Abstract: An optical device includes a substrate, a layered structure provided on the substrate and including an intermediate layer, an optical waveguide formed of a thin crystal film having an electro-optic effect, and a buffer layer stacked in this order, and an electrode provided on or above the buffer layer and configured to apply a direct current voltage to the optical waveguide. The resistivity of the intermediate layer is higher than the resistivity of the buffer layer.

Abstract: A digital light path length modulator includes an optical path length extender (OPLE) and a polarization modulator. The OPLE has two light paths with different path lengths, such that the light having a first polarization is directed through a first light path, and the light having a second polarization is directed through a second light path.

Abstract: Plasmonically-enhanced catalytic surfaces and accompanying optics are described herein. These elements facilitate efficient coupling of light energy into a photocatalytic system by way of a surface plasmon. Various compatible optical configurations are presented, with an emphasis on the broadband coupling of light into a single plasmon mode. In an example embodiment, dispersive optics are used to direct polychromatic light onto a grating-embossed SPR-active surface. Dispersive optics allow resonance to be achieved at a wide range of incident wavelengths. Energy then transfers from the excited plasmon to an adjacent photocatalyst. The plasmon mode thus acts as a “funnel” of broadband light energy to the catalytic materials. High-efficiency incoupling and outcoupling from the plasmon mode suggest overall enhancement of catalytic activity, and broad applicability is anticipated due to the inherent flexibility of the system.

Abstract: Low phase noise signal generated in a small structure is required for communication and high-resolution imaging. A DBR based multi-mode laser is combined with mode-locking method to build frequency stabilized and tunable RF signal generator. The number of the output modes from each laser is adjusted using reflecting bandwidth of distributed Bragg reflector and electro-absorption (EA) modulator for amplitude control, while the phase section in integrated laser system provides frequency tuning. Mode-locking of 60 laser modes results in a highly frequency stable 10 GHz RF beat-notes with a calculated phase noise of ?150 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset frequency.

Abstract: A beam steering apparatus may include: a mirror; a refractive index modulation layer disposed on the mirror; a nanoantenna on the refractive index modulation layer; and an insulating layer disposed between the nanoantenna and the refractive index modulation layer, wherein the insulating layer has a thickness distribution in which a first thickness of the insulating layer on a central region of the mirror is less than a second thickness of the insulating layer on an edge region of the mirror, wherein a refractive index of the refractive index modulation layer is modulated to control propagation direction of beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display device having a display panel. The display panel has a display surface and a plurality of pixels. At least some of the pixels include: an illumination unit and a display unit. The illumination unit has at least one illumination sub-pixel and at least one light orientation element respectively and correspondingly disposed on the at least one illumination sub-pixel, and illumination light from the illumination sub-pixel is directly or indirectly emitted from the display surface through the light orientation element. The display unit has at least one display sub-pixel, and display light from the display sub-pixel is directly or indirectly emitted from the display surface.

Abstract: A ring resonator based T-shaped duplexer for use in communication systems, the T-shaped duplexer comprising a T-shaped microstrip duplexer body having a first rectangular-shaped body section and a second rectangular-shaped body section that extends from the first-rectangular shaped section in a perpendicular position relative to the first rectangular-shaped section, three connection ports including a first connection port disposed at an open end of the second rectangular-shaped body section, a second connection port disposed at one end of the first rectangular-shaped body section, and a third connection port disposed at another end of the first rectangular-shaped body section, and two bandpass filters, each bandpass filter comprising a ring resonator structure having a circular shape, an outer edge of the ring resonator structure being connected to the first rectangular-shaped body section of the T-shaped microstrip duplexer body, wherein each of the two bandpass filters creates an Electromagnetically Induced

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid touchchromic device. The solid touchchromic device may include a conducting polymer or a conducting polymer composite film, a conducting plate, and a solid layer of a polymer-based electrolyte, the conducting plate being at least partially coated by the conducting polymer or the conducting polymer composite film. The solid touchchromic device may further include an oxidant, a salt, an acid, or a metal. Also included are methods of producing a solid touchchromic device and articles including a solid touchchromic device.

