Abstract: Methods include providing an article including a substrate, a first layer supported by the substrate, and an interface between the substrate and the first layer. The substrate is substantially transparent to radiation at a wavelength ? and the first layer is formed from a photoresist. The methods include exposing the first layer to radiation by directing radiation at ? through the substrate to impinge on the interface so that the radiation experiences total internal reflection at the interface.

Abstract: Manufacturing a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active structure includes exposing a substrate to produce an exposure pattern then etching the substrate based on the exposure pattern to produce a plurality of nanostructure cores having a plurality of sides extending from the substrate. Adjacent nanostructure cores are separated by core gaps. SERS active material is deposited onto the plurality of nanostructure cores producing a structure having gaps suitable for use in a SERS process.

Abstract: A wavelength tunable device for operating on at least a portion of energy propagating through a waveguide is disclosed. The wavelength tunable device includes an upper cladding and a lower cladding having a core substantially disposed there between and suitable for optically coupling to the waveguide, a pattern of nanostructures positioned substantially on the upper cladding distal to the core so as to define a reflectivity for energy propagating through the waveguide, and, a movable membrane aligned with the pattern of nanostructures so as to at least partially define a gap there between. This gap may be selectively controlled upon actuation of the movable membrane so as to cause a corresponding change in the reflectivity.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the invention features articles that have a first layer including a plurality of rows of a first material extending along a first direction, the rows being spaced apart from each other and a center of each adjacent row being separated by a distance less than a wavelength ?, and a second layer supported by the first layer, the second layer including a second material. The first layer is configured to transmit about 50% or more of radiation of wavelength ? having a first polarization state incident on the first layer along a path and to specularly reflect about 80% or more of radiation of wavelength ? having a second polarization state incident on the first layer along the path, the first and second polarization states being orthogonal. The second layer is configured so that the article specularly reflects about 10% or less of the radiation of wavelength ? having the second polarization incident on the article along the path, where the path intersects the first and second layers.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features methods that include forming a roll of a first material into a substrate and forming a plurality of rows of a second material on the substrate, where the second material includes a metal, the rows of the second material extend along a first direction, the rows are spaced apart from one another, and adjacent rows are spaced apart by about 400 nm or less.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features an article that includes a layer including a plurality of spaced-apart portions of a first material extending along a first direction. The layer transmits about 20% or more of light of wavelength ? having a first polarization state incident on the layer along a path. The layer transmits about 2% or less of light of wavelength ? having a second polarization state incident on the layer along the path, the first and second polarization states being orthogonal. For wavelength ?, the first material has a refractive index of 1.8 or more and an extinction coefficient of 1.8 or more, and ? is 300 nm or less.

Abstract: In general, in a first aspect, the invention features an article that includes a plurality of spaced apart ridges extending along a first direction, adjacent ridges being spaced with a period of ? or less, each ridge comprising a plurality of layers where adjacent layers have different refractive indexes at a first wavelength ?1 and a second wavelength ?2, where ?1 and ?2 are different, ?<??1, and ?<?2. The ridges are configured so that for radiation at ?1 and ?2 incident on the grating, the grating substantially blocks the radiation at ?1 having a first polarization state, substantially transmits the radiation at ?2 having the first polarization state, and substantially transmits the radiation at ?1 and ?2 having a second polarization state, where the first and second polarization states are orthogonal.