Title: Mid-infrared tunable metamaterials

Abstract

A mid-infrared tunable metamaterial comprises an array of resonators on a semiconductor substrate having a large dependence of dielectric function on carrier concentration and a semiconductor plasma resonance that lies below the operating range, such as indium antimonide. Voltage biasing of the substrate generates a resonance shift in the metamaterial response that is tunable over a broad operating range. The mid-infrared tunable metamaterials have the potential to become the building blocks of chip based active optical devices in mid-infrared ranges, which can be used for many applications, such as thermal imaging, remote sensing, and environmental monitoring.

Inventors:

Brener, Igal; Miao, Xiaoyu; Shaner, Eric A.; Passmore, Brandon Scott

Issue Date:

Tue Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1369050

Patent Number(s):

9705311

Application Number:

12/965,659

Assignee:

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

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G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS

G02B1/002 - {made of materials engineered to provide properties not available in nature, e.g. metamaterials}
G02B5/208 - {for use with infra-red or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infra-red and/or ultraviolet radiation}

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L31/02 - Details
H01L31/0264 - Inorganic materials
H01L31/0304 - including, apart from doping materials or other impurities, only AIIIBV compounds
H01L31/08 - in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01Q - ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS

H01Q15/0066 - {said selective devices being reconfigurable, tunable or controllable, e.g. using switches}
H01Q15/0086 - {said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials}

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02H - EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS

H02H7/262 - {involving transmissions of switching or blocking orders}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02B - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

Y02B10/10 - Photovoltaic [PV]

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/544 - Solar cells from Group III-V materials

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2010 Dec 10

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE