Optical devices based on resonant configurational effects

Claim 2

An optical device, comprising: a first part with a dimension less than one wavelength of an input optical signal; and a second part spaced from said first part by less than one wavelength of said input optical signal, wherein at least one of said first and said second parts is formed of a material responsive to said input optical signal to produce an optical resonance at or near said wavelength of said input optical signal, and wherein said first and said second parts are arranged to be movable relative to each other and are operable to interact with each other to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering said input optical signal as a relative geometric configuration between said first and said second parts changes.

Claim 3

The device as in claim 1 , wherein said first part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in.response to said input optical signal.

Claim 4

The device as in claim 2 , wherein said'second part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in response to said input optical signal.

Claim 5

The device as in claim 2 , wherein said second part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said input optical signal.

Claim 6

The device as in claim 4 , wherein said second part includes a quantum dot.

Claim 7

The device as in claim 1 , said-first part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said input optical signal.

Claim 8

The device as in claim 1 , wherein said first and said second parts are movable relative to each other in a harmonic motion.

Claim 9

The device as in claim 1 , wherein said property includes a signal amplitude.

Claim 10

The device as in claim 1 , wherein said property includes a signal polarization.

Claim 11

The device as in claim 1 , wherein said property includes a signal frequency.

Claim 12

The device as in claim 1 , wherein said property includes a signal direction.

Claim 13

An optical device, comprising: an optical switching element having at least a first part and a second part whose dimensions are less than one wavelength of an input optical signal, at least said first part formed of a nanoscale material to exhibit a resonance in response to said input optical signal, wherein said first and said second parts spaced by less than one wavelength of said input optical signal and arranged to be movable relative to each other to change a direction of an output optical signal produced from scattering said input optical signal as a relative geometric configuration between said first and said second parts changes; and a switch transducer placed adjacent to said optical switching element and operable to cause a change in said relative geometric configuration in response to a control signal.

Claim 14

An optical device, comprising: an optical switching element having at least a first part and a second part whose dimensions are less than one wavelength of an input optical signal, at least said first part formed of a nanoscale material to exhibit a resonance in response to said input optical signal, wherein said first and said second parts spaced by less than one wavelength of said input optical signal and arranged to be movable relative to each other to change a direction of an output optical signal produced from scattering said input optical signal as a relative geometric configuration between said first and said second parts changes; and a switch transducer placed adjacent to said optical switching element and operable to cause a change in said relative geometric configuration in response to a control signal.

Claim 15

The device as in claim 12 , wherein said switch transducer is operable to cause said change by a mechanical force.

Claim 16

The device as in claim 12 , wherein said switch transducer is operable to cause said change by an electrical force.

Claim 17

The device as in claim 12 , wherein said switch transducer is operable to cause said change by an optical interaction.

Claim 18

The device as in claim 12 , wherein said switch transducer is operable to cause said change by a thermal expansion.

Claim 19

An optical device, comprising: a probe tip having at least a first part and a second part, at least one of which has a dimension less than one wavelength of an input optical signal, and at least said first part formed of a material to exhibit an optical resonance in response to said input optical signal, wherein said first and said second parts are spaced by less than one wavelength of said input optical signal and are arrranged to be movable relative to each other to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering said input optical signal as a relative geometric configuration between said first and said second parts changes; a sample platform configured to hold a sample with a sample surface to be measured; a probe holder engaged to said probe tip and configured to hold said probe tip over said sample surface; a light source operable to produce said input optical beam; and an optical detector positioned relative to said probe tip to receive said output optical signal produced by said probe tip and operable to produce a detector output that indicates a property of said sample surface.

Claim 20

An optical device, comprising: a probe tip having at least a first part and a second part, at least one of which has a dimension less than one wavelength of an input optical signal, and at least said first part formed of a material to exhibit an optical resonance in response to said input optical signal, wherein said first and said second parts are spaced by less than one wavelength of said input optical signal and are arrranged to be movable relative to each other to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering said input optical signal as a relative geometric configuration between said first and said second parts changes; a sample platform configured to hold a sample with a sample surface to be measured; a probe holder engaged to said probe tip and configured to hold said probe tip over said sample surface; a light source operable to produce said input optical beam; and an optical detector positioned relative to said probe tip to receive said output optical signal produced by said probe tip and operable to produce a detector output that indicates a property of said sample surface.

Claim 21

The device as in claim 17 , further comprising a scanning mechanism to scan said probe tip relative to said sample surface.

Claim 22

The device as in claim 17 , wherein said first part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in response to said input optical signal.

Claim 23

The device as in claim 17 , wherein said first part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said input optical signal.

Claim 24

An optical device, comprising: a radiation source to produce at least a probe excitation wave at a probe frequency; a probe responsive to a probe excitation wave to produce a probe polarization; a mechanical oscillator coupled to said probe to oscillate in response to an energy applied to said probe; a nano-structure part with a dimension less than one wavelength of said probe excitation wave and arranged to be movable relative to said probe, wherein said nano-structure part is responsive to said probe excitations wave and is operable to interact with said probe to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering received optical energy as a relative geometric configuration between said nano-structure part and said probe changes; a sample holder to hold a sample with a sample polarization in a proximity of said probe to expose the sample to a field produced by at least said probe polarization so as to cause a motion of said mechanical oscillator; a detector module to measure movements of said mechanical oscillators; and an optical detector to collect and measure said output optical signal.

Claim 25

An optical device, comprising: a radiation source to produce at least a probe excitation wave at a probe frequency; a probe responsive to a probe excitation wave to produce a probe polarization; a mechanical oscillator coupled to said probe to oscillate in response to an energy applied to said probe; a nano-structure part with a dimension less than one wavelength of said probe excitation wave and arranged to be movable relative to said probe, wherein said nano-structure part is responsive to said probe excitations wave and is operable to interact with said probe to change a property of an output optical signal produced from scattering received optical energy as a relative geometric configuration between said nano-structure part and said probe changes; a sample holder to hold a sample with a sample polarization in a proximity of said probe to expose the sample to a field produced by at least said probe polarization so as to cause a motion of said mechanical oscillator; a detector module to measure movements of said mechanical oscillators; and an optical detector to collect and measure said output optical signal.

Claim 26

The device as in claim 21 , further comprising a vacuum chamber enclosing said mechanical oscillator.

Claim 27

The device as in claim 21 , wherein said nano-structure part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in response to said probe excitation.

Claim 28

The device as in claim 21 , wherein said nano-structure part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said probe excitation.

Claim 31

The device as in claim 25 , further comprising a vacuum chamber enclosing said mechanical oscillator.

Claim 32

The device as in claim 25 , wherein said nano-structure part exhibits an electric conductivity and produces a plasmon resonance in response to said probe beam.

Claim 33

The device as in claim 25 , wherein said nano-structure part is designed to produce a quantum-confined optical resonance in response to said probe beam.