PHOTON MODULATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM

摘要

An optical communication device includes a first photon source(12), such as a laser, for emitting a first beam of photons (14a) that is modulated with information. The first beam of photons intersects a thin metal film (26) at a first angle of incidence (ss1) and engenders a first surface plasmon wave thereon. A first portion of the first beam is reflected from the metal film to form a reflected beam (14b) propagating at a second angle of incidence (ss1) which is equivalent to the first angle of incidence. A polarization rotating structure (19) rotates the polarization of the reflected beam by 45 degrees, and a reflecting structure (21) reflects the reflected beam to form a second beam (14c) propagating back toward the metal film. The second beam passes through the polarization rotating structure to rotate the polarization of the second beam by another 45 degrees. On the metal film, the second beam engenders a second surface plasmon wave. Interaction between the first and second surface plasmon waves sets up a surface plasmon standing wave. The device includes a second photon source (28) that provides a third beam of photons (30) which intersects the first and second beams at the metal film. Interaction between the third beam and the surface plasmon standing wave modulates the third beam with the information as the third beam passes through, the metal film.