- Nano-Rectennas
A
rectenna (rectifying antenna) is a device used to convert electromagnetic
energy into DC electrical power. A simple rectenna can be constructed by
connecting a high-frequency diode to a dipole antenna. The diode rectifies
the current induced in the antenna by the incident electromagnetic wave and
generate electrical power. In RF, rectennas have demonstrated EM to DC
conversion efficiency levels of up to 85%.
It has been theoretically shown that similar devices, scaled down to the
proportions used in nanotechnology, could be used to convert light into
electricity at much greater efficiencies, larger bandwidth and lower cost
than currently possible with solar cells.
- Secure Key Distribution
Very long lasers made of optical fibers offer a promising route to highly secure communications. Although not as secure as quantum key distribution, this new method, which relies on classical rather than quantum physics, provides faster communication over long distances. It would also be feasible with existing hardware, in contrast to quantum communication that will require development of new, and probably expensive, components. (more)
- Circular Bragg and photonic crystal Resonators.
Circular resonators
which are based on Bragg reflection exhibit several
advantage over conventional, total internal reflection based, resonators.
The Bragg reflection mechanism enables the realization of nano-cavities
with ultra-small modal volume, large Free Spectral Range (FSR) while
retaining low bending losses or high Quality factor. (more)
- Slow Light propagation in photonic structures
Although the tremendously high speed
of light is often considered
advantageous, there has been a constantly growing interest in slow light
propagation for applications such as nonlinear optics at low powers,
optical
delay-lines and memories, high-power amplifiers and low-threshold lasers.
A promising method to slow light is to employ a highly depressive photonic
structure such as CROW - a new and special type of
waveguide consisting of a
periodic array of isolated resonators, weakly
coupled to one another. Light
propagate in this structure by slowly coupling
from resonator to resonator. (more)
- Polymer Optics.
Polymeric materials have interesting
optical and mechanical properties, making
them an attractive choice for future photonic systems. In addition to low
optical
losses and material dispersion, polymer are simple to manipulate and to
cast
using a wide variety of fabrication methods including soft-lithography
techniques.
The ability to dope polymeric materials with molecules that exhibit a large
electro
-optic coefficient, nonlinear response or optical gain, paves the way to
all-polymer
integrated optical circuits that include on-chip sources, processors and
detectors. (more)
