High resolution multispectral imaging with plasmon lensing

It is desirable to make a new generation of electromagnetic wave (EM) detectors that are (a) capable of providing true multispectral imaging & (b) wavelength agile over the visible through sub-mm wave (THz) region. In Phase I, the Tanner/Stanford team demonstrated that plasmon lensing can be used to provide multispectral imaging. Prototypes of such detectors were fabricated in the visible region. Further, we developed a nano-bolometer concept, wherein the thermal element is thermally isolated, and that can be implemented from visible through LWIR and onto sub-mm wavelength regions. In Phase II, we will (a) further implement the multispectral imager at visible wavelengths. The final result will be a chip with a small array of imagers capable of true multispectral imaging with 3 wavelengths & (b) implement the nano-bolometer concept as a light detector at the MWIR wavelength. The final result will be a bolometer that provides significantly higher SNR compared to conventional bolometers, and that can be easily adapted to other wavelengths (visible through THz).