University of Colorado

Other

Garrett Moddel

Mark A Handschy

Michael John Estes

Blake J Eliasson

A device including an input port configured to receive an input signal is described. The device also includes an output port and a structure, which structure includes a tunneling junction connected with the input port and the output port. The tunneling junction is configured in a way (i) which provides electrons in a particular energy state within the structure, (ii) which produces surface plasmons in response to the input signal, (iii) which causes the structure to act as a waveguide for directing at least a portion of the surface plasmons along a predetermined path toward the output port such that the surface plasmons so directed interact with the electrons in a particular way, and (iv) which produces at the output port an output signal resulting from the particular interaction between the electrons and the surface plasmons.

Surface plasmon devices

A detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation incident thereon over a desired range of frequencies exhibits a given responsivity and includes an output and first and second non-insulating layers, which layers are spaced apart such that a given voltage can be applied thereacross. The first non-insulating layer is formed of a metal, and the first and second non-insulating layers are configured to form an antenna structure for receiving electromagnetic radiation over the desired range of frequencies. The detector further includes an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between the first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the electromagnetic radiation being received at the antenna structure. The arrangement includes at least a first layer of an amorphous material 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 is converted at the output to an electrical signal having an intensity which depends on the given responsivity.

High speed electron tunneling device and applications

The present invention relates to an optically addressed spatial light modulator with high spatial resolution and a fast response. The spatial light modulator includes photoresponsive layers of amorphous silicon and light modulating layers of ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs). The present invention is particularly charactierized in that the problems due to large capacitances of thin layers of the amorphous silicon and FLC are overcome by preventing excessive spurious signals from being applied to the light modulating layer. This is accomplished by combining thin light modulating with thick photoresponsive layers, using asymmetric driving waveforms, using slow driving waveforms combined with conductive light modulators, and by using suitable materials constants such as high polarization or high dielectric constant FLCs. According to such arrangements, the characteristic response time of the light modulator for a reversal of an applied electric field polarity is substantially shorter than its characteristic response time caused by the removal of an applied electric field. Also, the present invention has the benefit that when the state of the electrical driver is changed from a first state to a second state so as to switch the light modulator from a first optical state to a second optical state, charges are prevented from accumulating on the light modulator so as to prevent spurious signals.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Garrett Moddel