Plasmon router
View Patent ↗A variety of structures, methods, systems, and configurations can support plasmons for routing.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a first input plasmon signal, the first input plasmon signal including plasmon energy;
identifying at least one characteristic of the first input plasmon signal;
responsive to the identifying at least one characteristic of the first input plasmon signal, selecting a first output direction corresponding to the first input plasmon signal;
transmitting a first output signal in the selected first output direction; and
modifying propagation properties along the selected first output direction including altering an effective permittivity of a material electromagnetically proximate the first output signal.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising switching a preliminary signal to produce the first input plasmon signal.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein switching the preliminary signal includes frequency switching the preliminary signal.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein switching the preliminary signal includes passing a first portion of the preliminary signal and blocking a second portion of the preliminary signal.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising switching the first output signal.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising delaying the first output signal.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein delaying the first output signal includes modifying propagation properties along the selected first output direction.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting a first electromagnetic signal into the first input plasmon signal.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein converting the first electromagnetic signal into the first input plasmon signal includes directing the first electromagnetic signal onto a conversion structure.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the conversion structure includes a periodic structure.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the conversion structure includes a prism.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the conversion structure includes a negative index material.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first output signal includes plasmon energy.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising converting the plasmon energy to electromagnetic energy.
15. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing information related to the first input plasmon signal.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the first output signal includes the first input plasmon signal.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the first output signal includes at least a first portion of the first input plasmon signal.
18. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a second input plasmon signal, the second input plasmon signal including plasmon energy.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising selecting a second output direction according to the second input plasmon signal.
20. The method of claim 1 further comprising attenuating the first output signal.
21. The method of claim 20 further comprising attenuating the first output signal as a function of the first input plasmon signal.