Anisotropic conducting films for electromagnetic radiation applications

摘要

Electronic devices for the generation of electromagnetic radiation are provided. Also provided are methods for using the devices to generate electromagnetic radiation. The radiation sources include an anisotropic electrically conducting thin film that is characterized by a periodically varying charge carrier mobility in the plane of the film. The periodic variation in carrier mobility gives rise to a spatially varying electric field, which produces electromagnetic radiation as charged particles pass through the film.

主权项

1. An electromagnetic radiation source comprising:
a substrate having a surface, the surface comprising a plurality of surface segments of a first material and a plurality of surface segments of a second material, wherein the surface segments of the first and second materials are arranged in a periodic pattern; an electrically conducting film comprising an electrically conducting material disposed over the surface of the substrate; first and second electrical contacts in electrical communication with the electrically conducting film; and a voltage source configured to apply a voltage across the electrically conducting film, wherein the voltage source and the first and second electrical contacts are configured to induce charge carriers to pass through the plane of the electrically conducting film parallel to the surface of the substrate; wherein the mobility of charge carriers in regions of the electrically conducting film that are disposed on surface segments of the first material differs from the mobility of the charge carriers in regions of the electrically conducting film that are disposed on surface segments of the second material, such that the charge carriers have a periodically varying mobility within the plane of the electrically conducting film; and further wherein the electrically conducting film is characterized in that the periodically varying mobility of the charge carriers in the electrically conducting film results in the emission of electromagnetic radiation from the electrically conducting film when the charge carriers pass through the electrically conducting film.