California Institute of Technology

Jennifer A Dionne

Harry A Atwater

Kenneth A Diest

Henri Lezec

Luke Sweatlock

A slot waveguide utilized as a color-selecting element. The slot waveguide includes a first layer of plasmon supporting material, the first layer being optically opaque and having an input slit extending through the first layer; a second layer of plasmon supporting material facing the first layer and separated from the first layer by a first distance in a first direction, the second layer being optically opaque and having an output slit extending through the second layer and separated from the input slit by a second distance extending along a second direction differing from first direction; a dielectric layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer, the dielectric layer having a real or complex refractive index; and a power source electrically coupled to the first layer and the second layer to apply an electrical signal for modulation of the real or complex refractive index of the dielectric layer.

Slot waveguide for color display

The invention is a system and method for performing all-optical modulation. A semiconductor layer having a defined thickness has an insulator adjacent one surface of the semiconductor. Conductive layers are provided adjacent the semiconductor layer and the insulator. A photodetector is provided to generate an electric field across the conductive layers in response to an input optical gate signal. An input optical signal is modulated by interaction with a plasmon wave generated at the semiconductor/conductive layer interface. By defining the thickness of the semiconductor layer, a desired wavelength of light supports the plasmon waves. Operation of the all-optical modulator requires the provision of an input optical signal of a desired wavelength and the provision of a gate optical signal. An output optical signal is recovered and can be used to store, display or transmit information, for example over a fiber optic communication system, such as a telecommunication system.

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Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Jennifer A Dionne