Abstract: An assembly includes a device for receiving at least one input to produce an output. An antenna supports the device to transfer the input to the device and further to transfer the output from the device such that the antenna supports a selected one of the input and the output as a high frequency current. The antenna includes a peripheral configuration which confines high frequency current to at least one dominant path to oscillate therein. The other one of the input and the output is a lower frequency signal present at least generally throughout the antenna. At least one port is positioned away from the dominant path to isolate the lower frequency signal from high frequency current in the dominant path. The antenna is configured to support the lower frequency signal having a frequency in a low frequency range including zero to several terahertz.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electron tunneling device on a substrate includes forming a first non-insulating layer on the substrate and providing a first amorphous layer. The method further includes the steps of providing a second layer, and forming a second non-insulating layer and providing an antenna structure connected with the first and second non-insulating layers. The second layer of material is configured to cooperate with the first amorphous layer such that the first amorphous layer and the second layer of material together serve as a transport of electrons between and to the first and second non-insulating layers, and the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by means of tunneling.

Abstract: A modulator includes a voltage source, a first arrangement including first and second non-insulating layers configured such that a modulation voltage from the voltage source can be applied there across, and a second arrangement between the first and second non-insulating layers. The second arrangement includes a first amorphous layer configured such that a transport of electrons between the first and second non-insulating layers includes tunneling. The first arrangement further includes an antenna structure for absorbing part of an input radiation, while a remainder of the input radiation is reflected. The second arrangement cooperates with the first arrangement such that the antenna exhibits a first absorptivity, when a first modulation voltage is applied to the first arrangement, and exhibits a distinct, second absorptivity, when a second modulation voltage is applied, thereby causing the antenna to reflect a different amount of input radiation to an output as modulated radiation.

Abstract: In a polarimeter for analyzing a state of polarization of a light beam incident thereon, the polarimeter including first and second variable retarders configured to exhibit first and second retardance values, respectively, variable over an overall retardance range, and a detector arrangement, a method includes the steps of directing the light beam through the first and second variable retarders and sweeping a selected one of the first and second retardance values progressively and unidirectionally through at least a part of the overall retardance range to produce a plurality of retardance values. The method further includes the steps of, for the plurality of retardance values, detecting at the detector arrangement at least a spatial portion of the beam and extracting the state of polarization based on the spatial portion of the light beam detected at the detector arrangement corresponding to the plurality of retardance values.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core for guiding light of a specified range of wavelengths therethrough, each wavelength in the specified range of wavelengths traveling through the core at a particular group velocity and the light potentially producing a nonlinear optical effect. The optical fiber also includes a cladding formed around the core for substantially containing the light within the core. The optical fiber further includes a predetermined amount of at least one dopant uniformly dispersed throughout the core such that no two distinct wavelengths in the specified range of wavelengths travel through the core at the same, particular group velocity, thereby causing the nonlinear optical effect to be suppressed.

Abstract: An assembly includes a device for receiving at least one input to produce an output. An antenna arrangement supports the device to transfer the input to the device and further to transfer the output from the device such that the antenna arrangement supports a selected one of the input and the output as a high frequency current. The antenna includes a peripheral configuration which confines high frequency current to at least one dominant path to oscillate in the dominant path and the other one of the input and the output is a lower frequency signal present at least generally throughout the antenna arrangement. At least one port is positioned sufficiently away from the dominant path to isolate the lower frequency signal from surface current in the dominant path. The assembly is usable in modulation, emitting, mixing and detection modes and may include a resonant or non-resonant configuration.

Abstract: The high speed data link includes a light modulating device having an output, a source of light of a certain wavelength and a superconductive material, which is switchable between superconducting and non-superconducting states. This light modulating device also includes an arrangement for switching the superconductive material to provide at the output a train of light pulses having the certain wavelength. The high speed data link further includes a wavelength changing device, for changing the wavelength of the light pulses, an optical fiber, for directing the train of wavelength changed light pulses away from the wavelength changing device, and an arrangement, for receiving the train of wavelength changed light pulses. The receiving arrangement includes a demultiplexer, for dividing the train of wavelength changed light pulses into a series of sub-trains of wavelength changed light pulses, and a series of optical receivers, each optical receiver detecting at least one of the sub-trains.

Abstract: A detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation incident thereon over a desired range of frequencies exhibits a given responsivity and includes an output and first and second non-insulating layers, which layers are spaced apart such that a given voltage can be applied thereacross. The first non-insulating layer is formed of a metal, and the first and second non-insulating layers are configured to form an antenna structure for receiving electromagnetic radiation over the desired range of frequencies. The detector further includes an arrangement disposed between the first and second non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between the first and second non-insulating layers as a result of the electromagnetic radiation being received at the antenna structure.

Abstract: The electron tunneling device includes first and second non-insulating layers spaced apart such that a given voltage can be provided therebetween. The device also includes an arrangement disposed between the non-insulating layers and configured to serve as a transport of electrons between the non-insulating layers. This arrangement includes a first layer of an amorphous material such that using only the first layer of amorphous material in the arrangement would result in a given value of a parameter in the transport of electrons, with respect to the given voltage. The arrangement further includes a second layer of material, which is configured to cooperate with the first layer of amorphous material such that the transport of electrons includes, at least in part, transport by tunneling, and such that the parameter, with respect to the given voltage, is increased above the given value of the parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating light, wherein a light source provides light of a certain wavelength to be modulated by a layer of superconducting material which forms part of a specifically configured plate assembly. The superconducting layer is placed in the optical path of the light source. Further the superconducting layer is switched between a partially transparent non-superconducting state and a substantially non-transparent superconducting state by a modulation circuit. The resulting optical pulses transmitted through the superconducting layer are converted from the original wavelength to a lower wavelength by a frequency converting device.

Abstract: The optical assembly for modulating input light and providing modulated light at an output thereof includes a first arrangement, which includes a layer of a superconductive material having at least a part of the input light incident thereon as incident light. The superconductive material is switchable between a first state, in which the superconductive material exhibits a first refractive index, and a second state, in which the superconductive material exhibits a second refractive index. The first arrangement is configured to direct to the output as the modulated light a first fraction of the incident light, when the superconductive material is in the first state, and a second fraction of the incident light, when the superconductive material is in the second state, such that the modulated light exhibits a given value of extinction ratio, which is defined as a ratio of the first fraction of the incident light to the second fraction of the incident light at the output.

Abstract: Output for a laser is greatly increased by altering the transmitivity of a superconductor layer which serves as one of the mirrors of the laser cavity. The superconductor layer is switched between a superconductive state, having reflectivity of one, and a non-superconductive state, having a reflectivity of less than one. When the mirror is in its superconducting state, output power is decreased and power in the cavity is increased, and when the mirror is in its non-superconducting state, output power of the laser is increased and power in the cavity decreases.