Abstract: In some embodiments, a head-mounted augmented reality display system comprises one or more hybrid waveguides configured to display images by directing modulated light containing image information into the eyes of a viewer. Each hybrid waveguide is formed of two or more layers of different materials. The thicker of the layers is a highly optically transparent “core” layer, and the thinner layer comprises a pattern of protrusions and indentations to form, e.g., a diffractive optical element. The pattern may be formed by imprinting. The hybrid waveguide may include additional layers, e.g., forming a plurality of alternating core layers and thinner patterned layers. Multiple waveguides may be stacked to form an integrated eyepiece, with each waveguide configured to receive and output light of a different component color.

Abstract: Systems and methods for angle polishing of the end faces of a plurality of optical connectors are provided. Systems are provided that include a connector defining a longitudinal axis, and at least two ferrules mounted with respect to the connector and arranged in a side-by-side orientation. The end faces of the connectors are movable relative to the connector and such movement facilitates lateral orientation of the angle polished end faces of the ferrules relative to the connector when in the mating position. Various mechanisms and methods for facilitating movement of the ferrules relative to the connector are disclosed to achieve the desired lateral polish orientation of the ferrule end faces.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are drawn to methods for producing a fused connector termination. An exemplary method may include setting a specification requirement to be met by the fused connector termination and applying an amount of heat to a proximal region of an unfused connector termination. The proximal region of the unfused connector termination may include an inner optical fiber coaxially positioned within an outer ferrule, and applying the amount of heat may at least partially fuse the optical fiber to the outer ferrule to form an at least partially fused connector termination. The method may also include imaging the proximal region of the at least partially fused connector termination and determining, based on the imaging, whether the proximal region of the at least partially fused connector termination meets the specification.

Abstract: An image displacement device includes a first grating and a second grating. Each grating is switchable between a diffracting state and a non-diffracting state. The first grating has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface receives image beams, and the image beams leave the first grating by the second surface. The second grating is disposed downstream from the first grating in a light path and has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface receives the image beams, and the image beams leave the second grating by the fourth surface. An exit direction of the image beam exiting the second grating is shifted a distance in a first direction from an incident direction of the image beam incident to the first grating.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing optical quantum communication networks based on rare-earth ion quantum bits (qubits) entrapped in solids are presented. According to one aspect a qubit is provided by an 171Yb3+ ion doped into a YVO crystal structure. A nanophotonic cavity fabricated in the doped crystal structure provides a zero-field energy level structure of the ion with optical transitions between ground and excited states at a wavelength longer than 980 nm. A subspace of the qubit is provided by two lower energy levels at the ground states separated by a microwave frequency of about 675 MHz. Addressing of the optical transitions is via first and second lasers and addressing of microwave transitions at the ground and excited states are via respective microwave sources. A single-shot readout sequence of the qubit based on two consecutive readout sequences on the optical transitions separated by a microwave pumping of the ground states is presented.

Abstract: A silicon modulator where the doping profile varies along the lateral and/or longitudinal position in the transition zones to achieve improved performance in terms of optical attenuation or contact access resistance or both. A modulator includes a core; a first transition zone that is a P-side region adjacent to the waveguide core, the first transition zone has a first longitudinal doping profile; and a second transition zone that is an N-side region adjacent to the core on an opposite side as the first transition region, the second transition zone has a second longitudinal doping profile; the first longitudinal doping profile has a variation of doping concentration along a longitudinal direction in the first transition region to mimic a first lateral doping profile, and the second longitudinal doping profile has a variation of doping concentration along a longitudinal direction in the second transition region to mimic a second lateral doping profile.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical bench includes forming a reflector layer over a sloping side of a substrate. The method includes depositing a redistribution layer over the substrate. The method includes disposing an under bump metallization (UBM) layer over the redistribution layer. The method includes forming a passivation layer over the redistribution layer and surrounding sidewalls of the UBM layer. The method includes mounting a first optical component over an uppermost portion of the substrate, wherein the reflector layer is configured to reflect an electromagnetic wave from the first optical component, and the first optical component is mounted outside the trench.

Abstract: A photonic chip includes a device layer and a port layer, with an optical port located at the port layer. Inter-layer optical couplers are provided for coupling light between the device and port layers. The inter-layer couplers may be configured to couple signal light but block pump light or other undesired wavelength from entering the device layer, operating as an input filter. The port layer may accommodate other light pre-processing functions, such as optical power splitting, that are undesirable in the device layer.