Abstract: There is provided an illumination device comprising: a laser; a waveguide comprising at least first and second transparent lamina; a first grating device for coupling light from the laser into a TIR path in the waveguide; a second grating device for coupling light from the TIR path out of the waveguide; and a third grating device for applying a variation of at least one of beam deflection, phase retardation or polarization rotation across the wavefronts of the TIR light. The first second and third grating devices are each sandwiched by transparent lamina.

Abstract: A device for imaging and delivering spectroscopic information comprises an objective (1), an image sensor (2) and an optical component (3) having a spectral differentiation function. The optical component having a spectral differentiation function modifies the image of a point in different ways for at least two colours, so that a form of the image of the point delivers spectroscopic information that appears directly in the image as captured by the image sensor. Such device may be used in a detection and/or surveillance system, which then possesses a lower probability of false alarm value.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical component comprising a dielectric layer and a nanorod array; the nanorod array is formed on a surface of the dielectric layer and extends along a lateral direction and a vertical direction. The nanorod array comprises a plurality of nanorods extending along the dielectric layer. The nanorods have a gap between one another, and an angle is defined by two adjacent nanorods. A bump is formed at each of two ends of the nanorod.

Abstract: Various techniques provide nanostructure-based optical limiters for facilitating aperture protection. In one example, a method includes receiving, via a first window, incident light on a solution, where the solution includes liquid medium, a gas dissolved in the liquid medium, and nanostructures in contact with the liquid medium. The method further includes generating heat in the liquid medium based on oscillations of a subset of the plurality of nanostructures in response to the incident light. The method further includes releasing at least a portion of the gas from the solution as gas bubbles in response to the generated heat. The method further includes scattering, by the released gas bubbles, the incident light to prevent the incident light from reaching a second window. Related systems and products are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to electrically tunable optical cells including ionic liquids. The optical cell includes opposing substrates defining an internal cell volume containing the ionic liquid. The optical cell further includes an electrically conductive layer or film on at least one substrate, where the electrically conductive layer is adapted to receive a voltage differential and induced current therethrough. The resulting current through the electrically conductive layer induces a charge density gradient in the neighboring ionic liquid. The refractive index of the ionic liquid in the optical cell can be controlled by adjusting the charge density gradient in the ionic liquid. At least some of the components of the optical cell can be formed from transparent materials, thus providing transmissive or reflective optical cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to present principles provide ways to construct and use tunable exceptional point (EP) singularities in three-dimensional plasmonic nanostructures. Such structures have applications in sensing, communication, imaging, and other fields where, e.g., determining sub wavelength features of interest is of value.

Abstract: A translucent in-vivo indwelling device with a translucent region including a rare earth doped fluorapatite.

Abstract: A holographic head-up display device has a light source portion that emits coherent light; an optical modulation portion that modulates the coherent light; a relay optical system that focuses the modulated light; a filter minor that has a reflection area at a focal position of the relay optical system and reflecting light incident through the relay optical system and an absorption area at the periphery of the reflection area and absorbing light incident through the relay optical system; and a transflective mirror that partially transmits and partially reflects light reflected by the filter minor.

Abstract: A waveguide structure including a waveguide having a thermally controllable section, and a method of manufacturing the structure. The waveguide structure comprises a plurality of layers. The layers comprise, in order: a substrate (306), a sacrificial layer (305), a lower cladding layer (303), a waveguide core layer (302), and an upper cladding layer (301). The lower cladding layer, waveguide core layer, and upper cladding layer form the waveguide, the waveguide has a waveguide core. The waveguide structure has a continuous via (307) passing through the upper cladding layer, waveguide core layer, and lower cladding layer and running parallel to the waveguide ridge (304) along substantially the whole length of the thermally controllable section. The waveguide structure also has a thermally insulating region (308) in the sacrificial layer extending at least from the via to beyond the waveguide ridge along the whole length of the thermally controllable section.

Abstract: Disclosed are structures as well as methods of manufacture and operation of integrated optoelectronic devices that facilitate directly heating the diode or waveguide structures to regulate a temperature of the device while allowing electrical contacts to be placed close to the device to reduce the electrical resistance. Embodiments include, in particular, heterogeneous electro-absorption modulators that include a compound-semiconductor diode structure placed above a waveguide formed in the device layer of an SOI substrate.

