Abstract: An exemplary optical isolator, such as a magnetic-semiconductor composite optical isolator, and method for making the same, is provided that includes a semiconductor waveguide and a magnetic-semiconductor composite layer. The semiconductor waveguide includes a guide layer, a first clad layer and a second clad layer. The guide layer includes one or more layers with a first end, a second end, a top, and a bottom, the guide layer allows a light wave incident the first end of the guide layer to propagate in a positive propagation direction, and allows a light wave incident the second end of the guide layer to propagate in a negative propagation direction. The first clad layer and the second clad layer are provided, respectively, relative to the bottom and the top of the guide layer, and the second clad layer has a thickness to allow an optical field penetration through the second clad layer.

Abstract: An exemplary optical isolator, such as a magnetic-semiconductor composite optical isolator, and method for making the same, is provided that includes a semiconductor waveguide and a magnetic-semiconductor composite layer. The semiconductor waveguide includes a guide layer, a first clad layer and a second clad layer. The guide layer includes one or more layers with a first end, a second end, a top, and a bottom, the guide layer allows a light wave incident the first end of the guide layer to propagate in a positive propagation direction, and allows a light wave incident the second end of the guide layer to propagate in a negative propagation direction. The first clad layer and the second clad layer are provided, respectively, relative to the bottom and the top of the guide layer, and the second clad layer has a thickness to allow an optical field penetration through the second clad layer.

Abstract: An exemplary optical isolator, which may use a magnetic-composite material made of a ferromagnetic-composite, and method for making the same are provided. The optical isolator may include a core, a cladding, and a magnetic-composite material. The core is operable to allow a light wave incident a first end to propagate to a second end to define a positive propagation direction, and to allow a light wave incident the second end to propagate to the first end to define a negative propagation direction. The cladding is positioned relative the core and includes a thinned segment of the cladding with a cladding thickness operable to allow an optical field penetration through the thinned segment of the cladding by a light wave that propagates either in the positive or negative propagation direction. The thinned segment has a length that extends relative to a portion of the core.

Abstract: An exemplary optical isolator, which may use a magnetic-composite material made of a ferromagnetic-composite, and method for making the same are provided. The optical isolator may include a core, a cladding, and a magnetic-composite material. The core is operable to allow a light wave incident a first end to propagate to a second end to define a positive propagation direction, and to allow a light wave incident the second end to propagate to the first end to define a negative propagation direction. The cladding is positioned relative the core and includes a thinned segment of the cladding with a cladding thickness operable to allow an optical field penetration through the thinned segment of the cladding by a light wave that propagates either in the positive or negative propagation direction. The thinned segment has a length that extends relative to a portion of the core.

Abstract: An optical device includes a body of a semiconductor material having a waveguide therein along which light flows and means for providing gain to the light. A layer of an amorphous or polycrystalline metallic-ferromagnetic material extends along the waveguide and means, such as a permanent magnet, provides a magnetic field to the metallic-ferromagnetic material layer. This provides an optical isolator of the Faraday rotation type which can be integrated with a variety of material systems including those commonly used to fabricate semiconductor lasers, arrays and amplifiers.

Abstract: An optical device having a substrate with a waveguide layer on a surface thereof and a grating in the waveguide. The grating has a period such as to deflect light passing along the waveguide out of the optical device. The angle at which the light is emitted from the waveguide can be varied by varying the index of refraction of the material of the waveguide under the grating. This can be achieved by applying a voltage across the waveguide.

Abstract: A laser device includes a substrate of semiconductor material having a major surface and a pair of opposed side surfaces. A plurality of laser elements are on the major surface of the substrate and are arranged in a plurality of spaced rows. Each laser element has an active region in which radiation is generated and which extends substantially parallel to the major surface of the substrate and between the side surfaces. Each row can contain either a single laser element or a plurality of laser elements which are optically coupled along the row. A waveguide extends from each end of each row of laser elements toward an adjacent side surface of the substrate. The waveguides are optically coupled to optically couple the laser elements in the rows in series so as to injection lock in phase the laser elements. Means are provided for emitting the radiation from one of the surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: The optoelectronic interconnection of the present invention provides a means for interconnecting a plurality of integrated circuits and each having at least one termination. The termination includes a transmitting section and a receiving section. Each transmitting section includes means for converting an output electrical signal from the integrated circuit to an optical signal in the form of a beam and an output grating for emitting the optical beam from the integrated circuit. Each receiving section includes an input grating for receiving an input optical signal in the form of a beam, means for amplifying the optical signal and a photodetector for converting the optical signal to an electrical signal which is fed to the circuit. The integrated circuits may be mounted adjacent each other with the output signals being emitting from the integrated circuits in the same direction.

