Abstract: The technology described in this document can be used to implement beam steering in optical systems and photonic devices, to provide a nonmechanical beam steering system for projecting optical energy and controlling the direction of the optical energy using a collection of devices and components that are fixed in position to selectively direct light from an array of different optical emitters at different locations.

Abstract: The technology disclosed in this patent document for optical devices for modulating light using nonlinear optical materials exhibiting electro-optical effects. Suitable nonlinear optical materials can be formed over a silicon-based semiconductor substrate via a silicon processing compatible process. In one application, such a device can be implemented for steering light based on a unique two-dimensional array of phased optical modulators using integrated photonic chip fabrication technologies to provide high performance and small footprint device packaging. The phased optical modulators can be phase shifting elements, each of which can be configured as a vertical-cavity surface-emitting phase shifter (VCSEP) to provide effective phase changes via both the control of the optical refractive index of the nonlinear optical material and the metal-dielectric surface plasmon effect.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for optical spectroscopy using a Fourier transform that improve measurement speed, and relax the sampling rate and dynamic range requirements compared to conventional techniques, are described. One exemplary method for optical Fourier transform spectroscopy includes receiving a broadband signal, spectrally partitioning the broadband signal to generate a plurality of spectral channel interferograms, computing a one-dimensional Fourier transform of a function of each of the plurality of spectral channel interferograms to generate each of a plurality of channel spectrums, and reconstructing a spectrum of the broadband signal based on the plurality of channel spectrums. Embodiments of the disclosed technology include a free-space channel dispersed Fourier transform spectrometer and an integrated silicon-on-insulator Fourier transform spectrometer.

Abstract: Compact optical spectrometers are provided to measure optical spectral composition of light.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be used to implement beam steering in optical systems and photonic devices, to provide a nonmechanical beam steering system for projecting optical energy and controlling the direction of the optical energy using a collection of devices and components that are fixed in position to selectively direct light from an array of different optical emitters at different locations.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for optical spectroscopy using a Fourier transform that improve measurement speed, and relax the sampling rate and dynamic range requirements compared to conventional techniques, are described. One exemplary method for optical Fourier transform spectroscopy includes receiving a broadband signal, spectrally partitioning the broadband signal to generate a plurality of spectral channel interferograms, computing a one-dimensional Fourier transform of a function of each of the plurality of spectral channel interferograms to generate each of a plurality of channel spectrums, and reconstructing a spectrum of the broadband signal based on the plurality of channel spectrums. Embodiments of the disclosed technology include a free-space channel dispersed Fourier transform spectrometer and an integrated silicon-on-insulator Fourier transform spectrometer.

Abstract: Compact optical spectrometers are provided to measure optical spectral composition of light.

Abstract: A multi-mode optical waveguide device is formed from a plurality of periodically structured waveguides, where each waveguide is configured to guide a carrier signal comprising one spatial mode of a plurality of spatial modes and has at least one segment of each waveguide with a waveguide width that periodically changes along a waveguide path to induce coupling between pairs of spatial modes. In some embodiments, the at least one segment is disposed at a location along the waveguide path at which maximal mode overlap occurs. The waveguide device may be used as for space-division multiplexing and as an optical switch.