Photon modulation, distribution, and amplification system

An optical communication device comprising:

• a first photon source for providing a first beam of photons modulated with information;
• an intersection plane for intersecting the first beam of photons at a first angle of incidence and for reflecting a first portion of the first beam of photons to form a reflected beam of photons propagating at a second angle of incidence, the reflected beam of photons having a polarization;
• polarization rotating means for rotating the polarization of the reflected beam of photons;
• reflecting means for reflecting the reflected beam of photons to form a second beam of photons;
• the polarization rotating means further for rotating the polarization of the second beam of photons;
• the intersection plane further for receiving the second beam of photons at the second incidence angle, and for intersecting the second beam of photons with the first beam of photons;
• a second photon source for providing a third beam of photons intersecting the first and second beams of photons at the intersection plane;
• and
• layer disposed at the intersection plane which is transmissive to the third beam of photons, where interaction between the first, second, and third beams of photons on the layer operates to modulate the third beam of photons with the information as the third beam of photons passes through the layer.

An optical communication device comprising:

• a first photon source for providing a first beam of photons modulated with information;
• a beam splitter for receiving the first beam of photons and dividing the first beam of photons into second and third beams of photons;
• beam directing means for directing the second beam of photons in a second direction, and for directing the third beam of photons in a third direction which is different from the second direction, such that the second and third beams of photons intersect at an intersection plane, there being a second incidence angle between the second beam of photons and the intersection plane, and a third incidence angle between the third beam of photons and the intersection plane;
• a second photon source for providing a fourth beam of photons in a fourth direction, the fourth beam of photons intersecting the second and third beams of photons at the intersection plane;
• and
• a layer disposed at the intersection plane which is transmissive to the fourth beam of photons, where interaction between the second, third, and fourth beams of photons on the layer operates to modulate the fourth beam of photons with the information as the fourth beam of photons passes through the layer.

An optical communication device comprising:

• a first photon source for providing a first beam of photons modulated with information;
• an intersection plane for intersecting the first beam of photons at a first angle of incidence and for reflecting a first portion of the first beam of photons to form a reflected beam of photons propagating at a second angle of incidence which is substantially equivalent to the first angle of incidence, the reflected beam of photons having a polarization;
• polarization rotating means for rotating the polarization of the reflected beam of photons;
• reflecting means for reflecting the reflected beam of photons to form a second beam of photons;
• the polarization rotating means further for rotating the polarization of the second beam of photons;
• a plano-convex cylindrical lens having a convex surface for receiving the first and second beams of photons, and having a planar surface substantially coplanar with the intersection plane;
• a second photon source for providing a third beam of photons intersecting the first and second beams of photons at the intersection plane;
• a metal film disposed on the planar surface of the plano-convex lens, the metal film transmissive to the third beam of photons, the film operable to support a first surface plasmon wave formed by the first beam of photons and a second surface plasmon wave formed by the second beam of photons, where interaction between the first and second surface plasmon waves forms a surface plasmon standing wave on the film which modulates the third beam of photons with the information, the film further operable to scatter the third beam of photons in a diffraction pattern having a central peak portion and side peak portions spatially disposed on either side of the central peak portion;
• a first photon collection device operable to receive the first peak portion;
• and
• at least one second photon collection device operable to receive at least one of the side peak portions.

An optical communication device comprising:

• a first photon source for providing a first beam of photons modulated with information;
• a beam splitter for receiving the first beam of photons and dividing the first beam of photons into second and third beams of photons;
• a first mirror for receiving the second beam of photons from the beam splitter and directing the second beam of photons in a second direction;
• a second mirror for receiving the third beam of photons from the beam splitter and directing the third beam of photons in a third direction which is different from the second direction, such that the second and third beams of photons intersect at an intersection plane, there being a second incidence angle between the second beam of photons and the intersection plane, and a third incidence angle between the third beam of photons and the intersection plane, where the second and third incidence angles are substantially equivalent;
• a plano-convex cylindrical lens having a convex surface for receiving the second beam of photons from the first mirror and the third beam of photons from the second mirror, and having a planar surface substantially coplanar with the intersection plane;
• a second photon source for providing a fourth beam of photons that intersects the second and third beams of photons at the intersection plane;
• and
• a metal film disposed on the planar surface of the plano-convex cylindrical lens, the metal film transmissive to the fourth beam of photons and operable to support a first surface plasmon wave formed by the second beam of photons and a second surface plasmon wave formed by the third beam of photons, where interaction between the first and second surface plasmon waves forms a surface plasmon standing wave on the metal film which modulates the fourth beam of photons with the information as the fourth beam of photons passes through the metal film, the metal film operable to scatter the fourth beam of photons in a diffraction pattern having a central peak portion and side peak portions spatially disposed on either side of the central peak portion;
• a first photon collection device operable to receive the first peak portion;
• and
• at least one second photon collection device operable to receive at least one of the side peak portions.

An optical communication method, comprising:

• modulating at least one of first and second beams of light with information;
• intersecting the first and second beams of light at an intersection plane at first and second angles of incidence, respectively, relative to a normal of the intersection plane;
• producing a standing wave at the intersection plane based on interaction between the first and second beams of light;
• intersecting a third beam of light with the standing wave at the intersection plane;
• modulating the third beam of light with the information based upon interaction with the standing wave;
• and
• substantially transmitting the third beam of light through the intersection plane.

A method for modulating a carrier beam of photons with information carried by a first beam of photons, comprising:

• (a) propagating a first beam of photons in a first direction;
• (b) reflecting a portion of the first beam to form a reflected beam of photons propagating in a second direction;
• (c) reflecting the reflected beam to form a second beam of photons which is substantially collinear with the reflected beam and which propagates in a third direction opposite the second direction, the second beam having a polarization;
• (d) rotating the polarization of the second beam;
• (e) intersecting the first and second beams of photons at an intersection plane, there being a first incidence angle between the first beam of photons and the intersection plane, and a second incidence angle between the second beam of photons and the intersection plane, where the first incidence angle is substantially equivalent to the second incidence angle;
• (f) propagating a carrier beam of photons toward the intersection plane;
• (g) intersecting the carrier beam of photons with the first and second beams of photons at the intersection plane;
• and
• (h) modulating the carrier beam of photons with the information as the carrier beam of photons passes through the intersection plane, the modulating based on interaction between the first, second, and carrier beams at the intersection plane.

A method for modulating a carrier beam of photons with information carried by a first beam of photons, comprising:

• (a) propagating a first beam of photons in a first direction;
• (b) dividing the first beam of photons into second and third beams of photons;
• (c) directing the second beam of photons in a second direction;
• (d) directing the third beam of photons in a third direction which is different from the second direction;
• (e) intersecting the second and third beams of photons at an intersection plane, there being a second incidence angle between the second beam of photons and the intersection plane, and a third incidence angle between the third beam of photons and the intersection plane, where the second incidence angle is substantially equivalent to the third incidence angle;
• (f) propagating a carrier beam of photons toward the intersection plane;
• (g) intersecting the carrier beam of photons with the second and third beams of photons at the intersection plane;
• and
• (h) modulating the carrier beam of photons with the information as the carrier beam of photons passes through the intersection plane, the modulating based on interaction between the second, third, and carrier beams at the intersection plane.