Patent ID: 7693363

Claim:
A two terminal optical apparatus, comprising: a substrate configured to support a semiconductor membrane having a thickness defined by a first surface and a second surface, said first surface and said second surface oriented in substantially parallel configuration; said semiconductor layer having an optical input terminal for an input optical signal and an optical output terminal for an output optical signal; a dielectric layer having a thickness defined by a first surface and a second surface, said first surface and said second surface oriented in substantially parallel configuration, said second surface of said dielectric layer adjacent said first surface of said semiconductor membrane, said second surface of said dielectric layer and said first surface of said semiconductor membrane configured to provide an interface capable of supporting a plasmonic wave; a first conductive layer adjacent said first surface of said dielectric layer, said first conductive layer configured as an electric contact; and a second conductive layer adjacent said second surface of said semiconductor layer, said second conductive layer configured as an electric contact; whereby said optical apparatus is configured carry a plasmonic wave in response to the application of an electrical signal across said first conductive layer and said second conductive layer and the application of an input optical signal at said optical input terminal and to provide a modulated optical signal as said output optical signal at said optical output terminal.