초록 ▼

The electromagnetic energy transfer device includes a first resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply. The first resonator structure has a first Q-factor. A second resonator structure is positioned distal from the first resonator structure, and supplies useful working power

The electromagnetic energy transfer device includes a first resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply. The first resonator structure has a first Q-factor. A second resonator structure is positioned distal from the first resonator structure, and supplies useful working power to an external load. The second resonator structure has a second Q-factor. The distance between the two resonators can be larger than the characteristic size of each resonator. Non-radiative energy transfer between the first resonator structure and the second resonator structure is mediated through coupling of their resonant-field evanescent tails.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of transferring electromagnetic energy comprising: providing a first electromagnetic resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply, said first resonator structure having a first mode with a resonant frequency ω1, an intrinsic loss rate 

What is claimed is: 1. A method of transferring electromagnetic energy comprising: providing a first electromagnetic resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply, said first resonator structure having a first mode with a resonant frequency ω1, an intrinsic loss rate Γ1, and a first Q-factor Q1=ω1/(2Γ1), providing a second electromagnetic resonator structure being positioned distal from said first resonator structure and not electrically wired to the first resonator structure, said second resonator structure having a second mode with a resonant frequency ω2, an intrinsic loss rate Γ2, and a second Q-factor Q2=ω2/(2Γ2), transferring electromagnetic energy from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure over a distance D that is smaller than each of the resonant wavelengths λ1 and λ2 corresponding to the resonant frequencies ω1 and ω2, respectively, wherein the electromagnetic resonator structures are designed to have Q1>100 and Q2>100. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the two said frequencies ω1 and ω2 are close to within the narrower of Γ1, and Γ2. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein Q1>200, and Q2>200. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein Q1>500, and Q2>500. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein Q1>1000, and Q2>1000. 6. An electromagnetic energy transfer system comprising: a first electromagnetic resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply, said first resonator structure having a first mode with a resonant frequency ω1, an intrinsic loss rate Γ1, and a first Q-factor Q1ω1/(2Γ1), and a second electromagnetic resonator structure being positioned distal from said first resonator structure and not electrically wired to the first resonator structure, said second resonator structure having a second mode having a resonant frequency ω2, said second resonator structure having a second mode with a resonant frequency ω2, an intrinsic loss rate Γ2, and a second Q-factor Q2=ω2/(2Γ2), wherein said first resonator transfers electromagnetic energy to said second resonator over a distance D that is smaller than each of the resonant wavelengths λ1 and λ2 corresponding to the resonant frequencies w1 and ω2, respectively, wherein the electromagnetic resonator structures are designed to have Q1>100 and Q2>100. 7. The energy transfer system of claim 6, wherein Q1>200, and Q2>200. 8. The energy transfer system of claim 6, wherein said first resonator structure comprises a dielectric sphere having a radius defining a characteristic size L1 for the first resonator structure. 9. The energy transfer system of claim 6, wherein said first resonator structure comprises a metallic sphere having a radius defining a characteristic size L1 for the first resonator structure. 10. The energy transfer system of claim 6, and wherein said first resonator structure comprises a metallodielectric sphere having a radius defining a characteristic size L1 for the first resonator structure. 11. The energy transfer system of claim 6, wherein said first resonator structure comprises a plasmonic sphere having a radius defining a characteristic size L1 for the first resonator structure. 12. The energy transfer system of claim 6, wherein said first resonator structure comprises a polaritonic sphere having a radius defining a characteristic size L1 for the first resonator structure. 13. The energy transfer device of claim 6, and said first resonator structure comprises a capacitively-loaded conducting-wire loop, where the radius of the loop defines a characteristic size L1 for the first resonator structure. 14. The energy transfer system of claim 6, and said second resonator structure comprises a dielectric sphere, having a radius defining a characteristic size L2 for the second resonator structure. 15. The energy transfer system of claim 6, and said second resonator structure comprises a metallic sphere, having a radius defining a characteristic size L2 for the second resonator structure. 16. The energy transfer system of claim 6, and said second resonator structure comprises a metallodielectric sphere, having a radius defining a characteristic size L2 for the second resonator structure. 