Resonant structures and methods for encoding signals into surface plasmons

1. A device for coupling an input signal to an output signal, the device comprising:

a metal transmission line;

an ultra-small resonant receiver structure operatively connected to an end of the transmission line constructed to receive the input signal and to cause at least part of the input signal to be passed along the transmission line in the form of plasmons;

an ultra-small resonant transmitter structure operatively connected to another end of the transmission line and constructed to receive at least some of the plasmons corresponding to the input signal on the transmission line and to transmit the received signal as an output signal;

a source of charged particles constructed to deliver a linear beam of charged particles along a path adjacent to but not touching the ultra-small resonant receiver structure to cause the receiver structure to resonate in the presence of the beam, wherein the input signal is encoded in the beam of charged particles; and

a detector mechanism constructed to detect the output signal from the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure and to provide a signal representative of the output signal to another circuit.

2. A device for coupling an input signal to an output signal, the device comprising:

a transmission line;

an ultra-small resonant receiver structure operatively connected to the transmission line constructed to receive the input signal and to cause at least part of the input signal to be passed along the transmission line in the form of plasmons;

an ultra-small resonant transmitter structure operatively connected to the transmission line and constructed to receive at least some of the plasmons corresponding to the input signal on the transmission line and to transmit the received signal as an output signal; and

a source of charged particles constructed to deliver a linear beam of charged particles along a path adjacent to but not touching the ultra-small resonant receiver structure to cause the receiver structure to resonate in the presence of the beam, wherein the input signal is encoded in the beam of charged particles.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein the transmission line is formed on a substrate and wherein the ultra-small resonant receiver structure is formed on the substrate.

4. A device as in claim 2 wherein the transmission line is formed on a substrate and wherein the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure is formed on the substrate.

5. A device as in claim 2 wherein the transmission line is formed on a substrate and wherein the ultra-small resonant receiver structure does not touch the substrate.

6. A device as in claim 2 wherein the transmission line is formed on a substrate and wherein the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure does not touch the substrate.

7. A device as in claim 2 wherein the ultra-small resonant receiver structure is formed by a cavity formed in a portion of the transmission line.

8. A device as in claim 2 wherein the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure is formed by a cavity formed in a portion of the transmission line.

9. A device as in claim 2 wherein the ultra-small resonant receiver structure is formed at one end of the transmission line and wherein the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure is formed at another end of the transmission line.

10. A device as in claim 2 wherein the ultra-small resonant receiver structure has a cavity formed therein.

11. A device as in claim 2 wherein the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure has a cavity formed therein.

12. A device as in claim 2 wherein the transmission line is formed from a metal.

13. A device as in claim 2 wherein the metal is selected from the group comprising:

gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al).

14. A device as in claim 2 wherein the source of charged particles is selected from the group comprising:

an ion gun, a thermionic filament, tungsten filament, a cathode, a vacuum triode, a field emission cathode, a planar vacuum triode, an electron-impact ionizer, a laser ionizer, a chemical ionizer, a thermal ionizer an ion impact ionizer.

15. A device as in claim 2 wherein the beam of charged particles comprises particles selected from the group comprising:

positive ions, negative ions, electrons, and protons.

16. A device as in claim 2 wherein the input signal is encoded in a beam of charged particles.

17. A device as in claim 2 further comprising:

a detector mechanism constructed to detect the output signal from the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure.

18. A device as in claim 17 wherein the detector mechanism is further constructed to provide a signal representative of the output signal to another circuit.

19. A method comprising:

providing a transmission line;

providing an ultra-small resonant receiver structure operatively connected to an end of the transmission line and constructed to receive an input signal and to cause at least part of the input signal to be passed along the transmission line in the form of plasmons;

providing an ultra-small resonant transmitter structure operatively connected to another end of the transmission line and constructed to receive at least some of the plasmons corresponding to the input signal on the transmission line and to transmit the received signal as an output signal;

providing a linear beam of charged particles along a path adjacent to but not touching the ultra-small resonant receiver structure, wherein the input signal is encoded in the beam of charged particles; and

detecting the output signal from the ultra-small resonant transmitter structure.

20. A method as in claim 19 further comprising:

providing a signal representative of the output signal to another circuit.