Nano-optic refractive optics

Abstract

A vertical dipole array structure includes a substrate that supports a film, which is not comprised of a negative-index metamaterial. The film includes a plurality of tilt-oriented portions and apertures. At least two of the tilt-oriented portions are separated by an aperture, and the tilt-oriented portions are configured such that incident radiation is redirected into a negative or positive refraction direction.

1 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure comprising (a) a substrate that supports
 (b) a film comprising a plurality of tilt-oriented portions, wherein:
 (i) the film has a plurality of apertures, 
 (ii) at least two of the tilt-oriented portions are separated by an aperture, and 
 (iii) the film is not comprised of a negative-index metamaterial. 
   
     
     
         33 . The 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure of  claim 32 , wherein the tilt-oriented portions are configured such that the array is not polarization sensitive. 
     
     
         34 . The 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the apertures is a cross-aperture. 
     
     
         35 . The 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure of  claim 34 , wherein each cross-aperture comprises two perpendicularly superposed nanoslits. 
     
     
         36 . The 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of nanoapertures define discontinuities of the film. 
     
     
         37 . The 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure of  claim 32 , wherein the thin film comprises Ag, Au, Al, Cu, Cr, graphene, graphite, or a conducting oxide. 
     
     
         38 . The 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the tilt-oriented portions is oriented at a different angle relative to another one of the tilt-oriented portions. 
     
     
         39 . The 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the cross-apertures is formed on a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         40 . The 2D vertical nanoaperture array structure of  claim 32 , wherein a surface of the substrate that supports the film comprises tilt-oriented surfaces separated by at least one stepped surface. 
     
     
         41 . A method of making a vertical nanoaperture array structure, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a substrate, and   (b) forming a film on a surface thereof, wherein the film comprises an array of nanoapertures and tilt-oriented portions and is not comprised of a negative-index metamaterial.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising etching the top surface of the substrate to have a profile comprising tilt-oriented surfaces separated by at least one stepped surface. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising patterning the film and the substrate by holographic lithography, and providing a metal on the film by angle deposition thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising forming a first 1D grating structure and a second 1D grating structure on the film, wherein the first and the second 1D grating structures are configured such that unpolarized light is coupled into the film. 
     
     
         45 . A photovoltaic device that comprises an electrode including a vertical-nanoaperture array formed on at least one film, wherein the electrode is configured such that obliquely incident radiation directly transmits through the nanoapertured electrode and the directly transmitted radiation propagates through the film at glancing angle. 
     
     
         46 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 45 , wherein the vertical-nanoaperture array is integrated on a photovoltaic panel. 
     
     
         47 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 45 , wherein: the at least one film comprises a first film and a second film, and wherein the first film is a mirror film on which the second film is formed. 
     
     
         48 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 47 , wherein the electrode, film, and mirror film are configured as a Fabry-Perot cavity structure. 
     
     
         49 . A solar panel comprising the photovoltaic device of  claim 45 . 
     
     
         50 . The photovoltaic device of  claim 47 , wherein the electrode and mirror film are configured such that transmitted light is reflected by the mirror film.