LIDAR WITH PLASMONIC ON-CHIP LIGHT GENERATION
A light detection and ranging system can employ a metal insulator metal tunnel junction positioned atop a substrate. Activation of the metal insulator metal tunnel junction by a signal from a controller can generate light via inelastic scattering. Light to be used to detect downrange targets can be combined from multiple junctions via a multimode interference combiner.
1 . An apparatus comprising a tunnel junction connected to an electrical source and coupled to a converter, the converter configured to generate a photonic energy beam in response to activation of the tunnel junction.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tunnel junction consists of a metal-insulator-metal lamination.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tunnel junction consists of an AlO x layer positioned between and contacting a first metal layer and a second metal layer.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first metal layer is aluminum.
5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second metal layer is gold.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tunnel junction is positioned atop a rigid substrate.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the converter consists of at least one node separated from metal layers by an air gap.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one node comprises silicon.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the metal layers are each respectively constructed of gold.
10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the metal layers are separated to form a waveguide.
11 . A method comprising:
connecting a tunnel junction to an electrical source, the tunnel junction coupled to a converter;
generating plasmonic energy with the tunnel junction in response to activation of the electrical source;
converting the plasmonic energy to photonic energy with the converter; and
sending the photonic energy downrange as a detection beam.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein multiple tunnel junctions are concurrently activated to create the plasmonic energy, each tunnel junction coupled to the converter.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the photonic energy is concentrated in a combiner to form the detection beam.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the detection beam is employed to detect a downrange target as part of a light detection and ranging system.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the tunnel junction is activated by a signal from a controller.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the tunnel junction and converter are positioned on a common chip.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the detection beam employs inelastic scattering to detect at least one target located downrange of the converter.