Abstract: A waveguide structure including a waveguide having a thermally controllable section, and a method of manufacturing the structure. The waveguide structure comprises a plurality of layers. The layers comprise, in order: a substrate (306), a sacrificial layer (305), a lower cladding layer (303), a waveguide core layer (302), and an upper cladding layer (301). The lower cladding layer, waveguide core layer, and upper cladding layer form the waveguide, the waveguide has a waveguide core. The waveguide structure has a continuous via (307) passing through the upper cladding layer, waveguide core layer, and lower cladding layer and running parallel to the waveguide ridge (304) along substantially the whole length of the thermally controllable section. The waveguide structure also has a thermally insulating region (308) in the sacrificial layer extending at least from the via to beyond the waveguide ridge along the whole length of the thermally controllable section.

Abstract: A method includes determining, on an individual element-by-element basis, a normalized far-field pattern for each radiating element of a plurality of antenna elements. The plurality of antenna elements is associated with a phased array antenna. The method also includes determining an overall electromagnetic far-field pattern for the phased array antenna based on individual normalized element far-field patterns and based on beamforming parameters associated with a location of interest. The overall electromagnetic far-field pattern is usable to determine a signal strength, at the location of interest, of a signal transmitted from the phased array antenna. The method also includes determining an isolation between the phased array antenna and a secondary communication device based on the overall electromagnetic far-field pattern. The method further includes generating an output indicative of the isolation.

Abstract: An optical device includes a titanium dioxide substrate layer on a quartz base of a substrate. The substrate is configured to focus light in visible wavelength spectrum of 400 nm to 700 nm. The substrate comprises a first zone and a second zone. In some embodiments, the first zone and the second zone are concentric circles. A plurality of resonators are disposed on the substrate, the plurality of resonators comprising a first plurality corresponding to the first zone and a second plurality corresponding to the second zone. Each resonator is comprised of a dielectric material with a defined thickness “t” in the range of 30 nm to 300 nm. Each resonator has a radius “r” in the range of 30 nm to 300 nm and a gap “g” between adjacent resonators in the range of 5 nm to 200 nm. The first plurality of resonators in the first zone have a first radius within a first radius range that is different from a second radius range of the second plurality of resonators in the second zone.

Abstract: A light modulation film (1) includes a light modulation layer (30) whose state is reversibly changed between a transparent state by hydrogenation and a reflective state by dehydrogenation, and a catalyst layer (40) that promotes hydrogenation and dehydrogenation in the light modulation layer, in this order on a polymer film substrate (10). light modulation layer (30) includes a light modulation region (32) having a thickness of 10 nm or more on a catalyst layer (40)-side, and an oxidized region (31) on a polymer film substrate (10)-side.

Abstract: An exit pupil expander (EPE) has entrance and exit pupils, a back surface adjacent to the entrance pupil, and an opposed front surface. In one embodiment the EPE is geometrically configured such that light defining a center wavelength that enters at the entrance pupil perpendicular to the back surface experiences angularly varying total internal reflection between the front and back surfaces such that the light exiting the optical channel perpendicular to the exit pupil is at a wavelength shifted from the center wavelength. In another embodiment a first distance at the entrance pupil between the front and back surfaces is different from a second distance at the exit pupil between the front and back surfaces. The EPE may be deployed in a head-wearable imaging device (e.g., virtual or augmented reality) where the entrance pupil in-couples light from a micro display and the exit pupil out-couples light from the EPE.

Abstract: The head-up display device projects a virtual image and includes: an image processor that processes an image to be displayed as a virtual image; an image display that projects the processed image; and a display controller that controls the displaying of the image display. The image display includes: a projector that projects an image; a diffusion plate that forms the image projected by the projector; and a lens that guides the image formed by the diffusion plate. The diffusion plate is constituted by a plurality of functional liquid crystal films that are located at different distances from the lens. The display controller is configured such that, by controlling a transmissive state and a white state of each functional liquid crystal film, the position and distance for displaying the virtual image can be changed.

Abstract: A display device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; and a plurality of pixel portions provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the second substrate includes a plurality of lenticular lens portions, and each of the plurality of lenticular lens portions includes: a curved portion corresponding to a first pixel portion among the plurality of pixel portions; and a plane portion corresponding to a second pixel portion that neighbors the first pixel portion among the plurality of pixel portions.

