Abstract: An apparatus includes an array of metal nanowires embedded in a matrix of optically tunable material providing a tunable hyperbolic metamaterial, and a control circuit including (i) a current source coupled to first ends of the array of metal nanowires and (ii) a ground voltage coupled to second ends of the array of metal nanowires. The control circuit is configured to modify a state of the optically tunable material utilizing current supplied between the first and second ends of the array of metal nanowires to dynamically reconfigure optical properties of the tunable hyperbolic metamaterial.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure including a channel connecting a source on the semiconductor substrate and a drain on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the channel comprises a plasmonic resonator. A sensor including a plasmonic film, wherein the plasmonic film includes a sensitivity to a known analyte, a semiconductor structure including a source and a drain of a field effect transistor, and an electrical connection between the plasmonic film and a gate of the semiconductor structure. A method of forming a sensor including forming a field effect transistor (“FET”) on a semiconductor substrate, the field effect transistor including a source, a drain, and a gate, where the gate includes a plasmonic resonator.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure including a channel connecting a source on the semiconductor substrate and a drain on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the channel comprises a plasmonic resonator. A sensor including a plasmonic film, wherein the plasmonic film includes a sensitivity to a known analyte, a semiconductor structure including a source and a drain of a field effect transistor, and an electrical connection between the plasmonic film and a gate of the semiconductor structure. A method of forming a sensor including forming a field effect transistor (“FET”) on a semiconductor substrate, the field effect transistor including a source, a drain, and a gate, where the gate includes a plasmonic resonator.

Abstract: An apparatus includes two or more tunable antennas providing a reconfigurable metasurface, each of the tunable antennas including a plurality of pixels of optically tunable material, and a control circuit including switches providing current sources and a ground voltage, the switches being coupled to respective ones of the pixels of optically tunable material in each of the tunable antennas via first electrodes, the ground voltage being coupled to respective ones of the pixels of optically tunable material in each of the tunable antennas via second electrodes. The control circuit is configured to modify states of respective ones of the plurality of pixels of optically tunable material in the tunable antennas utilizing current supplied between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to adjust reflectivity of the plurality of pixels of optically tunable material in each of the tunable antennas to dynamically reconfigure respective antenna shape configurations of the tunable antennas.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an array of metal nanowires embedded in a matrix of optically tunable material providing a tunable hyperbolic metamaterial, and a control circuit including (i) a current source coupled to first ends of the array of metal nanowires and (ii) a ground voltage coupled to second ends of the array of metal nanowires. The control circuit is configured to modify a state of the optically tunable material utilizing current supplied between the first and second ends of the array of metal nanowires to dynamically reconfigure optical properties of the tunable hyperbolic metamaterial.

Abstract: An apparatus includes two or more electrically rotatable antennas providing a reconfigurable metasurface, each of the electrically rotatable antennas including a disk of optically tunable material. The apparatus also includes a control circuit including a plurality of switches each coupled to (i) one of a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes being arranged proximate different portions of at least one surface of each of the disks of optically tunable material and (ii) to at least one of a current source and a ground voltage. The control circuit is configured to modify states of portions of the optically tunable material in each of the disks of optically tunable material utilizing current supplied between at least two of the plurality of electrodes to adjust reflectivity of the portions of the optically tunable material to dynamically reconfigure respective antenna shape configurations of each of the electrically rotatable antennas.

Abstract: An apparatus includes two or more groups of antennas, each including two or more patches of optically tunable material providing two or more antennas. The tunable geometric metasurface also includes a control circuit including a plurality of switches providing current sources and a ground voltage. The plurality of switches are coupled to respective ones of the patches of optically tunable material in each of the groups of antennas via first electrodes. The ground voltage is coupled to respective ones of the patches of optically tunable material in each of the groups of antennas via second electrodes. The control circuit is configured to modify states of the antennas in each of the groups of antennas utilizing the first electrodes and the second electrodes to adjust reflectivity of the patches of optically tunable material to provide a tunable geometric metasurface.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system is provided. The LiDAR system includes an emitter for emitting a light beam, a configurable light processing control unit to affect the light beam, a receiver for receiving the light beam and a computer system. The computer system controls operations of the light processing control unit, computes a distance to a target using a time of flight of the light beam from the emitter to the target and from the target to the receiver and simultaneously corroborates the computed distance by controlling the operations of the light processing control unit to focus and defocus the light beam.

