Nec Research Institute, Inc.

Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.

Thomas Wren Ebbesen

Tineke Thio

Peter A Wolff

Hadi F Ghaemi

Daniel E Grupp

Harold S Stone

Henri Joseph Lezec

Tae J Kim

Kristian Fossheim

A transmitter for transmitting data in the form of an optical signal. The transmitter having: a transmitter chip module having a material capable of radiating light of a first wavelength when both a zero voltage potential exists across the material and when illuminated by light of a second wavelength; a light source optically coupled to the transmitter chip module for illuminating the material with light of the second wavelength; and a voltage controller for controlling the voltage potential across the first material. Also provided is a receiver for receiving data in the form of an optical signal having a first wavelength. The receiver having: a receiver chip module having a material capable of producing a signal in the form of a produced voltage potential or produced current when illuminated by light of both the first wavelength and light of a second wavelength; a light source optically coupled to the receiver chip module for illuminating the material with light of the second wavelength; and a signal detector for detecting presence of the produced signal.

Apparatus and method for transmitting data between VLSI chips

An apparatus for enhanced light transmission is provided. The apparatus comprises a metal film having a first surface and a second surface, at least one aperture provided in the metal film and extending from the first surface to the second surface, and a periodic surface topography provided on at least one of the first and second surface of the metal film. Light incident on one of the surfaces of the metal film interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal film thereby enhancing transmission of light through the at least one aperture in the metal film. The apparatus may have a single aperture or a plurality of periodically arranged apertures. Wavelength-selective optical filters, spatial optical filters, light collectors, near-field scanning optical microscope probes and photolithographic masks are also provided.

Enhanced optical transmission apparatus utilizing metal films having apertures and periodic surface topography

A metallic film has apertures located therein in an array arranged in a pattern so that when light is incident on the apertures, surface plasmons on the metallic film are perturbed resulting in an enhanced transmission of the light emitted from individual apertures in the array. The aperture array is used: to filter light of predetermined wavelength traversing the apertures, to collect light over a distance after traversing the apertures, to improve operation of near-field scanning optical microscopes, and to enhance light transmission through masks useable in photolithography.

Near-field scanning optical microscope having a sub-wavelength aperture

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an optical transmission modulation apparatus is provided for modulating light transmitted through the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a metal film having a periodic array of subwavelength-diameter holes provided therein, and a supporting layer. At least a portion of the supporting layer has a selectively variable refractive index, the selectively variable refractive index portion being substantially adjacent to the metal film such that the metal film and the supporting layer form a perforated metal film unit. Selective variation of the refractive index of the selectively variable refractive index portion modulates the intensity of the light transmitted through the perforated metal film unit without substantially changing the direction of the light. Flat panel displays, spatial light modulators and tunable optical filters based on the optical transmission control apparatus are also provided.

Optical transmission control apparatus utilizing metal films perforated

Sub-wavelength aperture arrays with enhanced light transmission

Enhanced flux pinning in superconductors is achieved by embedding carbon nanotubes into a superconducting matrix. The carbon nanotubes simulate the structure, size and shape of heavy ion induced columnar defects in a superconductor such as Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.8+x. The nanotubes survive at treatment temperatures of up to approximately 800.degree. C. both in oxygen containing and in inert atmospheres. The superconducting matrix with nanotubes is heat treated at a lower temperature than the temperature used to treat the best case pure superconductor material.

Growing community of inventors

Plainsboro, NJ, United States of America

Thomas Wren Ebbesen