Abstract: An etalon includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a fixed mirror provided on a surface of the first substrate that faces the second substrate, a movable mirror provided on the second substrate and facing the fixed mirror via an inter-mirror gap, and a first electrode provided on the surface of the first substrate that faces the second substrate. A first multilayer stopper portion is provided by a portion of the first electrode being stacked with at least a portion of an outer circumferential edge of the fixed mirror.

Abstract: Metasurfaces provide compact optical elements in head-mounted display systems to, e.g., incouple light into or outcouple light out of a waveguide. The metasurfaces may be formed by a plurality of repeating unit cells, each unit cell comprising two sets or more of nanobeams elongated in crossing directions: one or more first nanobeams elongated in a first direction and a plurality of second nanobeams elongated in a second direction. As seen in a top-down view, the first direction may be along a y-axis, and the second direction may be along an x-axis. The unit cells may have a periodicity in the range of 10 nm to 1 ?m, including 10 nm to 500 nm or 300 nm to 500 nm. Advantageously, the metasurfaces provide diffraction of light with high diffraction angles and high diffraction efficiencies over a broad range of incident angles and for incident light with circular polarization.

Abstract: A layered structure for a variable transmittance optical filter includes a transparent conductive electrode and a substrate layer. The transparent conductive electrode includes a charge injection layer that has one or more of gold, molybdenum, palladium, reduced graphene oxide, amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO), platinum, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, asmium, selenium, tellurium, graphene, and carbon nanotubes. The substrate layer includes a transparent substrate and is positioned relative to the transparent conductive electrode such that light passing through the transparent conductive electrode passes through the substrate layer.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for forming energy filter layers or shutter components, including energy/light directing/scattering layers that are actively electrically switchable. The energy filters or shutter components are operable between at least a first mode in which the layers, and thus the presentation of the shutter components, appear substantially transparent when viewed from an energy/light incident side, and a second mode in which the layers, and thus the presentation of the energy filters or shutter components, appear opaque to the incident energy impinging on the energy incident side. The differing modes are selectable by electrically energizing, differentially energizing and/or de-energizing electric fields in a vicinity of the energy scattering layers, including electric fields generated between a pair of transparent electrodes sandwiching an energy scattering layer.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: an image display mirror including a first polarizing plate, a half mirror, and an image display apparatus in the stated order from a viewer side; and a second polarizing plate, in which: the image display mirror is arranged so as to b viewable by a driver of the vehicle; the half mirror is configured to be oriented in different directions between when an image is displayed on the image display apparatus and when the image is not displayed thereon; the second polarizing plate is arranged so that light transmitted through the second polarizing plate reaches a first polarizing plate side of the image display mirror when the image is displayed on the image display apparatus; and the vehicle is configured so that the transmitted light of the second polarizing plate reaching the image display mirror is prevented from being transmitted through the first polarizing plate.

Abstract: An antenna is provided including an electromagnetic metasurface. The electromagnetic characteristics of the antenna are dynamically tunable.

Abstract: A vortex beam device includes: a metal reflector, a low refractive index layer, and multiple elliptical dielectric elements. The low refractive index layer located on the metal reflector. The multiple elliptical dielectric elements are embedded in the low refractive index layer and arranged in an array, major axes of the multiple elliptical dielectric elements are parallel or coincident. The multiple elliptical dielectric elements have a same thickness. A thickness of the low refractive index layer is greater than a thickness of the elliptical dielectric element. An outer surface of each elliptical dielectric element is flush with an outer surface of the low refractive index layer. A refractive index of the low refractive index layer is less than a refractive index of the elliptical dielectric element.

Abstract: An infrared detector includes a source region and a drain region which are formed on a semiconductor substrate, an infrared ray absorbing film as a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode which is formed of a transparent electrode for infrared rays on the gate insulating film, in which, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the gate electrode, a predetermined current flows between the source region and the drain region.

Abstract: A display device comprising a first image display device comprising a light guide plate, a dimmer, and a light control device. The light control device is configured to identify a start time of change in quantity of light received by the display device, and control transmissivity of the dimmer based on quantity of light received by the display device, after a predetermined amount of time after the start time has elapsed.