Abstract: A light-guide optical element (LOE) includes a transparent substrate having two parallel major external surfaces for guiding light within the substrate by total internal reflection (TIR). Mutually parallel internal surfaces within the LOE are provided with a structural polarizer which is transparent to light polarized parallel to a primary polarization transmission axis, and is partially or fully reflective to light polarized perpendicular to the primary polarization transmission axis. By suitable orientation of the polarization axis of successive internal surfaces together with the polarization mixing properties of TIR and/or use of birefringent materials, it is possible to achieve the desired proportion of coupling-out of the image illumination from each successive facet.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a beam shaper array assembly, where the beam shaper array assembly changes the shape of a plurality of beams. The method includes providing an optical endcap having a plurality of connector stems, welding a fiber to each of the stems to form an emitter array and positioning a beam shaper array adjacent to the endcap opposite to the stems. The method also includes measuring an angle error and a position error of each fiber, calculating a correction for each fiber for the angle error and the position error and correcting the angle and position of each fiber using the calculated corrections.

Abstract: An optical grating component may include a substrate, and an optical grating, the optical grating being disposed on the substrate. The optical grating may include a plurality of angled structures, disposed at a non-zero angle of inclination with respect to a perpendicular to a plane of the substrate, wherein the plurality of angled structures are arranged to define a variable depth along a first direction, the first direction being parallel to the plane of the substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a microwave-to-optical (M2O) transducer using magneto-optical field interactions with spin states of an ensemble of ions doped into a crystal structure is presented. According to one aspect, the crystal structure is a (171Yb3+:YVO) doped crystal structure that provides a substrate for an on-chip implementation of the transducer. According to one aspect, coupling of microwave and optical signals to the ions is based on respective microwave and optical waveguides fabricated in or on the doped crystal structure. According to another aspect, coupling of microwave and optical signals to the ions is based on respective microwave and optical resonant cavities fabricated in or on the doped crystal structure. Transduction can be based on either a three-level system with near-zero applied external magnetic field or on a four-level system with zero applied external magnetic field. The transducer can operate reversibly as an optical-to-microwave (O2M) transducer.

Abstract: A laser system includes a first cavity to output a laser light along a first path, a first mirror to receive the laser light from the first cavity, and redirect the laser light along a second path that is different than the first path, a beam splitter removably located at a first position on the second path, a beam combiner removably located at a second position on the second path, and an alignment device having first and second alignment features. The first and second alignment features occupy the first position and the second position, respectively, on the second path, when the beam splitter and the beam combiner are removed from the first position and the second position.

Abstract: Various embodiments may relate to an optical device. The device may include an elongate substrate, an emitter portion at a distal end portion of the elongate substrate, the emitter portion configured to emit light, and an actuator portion at a proximal end portion of the elongate substrate opposite the distal end portion of the elongate substrate. The emitter portion may include a first electrode, a second electrode, and an active layer between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the light is emitted due to an increase in a temperature of the active layer upon application of a first potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. The active layer may be patterned to form a photonic crystal layer for enhancing directionality of the emitted light.

Abstract: An object is to provide an optical element in which a wavelength dependence of refraction of transmitted light is small, and a light guide element including the optical element.

Abstract: A reflective beam conditioner includes a monolithic body having two or more mirrors and at least one alignment feature. The at least one alignment feature has a predetermined orientation or position with respect to at least one of the two or more mirrors. The two or more mirrors are configured such that, in use, a beam reflects once sequentially off of each of the mirrors. A method of manufacturing such a reflective beam conditioner includes providing a monolithic body. The method further includes restraining the monolithic body to a machining fixture. The method further includes forming a first mirror, a second mirror, and an alignment feature in the monolithic body with the monolithic body restrained in the machining fixture.

Abstract: A head-up display system for a motor vehicle includes a projection unit for providing a display image; a transparent holographic light guide display panel with a display surface in order to output a display image coupled into the display panel via a coupling-in region on a display surface, and a light guide which runs in a non-linear manner in order to guide a display image from the projection unit to the coupling-in region of the display panel.

Abstract: An eyepiece waveguide for an augmented reality display system may include an optically transmissive substrate, an input coupling grating (ICG) region, a multi-directional pupil expander (MPE) region, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) region. The ICG region may receive an input beam of light and couple the input beam into the substrate as a guided beam. The MPE region may include a plurality of diffractive features which exhibit periodicity along at least a first axis of periodicity and a second axis of periodicity. The MPE region may be positioned to receive the guided beam from the ICG region and to diffract it in a plurality of directions to create a plurality of diffracted beams. The EPE region may overlap the MPE region and may out couple one or more of the diffracted beams from the optically transmissive substrate as output beams.

Abstract: An optical neural network is constructed based on photonic integrated circuits to perform neuromorphic computing. In the optical neural network, matrix multiplication is implemented using one or more optical interference units, which can apply an arbitrary weighting matrix multiplication to an array of input optical signals. Nonlinear activation is realized by an optical nonlinearity unit, which can be based on nonlinear optical effects, such as saturable absorption. These calculations are implemented optically, thereby resulting in high calculation speeds and low power consumption in the optical neural network.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe planar lightwave circuit systems, methods and structures including a resonant mirror assembly having cascaded resonators that provide or otherwise facilitate the control of the transmissivity/reflectivity of a planar lightwave circuit (PLC)—or portion thereof—over a range of 0% to substantially 100%.