Solid-state surface plasmon light valve and tunable filter
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsStephen D. Russell, Randy L. Shimabukuro
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Abstract
An all solid-state light valve and tunable filter that uses color-selective absorption at a metal-dielectric interface by surface plasmons. The solid-state surface plasmon light valve and tunable filter comprises a substrate, a bottom electrode, a solid-state electro-optic material, and a top electrode through which electromagnetic radiation may pass through and whose optical properties may be modified by suitable modulation of an electrical bias, i.e., an applied voltage between the top and bottom electrodes. The bottom electrode must be specifically fabricated using a refractory metal to allow the formation of the solid-state electro-optic material.
Claims6
A light valve comprising:
- a layer of solid-state electro-optic material interposed between
- top and bottom bias electrodes, wherein:
- said bottom electrode comprises a refractory metal;
- said top electrode is at least partly optically transparent;
- said top electrode and said solid-state electro-optic material form an interface which sustains a surface plasmon resonance;
- and
- applying a voltage to said top and bottom bias electrodes changes said surface plasmon resonance and optical properties of light reflected from said interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.