of nonlinearity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, the first non-insulating layer being formed of a superconductor and the second non-insulating layer being formed of a metal;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer would result in a given degree of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that said nonlinearity in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given degree of nonlinearity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers, the first non-insulating layer forming a quantum well and the second non-insulating layer being formed of a metal;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer would result in a given degree of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that said nonlinearity in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given degree of nonlinearity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers;
• and
• b) an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer would result in a given degree of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage,
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling, and such that said nonlinearity in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given degree of nonlinearity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers, and
• iii) a third layer of material configured to further increase said nonlinearity in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, over and above said given degree of nonlinearity.

An electron tunneling device comprising:

• a) a first arrangement including first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart from one another such that a given voltage can be applied across the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to form an antenna;
• and
• b) a second arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between and to said first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement including
• i) a first amorphous insulating layer such that using only said first amorphous insulating layer would result in a given degree of nonlinearity in said transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, and
• ii) a different, second insulating layer disposed directly adjacent to and configured to cooperate with said first amorphous insulating layer such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of hot electron tunneling, and such that said nonlinearity in the transport of electrons, with respect to said given voltage, is increased over and above said given degree of nonlinearity by the inclusion of said second insulating layer without the necessity for any additional layers.