17. The energy transfer system of claim 6, and said second resonator structure comprises a plasmonic sphere, having a radius defining a characteristic size L2 for the second resonator structure. 18. The energy transfer system of claim 6, and said second resonator structure comprises a polaritonic sphere, having a radius defining a characteristic size L2 for the second resonator structure. 19. The energy transfer device of claim 6, and said second resonator structure comprises a capacitively-loaded conducting-wire loop, where the radius of the loop defines a characteristic size L2 for the second resonator structure. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the rate of energy transfer from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure is denoted by κ, and wherein the resonator structures are designed to have Q1 and Q2 satisfy κ/√{square root over (Γ1Γ2)}>0.2. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>0.5. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein D/L2>3. 24. The method of claim 23 wherein D/L2>5. 25. The method of claim 20, wherein κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>1. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein D/L2>3. 28. The method of claim 27 wherein D/L2>5. 29. The method of claim 20, wherein κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>5. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein D/L2>3. 32. The method of claim 31 wherein D/L2>5. 33. The method of claim 3, wherein the rate of energy transfer from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure is denoted by κ, and wherein the resonator structures are designed to have Q1 and Q2 satisfy κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>0.5. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein D/L2>3. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein D/L2>5. 37. The method of claim 3, wherein the rate of energy transfer from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure is denoted by κ, and wherein the resonator structures are designed to have Q1 and Q2 satisfy κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>1. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein D/L2>3. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein D/L2>5. 41. The system of claim 6, wherein the rate of energy transfer from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure is denoted by κ, and wherein the resonator structures are designed to have Q1 and Q2 satisfy κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>0.2. 42. The system of claim 41, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 43. The system of claim 42, wherein D/L2>3. 44. The system of claim 43, wherein D/L2>5. 45. The system of claim 6, wherein the rate of energy transfer from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure is denoted by κ, and wherein the resonator structures are designed to have Q1 and Q2 satisfy κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>0.5. 46. The system of claim 45, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 47. The system of claim 46, wherein D/L2>3. 48. The system of claim 47, wherein D/L2>5. 49. The system of claim 6, wherein the rate of energy transfer from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure is denoted by κ, and wherein the resonator structures are designed to have Q1 and Q2 satisfy κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>1. 50. The system of claim 49, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 51. The system of claim 50, wherein D/L2>3. 52. The system of claim 51, wherein, D/L2>5. 53. The system of claim 7, wherein the rate of energy transfer from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure is denoted by κ, and wherein the resonator structures are designed to have Q1 and Q2 satisfy κ/sqrt(Γ1*Γ2)>0.2. 54. The system of claim 53, wherein the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2 and D/L2>1. 55. The system of claim 54, wherein D/L2>3. 56. The system of claim 55, wherein D/L2>5. 57. The system of claim 6, wherein Q1>500, and Q2>500. 58. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second resonator structures are movable relative to one another. 59. The system of claim 6, wherein the first and second resonator structures are movable relative to one another. 60. The system of claim 6, wherein the two said frequencies ω1 and ω2 are close to within the narrower of the two resonance widths Γ1, and Γ2. 61. The method of claim 1, wherein D>1 cm. 62. The method of claim 1, wherein D>30 cm. 63. The method of claim 1, wherein D>1 m. 64. The system of claim 6, wherein D>1 cm. 65. The system of claim 6, wherein D>30 cm. 66. The system of claim 6, wherein D>1 m. 67. The method of claim 1, wherein the first resonator structure has a characteristic size L1 and the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2, and D/L1>1 and D/L2>1. 68. The system of claim 6, wherein the first resonator structure has a characteristic size L1 and the second resonator structure has a characteristic size L2, and D/L1>1 and D/L2>1. 69. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a feedback mechanism to at least one of the resonator structures to correct for detuning of its resonant frequency. 70. The system of claim 6, further comprising a feedback mechanism coupled to at least one of the resonator structures to correct for detuning of its resonant frequency.