Abstract: An apparatus has multiple sets of independently addressable interdigitated nanowires. Nanowires of a set are in electrical communication with other nanowires of the same set and are electrically isolated from nanowires of other sets.

Abstract: An apparatus and related methods for facilitating surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is described. The apparatus comprises a SERS-active structure near which a plurality of analyte molecules are disposed and an actuation device in actuable communication with the SERS-active structure to deform the SERS-active structure while the analyte molecules are disposed therenear. The deformation of the SERS-active structure varies an intensity of radiation Raman-scattered from the analyte molecules.

Abstract: A nano-enhanced Raman scattering (NERS)-active structure includes a substrate, a monolayer of nanoparticles disposed on a surface of the substrate, and a spacer material surrounding each nanoparticle in the monolayer of nanoparticles. The monolayer of nanoparticles includes a first plurality of nanoparticles and a second plurality of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles of the second plurality are interspersed among the first plurality and exhibit a plasmon frequency that differs from any plasmon frequency exhibited by the first plurality. Also described are a method for forming such a NERS-active structure and a NERS system that includes a NERS-active structure, an excitation radiation source, and a detector for detecting Raman scattered radiation.

Abstract: Techniques for rich color image processing are disclosed. The techniques include using an array of tunable optical filter elements to define pixels of an image. The tunable optical filter elements are tuned over a range of optical frequencies to control the color filtering of the individual pixels. Exemplary embodiments for image capture and projection are illustrated.

Abstract: A metamaterial includes a non-linear organic material and a plurality of metallic resonators embedded substantially within the non-linear organic material.

Abstract: A NERS-active structure is disclosed that includes at least one heterostructure nanowire. The at least one heterostructure nanowire may include alternating segments of an NERS-inactive material and a NERS-active material in an axial direction. Alternatively, the alternating segments may be of an NERS-inactive material and a material capable of attracting nanoparticles of a NERS-active material. In yet another alternative, the heterostructure nanowire may include a core with alternating coatings of an NERS-inactive material and a NERS-active material in a radial direction. A NERS system is also disclosed that includes a NERS-active structure. Also disclosed are methods for forming a NERS-active structure and methods for performing NERS with NERS-active structures.

Abstract: A SERS-active structure is disclosed that includes a substrate and at least two nanowires disposed on the substrate. Each of the at least two nanowires has a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the substrate and the second end having a SERS-active tip. A SERS system is also disclosed that includes a SERS-active structure. Also disclosed are methods for forming a SERS-active structure and methods for performing SERS with SERS-active structures.

Abstract: A composite material with at least one of a negative effective permittivity and a negative effective permeability for incident radiation of at least one wavelength is described. The composite material comprises conductive structures that are substantially random with respect to at least one of size, shape, orientation, and location.

Abstract: An electromagnetic resonance device includes an input reflector, an output reflector, and a negative index material (NIM) disposed between the input reflector and the output reflector. The input reflector and output reflector are configured to be reflective to radiation having a wavelength of interest. The NIM is configured to have a negative refraction at the wavelength of interest. A first radiation is reflected by the input reflector toward the first surface of the NIM, passes through the NIM, and is focused on the output reflector as a second radiation. The second radiation is reflected by the output reflector toward the second surface of the NIM, passes through the NIM, and is focused on the input reflector as the first radiation. A gain medium may be included to amplify the first radiation and the second radiation to generate a laser radiation.

Abstract: Devices such as transistors, amplifiers, frequency multipliers, and square-law detectors use injection of spin-polarized electrons from one magnetic region, into another through a control region and spin precession of injected electrons in a magnetic field induced by current in a nanowire. In one configuration, the nanowire is also one of the magnetic regions and the control region is a semiconductor region between the magnetic nanowire and the other magnetic region. Alternatively, the nanowire is insulated from the control region and the two separate magnetic regions. The relative magnetizations of the magnetic regions can be selected to achieve desired device properties. A first voltage applied between one magnetic region and the other magnetic nanowire or region causes injection of spin-polarized electrons through the control region, and a second voltage applied between the ends of the nanowire causes a current and a magnetic field that rotates electron spins to control device conductivity.