Abstract: The inventive configurable optical fiber polarization mode coupler is capable of providing a low-loss, high-coupling coefficient interface with high accuracy and easy alignment between a plurality of optical fibers (or other optical devices) with a first channel-to-channel spacing, and an optical device having a plurality of closely-spaced waveguide interfaces with a second channel-to-channel spacing, where each end of the optical fiber coupler array is configurable to have different channel-to-channel spacing, each matched to a corresponding one of the first and second channel-to-channel spacing, and that are preferably optimized for use with photonic integrated circuits, such as coupling to dense optical input/output interfaces, wafer-level testing, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to modify the electrical conductivity of an organic and/or molecular material including the steps of providing a reflective or photonic structure and of placing the organic and/or molecular material in or on the structure. The method also includes providing a structure (1) which has an electromagnetic mode which is by design, or can be made by way of adjustment or tuning, resonant with a transition in the organic and/or molecular material (2) and controlling, in particular enhancing, the mobility of the charge carriers, and thus the electrical current, in the organic and/or molecular material (2), by way of strongly coupling the material (2) to the local electromagnetic vacuum field and exploiting the formation of extended macroscopic states in the material.

Abstract: A method of calculating a transmitter and dispersion penalty for predicting optical link signal quality includes providing an optical link; capturing an averaged eye, using an optical test signal sequence to drive the transmitter with an oscilloscope receiver having an oscilloscope bandwidth as available; and from the averaged eye, capturing histograms A1; capturing a non-averaged eye using an optical test signal sequence to drive the transmitter, and from the non-averaged eye, capturing histograms B1; de-convolving histograms A1 from histograms B1; filtering waveform from step 1), convolve the filtered waveform from step 4) with the estimate of the noise from 3); and calculating “soft” TDP based on the probability distribution function.

Abstract: Transmission of stereo image data may be performed between devices, where a source device receives E-EDID from a sink device via DDC of an HDMI cable. This E-EDID contains information on 3D image data transmission modes supportable by the sink device. Based on information on 3D image data transmission modes from the sink device, the source device selects a predetermined transmission mode from among the 3D image data transmission modes supportable by the sink device. The source device transmits 3D image data in the selected transmission mode to the sink device. The source device transmits information on the transmission mode for the 3D image data, to the sink device by using an AVI InfoFrame packet or the like. The sink device processes the 3D image data received from the source device in accordance with its transmission mode, thereby obtaining left and right eye image data.

Abstract: An illumination module includes a light source, a color wheel, an actuator, and a reflective unit. The light source is for providing a light beam with a first wavelength band. The color wheel has an outer annular section and an inner annular section. The color wheel includes a wavelength conversion segment disposed at the outer annular section and a plurality of filter segments disposed at the inner annular section. The wavelength conversion segment is configured to convert a portion of the light beam with the first wavelength band into a light beam with a second wavelength band, and has at least one wavelength conversion material including yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phosphors. The filter segments are respectively configured to filter desired wavelength bands of the light beam. The reflective unit is configured to reflect the light beam passing through the outer annular section to the inner annular section.

Abstract: A method for identifying a pattern in an image. In a first step the image is normalized to a binary matrix. A binary vector is subsequently generated from the binary matrix. The binary vector is filtered with a sparse matrix to a feature vector using a matrix vector multiplication wherein the matrix vector multiplication determines the values of the feature vector by applying program steps which are the result of transforming the sparse matrix in program steps including conditions on the values of the binary vector. Lastly, from the feature vector, a density of probability for a predetermined list of models is generated to identify the pattern in the image.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising an optical source for providing output light for providing input signal light can comprise a pump source for pumping a four wave mixing (FWM) process with light pulses (“FWM pump light”); a FWM element in optical communication with said pump source, said FWM element configured for hosting the FWM process to generate, responsive to the FWM pump light, pulses of FWM signal light and FWM idler light having different wavelengths; and a laser or amplifier optical device comprising a gain material for providing optical gain at a gain wavelength via a process of stimulated emission responsive to optical pumping with pump light, said laser or amplifier optical device in optical communication with said optical source and receiving one of the FWM signal light and the FWM idler light as input signal light having the gain wavelength for optically seeding with input signal light the laser or amplifier optical device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a display device which comprises two layers of insulating substrate, at least the substrate on the viewing side is transparent, an array of display cells sandwiched between the two layers of substrate, a writing means, and optionally an erasing means to magnetically or electrically erase the image. The display cells are filled with a dispersion of magnetic particles which may be charged or non-charged. The display of the invention eliminates the use of the transparent conductor film, such as ITO, on the viewing side. Therefore, the displays of this invention are more cost effective, more flexible and durable and capable of higher image contrast ratio and higher reflectance in the Dmin area.