Abstract: A computer-eimplemented thermal imaging device having an optically-sensitive layer that includes a superpixel having at least one pixel. The at least one pixel includes a plasmonic absorber configured to obtain radiance measurements of electromagnetic radiation emitted from an object at a plurality of wavelengths. The device further includes a processor configured to determine an emissivity and temperature for the electromagnetic radiation received at the plasmonic material from the object using the radiance measurements and to form an image of the object from the determined emissivity and temperature.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and thermal imaging device includes a layer of plasmonic material and a processor. The layer of plasmonic material receive electromagnetic radiation from an object and generates radiance measurements of the electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of wavelengths. The processor determines an emissivity and temperature of the object from the radiance measurements and forms a thermal-based electronic image of the object from the determined emissivity and temperature.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of forming a thermal-based electronic image of an object that includes receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted by the object at an optically sensitive layer including a superpixel having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel of the plurality of pixels includes a plasmonic absorber having a characteristic resonance wavelength and that generates a radiance measurement of the electromagnetic radiation at its characteristic resonance wavelength. The method further provides for determining, at a processor, an emissivity and temperature for the electromagnetic radiation received at the superpixel using the radiance measurements obtained at the pixels of the superpixel. In addition, the method provides for forming an image of the object from the determined emissivity and temperature.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator (SLM) is provided that includes an optical resonator (i.e., pixel) having nanoscale size. The optical resonator having nanoscale size includes a phase-change material such as, for example, a GeSbTe alloy, sandwiched between silicon nitride cladding layers. The phase-change material can undergo a crystalline-to-amorphous phase transition which is characterized by a large change in optical properties of the resonator.

Abstract: A method of forming a chemical sensor includes forming a dielectric layer on an electrode. A carbon nanotube film is deposited on the dielectric layer. The carbon nanotube film is patterned into strips.

Abstract: Photodetectors and methods of forming the same include a first electrode. A carbon nanotube film is formed on the first electrode. A first graphene sheet is formed on the carbon nanotube film. A second graphene sheet is configured to exert an electrical field on the first graphene sheet that changes an electrical property of the first graphene sheet.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a ribbon of a thickness and a width. A material of the ribbon is configured to host excitons as well as plasmons, and the width is an inverse function of a wavector value at which an energy level of plasmons in the material substantially equals an energy level of excitons in the material. The substantially equal energies of the plasmons and the excitons in the ribbon cause an excitation of intrinsic plasmon-exciton polaritons (IPEPs) in the ribbon. A first contact electrically couples to a first location on the ribbon, and a second contact electrically couples to a second location on the ribbon.

Abstract: A textile article includes a first fabric including a plurality of first carbon nanotubes coupled to the first fabric. The first carbon nanotubes of the plurality of first carbon nanotubes are metallic carbon nanotubes. A second fabric includes a plurality of second carbon nanotubes coupled to the second fabric. The second carbon nanotubes of the plurality of second carbon nanotubes are semiconductive carbon nanotubes. The first fabric is interconnected with the second fabric.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a solid-state zinc sensor. A non-limiting example of the sensor includes a semiconductor substrate. The sensor can also include an assembly surface on the semiconductor substrate. The sensor can also include a zinc detection monolayer chemically bound to the assembly surface. The sensor can also include a power supply electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Differential, plasmonic, non-dispersive infrared gas sensors are provided. In one aspect, a gas sensor includes: a plasmonic resonance detector including a differential plasmon resonator array that is resonant at different wavelengths of light; and a light source incident on the plasmonic resonance detector. The differential plasmon resonator array can include: at least one first set of plasmonic resonators interwoven with at least one second set of plasmonic resonators, wherein the at least one first set of plasmonic resonators is configured to be resonant with light at a first wavelength, and wherein the at least one second set of plasmonic resonators is configured to be resonant with light at a second wavelength. A method for analyzing a target gas and a method for forming a plasmonic resonance detector are also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a ribbon of a thickness and a width. A material of the ribbon is configured to host excitons as well as plasmons, and the width is an inverse function of a wavector value at which an energy level of plasmons in the material substantially equals an energy level of excitons in the material. The substantially equal energies of the plasmons and the excitons in the ribbon cause an excitation of intrinsic plasmon-exciton polaritons (IPEPs) in the ribbon. A first contact electrically couples to a first location on the ribbon, and a second contact electrically couples to a second location on the ribbon.

Abstract: Differential, plasmonic, non-dispersive infrared gas sensors are provided. In one aspect, a gas sensor includes: a plasmonic resonance detector including a differential plasmon resonator array that is resonant at different wavelengths of light; and a light source incident on the plasmonic resonance detector. The differential plasmon resonator array can include: at least one first set of plasmonic resonators interwoven with at least one second set of plasmonic resonators, wherein the at least one first set of plasmonic resonators is configured to be resonant with light at a first wavelength, and wherein the at least one second set of plasmonic resonators is configured to be resonant with light at a second wavelength. A method for analyzing a target gas and a method for forming a plasmonic resonance detector are also provided.