Abstract: A composite material and related methods are described, the composite material configured to exhibit at least one of a negative effective permittivity and a negative effective permeability for incident radiation of at least one wavelength. The composite material comprises an arrangement of electromagnetically reactive cells of small dimension relative to the wavelength, each cell having a plurality of quantum dots associated therewith for enhancing a resonant response thereof to the incident radiation at the wavelength.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to global interconnects that employ metamaterial-based waveguides to distribute clock signals to IC internal components. In one embodiment of the present invention, a global interconnect includes an electromagnetic radiation source that radiates electromagnetic waves. The global interconnect also includes a metamaterial-based waveguide that directs a transverse magnetic field mode of the electromagnetic wave to antennae of the internal components in order to induce an oscillating current within the internal components that serves as the clock signal.

Abstract: A multi-tiered network for gathering detected condition information includes a first tier having first tier nodes and a second tier having a second tier node. The second tier node is operable to receive detected condition information from at least one of the first tier nodes in a substantially autonomous manner. In addition, the second tier node is operable to at least one of store, process, and transmit the detected condition information. The network also includes a third tier having a third tier node configured to receive the detected condition information and to at least one of store and process the detected condition information.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a molecular device is provided that can act as a finite state machine, such as a logic device or a memory device. The molecular device includes operating molecules having two or more rotors. Each rotor has an electric dipole moment and multiple discrete rotor configurational states. A rotor can be any suitable and effective group that has an electric dipole moment and multiple discrete rotor configurational states. An individual rotor configurational state can be substantially or completely independent of the rotor configurational states of other rotors. The rotor configurational states can be binary. The molecular configurational state of a multi-stable molecule of a device can be ascertained by measuring conductance.

Abstract: An electromagnetic resonance device includes an input reflector, an output reflector, and a periodic dielectric medium (PDM) disposed between the input reflector and the output reflector. The input reflector and output reflector are configured to be reflective to radiation having a wavelength of interest. The PDM includes a periodic structure having a dielectric periodicity between a first surface and a second surface. The dielectric periodicity is configured with a negative refraction for the wavelength of interest. A first radiation is reflected by the input reflector toward the first surface of the PDM, passes through the PDM, and is focused on the output reflector as a second radiation. The second radiation is reflected by the output reflector toward the second surface of the PDM, passes through the PDM, and is focused on the input reflector as the first radiation.

Abstract: A device for deflecting an incident radiation beam through a steering angle to produce a deflected radiation beam is described. The device comprises a photonic crystal receiving the incident radiation beam at a dynamically controlled incidence angle. The photonic crystal is configured to negatively refract the incident radiation beam such that relatively large controlled variations of the steering angle are provided by relatively small controlled variations of the incidence angle.

Abstract: A photonic crystal system and a method for controlling the direction of radiation propagation are disclosed. The photonic crystal system includes a photonic crystal and a deformation source positioned to deform the photonic crystal. The photonic crystal system optionally includes a radiation source that emits radiation at a frequency within a frequency range over which the photonic crystal exhibits a negative index of refraction.

Abstract: An assembly for monitoring an environment includes a RFID tag and at least one sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is configured to sense information regarding the environment around the assembly and convert a sensed event into power to at least partially power operation of the RFID tag.

Abstract: Methods of forming NERS-active structures are disclosed that include ordered arrays of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles covered with an outer shell may be arranged in an ordered array on a substrate using Langmuir-Blodgett techniques. A portion of the outer shell may be removed, and the exposed nanoparticles may be used in a system to perform nanoenhanced Raman spectroscopy. An ordered array of nanoparticles may be used as a mask for forming islands of NERS-active material on a substrate. NERS-active structures and an NERS system that includes an NERS-active structure are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for performing NERS with NERS-active structures.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling propagation of incident electromagnetic radiation is described, comprising a composite material having electromagnetically reactive cells of small dimension relative to a wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation. Each electromagnetically reactive cell comprises a metallic element and a substrate. An electron population within the substrate near the metallic element of at least one of the electromagnetically reactive cells is temporally controllable to allow temporal control of an associated effective refractive index encountered by the incident electromagnetic radiation while propagating through said composite material.