Abstract: The invention relates to a waveguide comprising a substrate (1) on which a layer stack (2) of at least two layer formations (3a, 3b) is arranged, each layer formation (3a, 3b) having at least one transparent dielectric layer (3a1, 3b2), in particular with a higher refractive index than the substrate (1). A structure which influences light propagation, in particular a structure (4) which extends in a layer-like manner, at least in some regions, is arranged between two adjacent layer formations (3a, 3b), the position of the structure (4) in the layer stack corresponding to a node position of a waveguide mode which can be guided in the waveguide and has at least one, preferably exactly one node (5a). The waveguide comprises at least one means for at least temporarily changing the position of the node (5a) of a guided waveguide mode and the structure (4) relative to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for concentrating light by coupling light into a thin film waveguide (2, 4) arranged on a substrate (1), in particular via at least one of its parallel surfaces, the method further comprising the step of exciting in the thin-film-waveguide (2, 4) at least one lateral guided mode (5) having at least one node (6), preferably exactly one node (6), by interaction, in particular scattering, diffraction or surface plasmon excitation of the incident light with a nanopatterned discontinuous excitation layer (3) of material, in particular metal, preferably silver, the nanopatterned discontinuous excitation layer (3) being arranged in the thin-film-waveguide (2,4) at the position of the at least one node (6) of the guided lateral mode (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a waveguide comprising a substrate (1) on which a layer stack (2) of at least two layer formations (3a, 3b) is arranged, each layer formation (3a, 3b) having at least one transparent dielectric layer (3a1, 3b2), in particular with a higher refractive index than the substrate (1). A structure which influences light propagation, in particular a structure (4) which extends in a layer-like manner, at least in some regions, is arranged between two adjacent layer formations (3a, 3b), the position of the structure (4) in the layer stack corresponding to a node position of a waveguide mode which can be guided in the waveguide and has at least one, preferably exactly one node (5a). The waveguide comprises at least one means for at least temporarily changing the position of the node (5a) of a guided waveguide mode and the structure (4) relative to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for concentrating light by coupling light into a thin film waveguide (2, 4) arranged on a substrate (1), in particular via at least one of its parallel surfaces, the method further comprising the step of exciting in the thin-film-waveguide (2, 4) at least one lateral guided mode (5) having at least one node (6), preferably exactly one node (6), by interaction, in particular scattering, diffraction or surface plasmon excitation of the incident light with a nanopattemed discontinuous excitation layer (3) of material, in particular metal, preferably silver, the nanopatterned discontinuous excitation layer (3) being arranged in the thin-film-waveguide (2,4) at the position of the at least one node (6) of the guided lateral mode (5).