Abstract: An optical imaging system includes a birefringent element, a light modulating element, and a polarizer element. The birefringent element is configured for decomposing un-polarized light into first linear polarized light and second linear polarized light under different refractive indexes to respectively form a first focal length and a second focal length in the optical imaging system. The light modulating element is configured for modulating a state of polarization of the first and second linear polarized light in response to control signals. The polarizer element is configured for filtering out one of the modulated first and second linear polarized light for creating a single image.

Abstract: A cover for use in connection with a mirror of a vehicle is provided. The cover is provided with a lens having an electrically activatable material. The lens is positioned in front of the vehicle mirror. The electrically activatable material blocks visible light directed towards the vehicle mirror such that the electrically activatable material prevents the visible light from being reflected off of the vehicle mirror when the electrically activatable material is set to a light inhibiting state. A device that holds the lens is securable to the vehicle mirror. The electrically activatable material of the lens is configured to be switched to the light inhibiting state in response to user operation such that the lens prevents reflection of the visible light off of the vehicle mirror to reduce observability of the vehicle mirror.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing an electrochromic article, comprising the following successive steps: (a) deposition of a layer of an electrochromic compound on the surface of a transparent or translucent electroconductive substrate; (b) deposition of a redox agent, which is a reducing agent or an oxidizing agent for the electrochromic compound, on the layer of electrochromic compound at a multitude of discrete points or areas thereon; (c) bringing the layer of electrochromic compound, deposited in step (a), and the redox agent, deposited in step (b), into contact with a liquid electrolyte for a time long enough to allow the electrochromic compound to be reduced or oxidized by the redox agent; and (d) elimination of the electrolyte by rinsing and/or drying, the layer of electrochromic compound being a porous layer of open porosity and/or an electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: An apparatus to modify an incident free space electromagnetic wave includes a block of an artificially structured material having an adjustable spatial distribution of electromagnetic parameters (e.g., ?, ?, ?, ?, and n). A controller applies control signals to dynamically adjust the spatial distribution of electromagnetic parameters in the material to introduce a time-varying path delay d(t) in the modified electromagnetic wave relative to the incident electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided, including a housing, a display module, an optical element and a switchable layer. The housing has a first surface and an opaque layer disposed under the first surface, the opaque layer having a first aperture and a second aperture. The display module is disposed under the first surface and overlapped with the first aperture. The optical element is disposed under the opaque layer. The switchable layer is disposed between the optical element and the second aperture and overlapping the second aperture, wherein the switchable layer is capable of being switched between a substantially opaque state and a substantially transparent state. The substantially opaque state prevents viewing of the optical element through the switchable layer and the substantially transparent state allows viewing of the optical element through the switchable layer.

Abstract: A laser device, having an optical cavity containing a gain medium, a total reflectance reflector positioned within the optical cavity, and a partial reflectance reflector positioned within the optical cavity in a juxtaposed relationship to the total reflectance reflector. The topology of the reflectors are defined by a convergent reflector topology function that converges light emitted within the optical cavity to a laser beam that exits the optical cavity through the partial reflectance reflector by a series of reflections between the total reflectance reflector and the partial reflectance reflector. The laser beam emitted from the optical cavity has a predefined pattern for a given convergent reflector topology.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that selectively absorbs electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus includes a conducting surface, a dielectric layer formed on the conducting surface, and a plurality of conducting particles distributed on the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can be formed from a material and a thickness selected to yield a specific absorption spectrum. Alternatively, the thickness or dielectric value of the material can change in response to an external stimulus, thereby changing the absorption spectrum.

Abstract: Optical devices that include one or more structures fabricated from polar-dielectric materials that exhibit surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs), where the SPhPs alter the optical properties of the structure. The optical properties lent to these structures by the SPhPs are altered by introducing charge carriers directly into the structures. The carriers can be introduced into these structures, and the carrier concentration thereby controlled, through optical pumping or the application of an appropriate electrical bias.