Patent ID: 8633786

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an input waveguide; an output waveguide; a carbon nanotube array positioned to electromagnetically couple the input and output waveguides, the array having a slow-wave factor associated therewith, wherein the speed of propagation of electromagnetic waves through the array is determined by the slow-wave factor of the array, the array also having a first interface region; and a tuning element positioned to oppose the first interface region to define a tuning distance therebetween, wherein the slow-wave factor is affected by this tuning distance, the tuning element being configured to be movable with respect to the first interface region so as to vary the tuning distance and thereby control the speed of propagation of electromagnetic waves through the array; wherein the tuning element comprises a control element, and a displacement element positioned between the control element and the array, wherein the displacement element is configured to be able to control the displacement between the control element and the array to thereby modify the tuning distance.