Detection of electromagnetic radiation using nonlinear materials

An image sensor comprising a plurality of apparatus for detecting target electromagnetic radiation within a target frequency range, each apparatus of the plurality of apparatus comprising:

• a substrate comprising a dielectric material or a semiconductor material;
• and
• one or more resonator structures disposed on the substrate, each of the resonator structures comprising at least two conductive structures separated by a spacing;
• wherein each apparatus is configured such that charge carriers are generated in a region of the substrate near the spacing based on an enhanced electric field induced in the spacing by a resonant response of one or more of the resonator structures to a presence of the target electromagnetic radiation;
• wherein each apparatus is configured to measure a conductivity based on the generated charge carriers;
• wherein the measure of the conductivity provides an indication of the presence of the target electromagnetic radiation;
• wherein the conductive structures are disposed on a first surface of the substrate;
• wherein the substrate comprises a charge separation region;
• wherein each apparatus is illuminated by the target electromagnetic radiation at a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface;
• wherein the charge carriers generated are electron-hole pairs;
• and
• wherein a thickness of the substrate is configured such that the electron-hole pairs formed in the charge separation region when the image sensor is illuminated by the target electromagnetic radiation are measured to provide the indication of the presence of the target electromagnetic radiation.

An array comprising a plurality of sensor elements for detecting target electromagnetic radiation within a target frequency range, each sensor element comprising:

• a substrate comprising a dielectric material or a semiconductor material;
• and
• one or more resonator structures disposed on the substrate, each of the resonator structures comprising at least two conductive structures separated by a spacing;
• wherein the refractive index of the substrate of at least one of the sensor elements of the array differs from the refractive index of the substrate of other sensor elements of the array;
• wherein the apparatus is configured such that charge carriers are generated in a region of the substrate near the spacing based on an enhanced electric field induced in the spacing by a resonant response of one or more of the resonator structures to a presence of the target electromagnetic radiation;
• wherein the apparatus is configured to measure a conductivity based on the generated charge carriers;
• and
• wherein the measure of the conductivity provides an indication of the presence of the target electromagnetic radiation.

An array comprising a plurality of sensor elements for detecting target electromagnetic radiation within a target frequency range, each sensor element comprising:

• a substrate comprising a dielectric material or a semiconductor material;
• and
• one or more resonator structures disposed on the substrate, each of the resonator structures comprising at least two conductive structures separated by a spacing;
• wherein dimensions of the one or more resonator structures of at least one of the sensor elements of the array differs from the dimensions of the one or more resonator structures of other sensor elements of the array;
• wherein the apparatus is configured such that charge carriers are generated in a region of the substrate near the spacing based on an enhanced electric field induced in the spacing by a resonant response of one or more of the resonator structures to a presence of the target electromagnetic radiation;
• wherein the apparatus is configured to measure a conductivity based on the generated charge carriers;
• and
• wherein the measure of the conductivity provides an indication of the presence of the target electromagnetic radiation.