Surface plasmon devices

A detector for detecting input electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, said detector comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive said input electromagnetic radiation;
• b) an output port;
• and
• c) a structure including first and second tunneling junctions connected with each other and with said input port and said output port, said first and second tunneling junctions being configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electromagnetic radiation, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces an output electrical signal at said output port, wherein said output electrical signal results from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons such that said output electrical signal is a function of said input electromagnetic radiation.

An amplifier for amplifying input electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, said amplifier comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive said input electromagnetic radiation;
• b) an output port;
• and
• c) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port and said output port, said tunneling junction being configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electromagnetic radiation, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the surface plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces an output electromagnetic radiation with a given gain at said output port, wherein said output electromagnetic radiation results from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons.

An emitter comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive an input electrical current;
• b) an output port;
• and
• c) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port and said output port, said tunneling junction including first and second non-insulating layers and an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers, said arrangement being configured to serve as a transport of electrons between said first and second non-insulating layers and including at least two insulating layers, said tunneling junction being configured in a way (i) which causes said electrons to be in a particular energy state within said structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electrical current, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port, and (iv) which produces at said output port an output electromagnetic radiation resulting from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons.

A laser comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive an input electrical current;
• b) an output port;
• c) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port and said output port, said tunneling junction being configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure and (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electrical current;
• and
• d) a reflective assembly configured to form a resonant cavity surrounding said structure, wherein said reflective assembly is configured for selectively confining at least a portion of said surface plasmons within said resonant cavity while selectively directing another portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the surface plasmons so confined interact with said electrons in a particular way so as to produce an output electromagnetic radiation, wherein said output electromagnetic radiation results from said particular interaction between said electrons and said portion of surface plasmons confined within said resonant cavity.

A filter comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive an input electromagnetic radiation over a range of frequencies;
• b) an output port;
• c) a structure including an insulating layer and a non-insulating layer disposed adjacent to said insulating layer such that an interface is defined between said insulating and non-insulating layers, said insulating and non-insulating layers being connected with said input port and said output port, said insulating and non-insulating layers being configured in a way which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electromagnetic radiation at said interface between said insulating and said non-insulating layers;
• and
• d) a reflective assembly configured to form a resonant cavity surrounding said structure, wherein said reflective assembly is configured for selectively confining at least a portion of said surface plasmons within said resonant cavity while selectively directing another portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port so as to produce an output electromagnetic radiation having predetermined frequencies selected from within said range of frequencies.

A beamsplitter comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive an input electromagnetic radiation, wherein a first portion of said input electromagnetic radiation is in a first polarization eigenstate, and wherein a second portion of said input electromagnetic radiation is in a second polarization eigenstate;
• b) first and second output ports;
• and
• c) a main body connected with said input port and said first and second output ports, said main body including a waveguide structure having a first path connected with said first output port and a second path connected with said second output port, said main body further including a conductive strip at least partially connecting said first and second paths, said main body being configured for separating said first portion of said input electromagnetic radiation from said second portion of said input electromagnetic radiation such that said first portion of said input electromagnetic radiation is directed along said first path toward said first output port as a first output electromagnetic radiation while said second portion of said input electromagnetic radiation is directed in a form of surface plasmons through said conductive strip and along said second path toward said second output port as a second output electromagnetic radiation.

A device comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive an input signal in a form of slow mode surface plasmons;
• b) an output port;
• and
• c) a converter structure connected with said input port and said output port, said converter structure including first and second non-insulating layers, which are spaced apart from one another, and an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers, said first non-insulating layer and said arrangement defining a first interface therebetween, said second non-insulating layer and said arrangement defining a second interface therebetween, said converter structure being configured in a way (i) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input signal, wherein a first portion of said slow mode surface plasmons travels along said first interface and a second portion of said slow mode surface plasmons travels along said second interface, (ii) which causes said converter structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least some of said first and second portions of said slow mode surface plasmons toward said output port, (iii) which introduces a 180° delay in phase between said first portion of said slow mode surface plasmons and said second portion of surface plasmons, and (iv) which combines said first and second portions of said slow mode surface plasmons, including said 180° delay in phase therebetween, so as to produce at said output port an output signal in a form of fast mode surface plasmons.

A method comprising:

• a) providing an input port configured to receive an input signal;
• b) providing an output port;
• and
• c) providing a structure including a tunneling junction and connecting said tunneling junction with said input port and said output port, said tunneling junction
• i) providing electrons in a particular state within said structure,
• ii) causing said structure to produce surface plasmons in response to said input signal,
• iii) causing said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of the surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the surface plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and
• iv) producing at said output port an output signal resulting from and in response to said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons,
• wherein said providing a structure including a tunneling junction includes forming said structure by atomic layer deposition.

A modulator comprising:

• a) an input port configured to receive an input electromagnetic radiation;
• b) an output port;
• c) a signal source for providing a modulation signal;
• and
• d) a structure including a tunneling junction connected with said input port and said output port, said tunneling junction being configured for receiving said modulation signal from said signal source, said tunneling junction being further configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within said structure responsive to and as a function of said modulation signal, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to said input electromagnetic radiation, (iii) which causes said structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of said surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward said output port such that the surface plasmons so directed interact with said electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces at said output port an output electromagnetic radiation resulting from said particular interaction between said electrons and said surface plasmons such that said output electromagnetic radiation displays at least one characteristic that is a function of said modulation signal,
• wherein said tunneling junction is at least partially formed by atomic layer deposition.