Abstract: An optical amplifier comprising a substrate of a semiconductor material having a pair of opposed surfaces and a body of semiconductor material on one of the surfaces. The body includes a pair of clad layers of opposite conductivity types having an intermediate quantum wall region therebetween. The clad layers are of a semiconductor material which form a heterojunction with the material of the quantum well region. The clad layers and quantum well region forms a waveguide which extends along the body. A gain section is in the body along the waveguide. The gain section includes a capping layer over the outermost clad layer, a contact on the capping layer and a contact on the other surface of the substrate to allow a voltage to be applied across the gain section. The gain section is adapted to generate light in the active region when a voltage is applied thereacross. A light input section having a grating extending across the body is at one end of the gain section.

Abstract: A light emitting device which has a substrate and a cavity region overlying the substrate. The cavity region has a grating region overlying exposed portions of the surface formed of a first grating region having a first period and a second grating region having a period different from the first region. On other portions of the cavity region an active region overlies the cavity layer and a capping layer overlies the active region. The device is monitored by forming a surface emitting device with first and second gratings with the gratings having different periods. Current is applied to the device such that radiation is emitted from the grating and the output is detected from the second grating such that the current to the device is adjusted based on the output of the second grating.

Abstract: A waveguide includes a substrate having a major surface and a waveguide layer on the surface of the substrate. At least one confinement layer is on the waveguide layer and includes a transition region. The transition region is an extension of the confinement layer which tapers in width from the width of the confinement layer to a point. The waveguide layer may include a second confinement layer on the waveguide layer which is of a width different from the width of the first confinement layer and has an extension which extends along and contacts both sides of the tapered extension of the one confinement layer. Alternatively, the other confinement layer may extend along both sides of the waveguide layer. The waveguide serves to change the cross-sectional geometry of a beam of light passing along the waveguide layer.

Abstract: The setting of a screw-operated tapered rod is used to control the separation between a spring-loaded beam element and a base element of a microtranslator with a positioning resolution of the order of 200 nanometers or less in a direction substantially parallel to a given single axis. A microtranslator assembly incorporating two such microtranslators oriented substantially perpendicular to one another is suitable for aligning a laser diode with a single-mode optical fiber to effect maximum coupling of light therebetween.

Abstract: Miniaturized optics comprising transverse and lateral cylindrical lenses composed of millimeter-sized rods with diameters, indices-of-refraction and spacing such that substantially all the light emitted as an asymmetrical beam from the emitting junction of the laser is collected and translated to a symmetrical beam.

Abstract: A method of forming a blazed grating in a surface of a body comprising the steps of forming a patterned layer having a grating therein overlying the surface of the body, non-uniformly coating the surface of the grating with a masking layer and exposing the non-uniformly coated surface to a material removal means which preferentially removes the patterned layer where it is uncoated and the surface of the body producing an asymmetric groove pattern in the surface of the body.

Abstract: Enhanced optical coupling by phase evanescent fields is achieved by covering the planar layer of a waveguide with a thin metal oxide film incorporating a relief phase grating. The grating is originally formed in a metallic film covering the planar layer, which metallic film is converted to a metal oxide film by heating in an oxygen-containing atmosphere.

Abstract: Enhanced optical coupling by phase evanescent fields is achieved by covering the planar layer of a waveguide with a thin metal oxide film incorporating a relief phase grating. The grating is originally formed in a metallic film covering the planar layer, which metallic film is converted to a metal oxide film by heating in an oxygen-containing atmosphere.

Abstract: A species of fiber-optic thermometer, employing input and output fiber-optics immersed in a given liquid partially filling a capillary, transfers a proportion of fiber-optic input light to the fiber-optic output as a single-valued function of temperature. This species can provide a miniature thermometer exhibiting high temperature sensitivity.

Abstract: A species of fiber-optic thermometer, employing a gas-sealing movable reflecting element trapping a sealed gas column in a capillary as a temperature-sensitive medium, transfers a proportion of fiber-optic input light to a fiber-optic output as a single-valued function of temperature. This species provides a miniature thermometer exhibiting high temperature sensitivity.

Abstract: Couplers for coupling achromatic light having wavelengths of blue through red to and from an optical film waveguide along collinear paths parallel with the waveguide. Each coupler is constituted by a prism made of a material which, over the range of wavelengths of interest, has a change in refractive index which differs from the change in refractive index of the waveguide film by less than 0.5 percent of the refractive index of the prism material.