Abstract: An RF transmitter comprising an optical source configured to generate a pair of optical lines separated by an RF carrier frequency. The transmitter may comprise a graphene photodetector having at least two electrical contacts; a transmit antenna coupled to a first of the electrical contacts; and an electrical data signal input connected to a second of the electrical contacts. The graphene photodetector is illuminated by the optical source; it may comprise a graphene photo-thermal effect (PTE) photodetector or a bolometric photodetector. A corresponding receiver is also described.

Abstract: A photonic chip is disclosed that comprises a cladding material and an edge coupler. The edge coupler comprises a composite guiding structure that comprises a plurality of substantially parallel planar layers of optical guiding material. Each layer of the composite guiding structure extends into the cladding material, wherein each layer is aligned at a first edge of the photonic chip. The layers overlap along a first axis which is perpendicular to a plane of the planar layers of optical guiding material. The photonic chip is arranged for deposition of a waveguide on the cladding material, the waveguide being arranged to at least partially overlap along the first axis with a layer of the composite guiding structure. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a photonic chip.

Abstract: An optical connector for a photonic circuit. The optical connector includes a first part, fixable to a photonic circuit, having at least one slab of optically transparent material, the at least one slab including a first lens. The optical connector includes a second part, movable between a connected position adjacent the first part and a disconnected position removed from the first part. The second part includes at least one slab of optically transparent material, the at least one slab including a second lens located to be in alignment with the first lens in the connected position. One or more guiding elements are arranged to direct light to the second lens. The second part is configured to connect the one or more guiding elements to an optical fiber.

Abstract: A Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) for an optical fibre comprising a set of optical inputs, one for each wavelength of a WDM optical signal to be transmitted, a graphene electro-absorption modulator (EAM) for each optical input to modulate light from the optical input, and one or more drivers to drive each graphene electro-absorption modulator. The drivers have a data input, a low pass filter to low-pass filter data from the data input to provide low pass filtered data, and an output to drive each graphene electro-absorption modulator with a combination of the low pass filtered data and a bias voltage. The bias voltage is configured to bias the graphene EAM into a region in which, e.g., when the transmission of the graphene electro-absorption modulator increases the effective refractive index for the modulated light decreases and vice-versa to pre-chirp to the modulated light to compensate for dispersion in the fibre.

Abstract: An RF transmitter comprising an optical source configured to generate a pair of optical lines separated by an RF carrier frequency. The transmitter may comprise a graphene photodetector having at least two electrical contacts; a transmit antenna coupled to a first of the electrical contacts; and an electrical data signal input connected to a second of the electrical contacts. The graphene photodetector is illuminated by the optical source; it may comprise a graphene photo-thermal effect (PTE) photodetector or a bolometric photodetector. A corresponding receiver is also described.

Abstract: An optical interconnect for optically coupling at least a first optical integrated circuit and a second optical integrated circuit. The optical interconnect comprises at least two layers of optically transparent material. There is a first optical waveguide arranged along a surface of a first one of the at least two layers of optically transparent material. There is further a first non-guided optical path extending from the first optical waveguide through the at least two layers of optically transparent material. A first reflective element is arranged to receive light from at least one of the first non-guided optical path and the first optical waveguide and direct the light to the other of the first non-guided optical path and the first optical waveguide. At least one lens is arranged at a boundary between two of the at least two layers of optically transparent material. The at least one lens is arranged to receive and focus light travelling along the first non-guided optical path.

Abstract: A transmitter (1) is configured to transmit an optical signal, the transmitter comprising an optical dispersion compensator (10) configured to compensate for chromatic dispersion of the optical signal. The optical dispersion compensator comprises a plurality of delay elements (20; 40). The plurality of delay elements (20; 40) have a combined response providing a delay to the transmitted optical signal which varies with frequency.

Abstract: A device (10;150;200) is configured to receive an optical signal. The device comprises a dispersion compensator (210a) comprising a plurality of optical dispersion compensator units (220). Each optical dispersion compensator unit comprises a plurality of delay elements (20;40). The dispersion compensator (210a) is configured to selectively activate one or more of the optical dispersion compensator units (220). The dispersion compensator (210a) is configured to compensate for dispersion of the optical signal with the activated one or more optical dispersion compensator unit (200).

Abstract: A device (10;150;200) is configured to receive an optical signal. The device comprises a dispersion compensator (210a) comprising a plurality of optical dispersion compensator units (220). Each optical dispersion compensator unit comprises a plurality of delay elements (20;40). The dispersion compensator (210a) is configured to selectively activate one or more of the optical dispersion compensator units (220). The dispersion compensator (210a) is configured to compensate for dispersion of the optical signal with the activated one or more optical dispersion compensator unit (200).

Abstract: An optical coupler (40; 50) comprises a substrate (41). A first waveguide element (45) is provided in a first layer with respect to the substrate, wherein the first waveguide element (45) comprises a first end (45a) and a second end (45b), and wherein the first end (45a) of the first waveguide element (45) is coupled to input/output light to/from a first end of the optical coupler. A second waveguide element (43) is provided in a second layer, the second layer arranged adjacent to the first layer, wherein the second waveguide element (43) comprises a first end (43a) and a second end (43b), and wherein the first end (43a) of the second waveguide element (43) is coupled to input/output light to/from a second end of the optical coupler.

Abstract: A transmitter (1) is configured to transmit an optical signal, the transmitter comprising an optical dispersion compensator (10) configured to compensate for chromatic dispersion of the optical signal. The optical dispersion compensator comprises a plurality of delay elements (20; 40). The plurality of delay elements (20; 40) have a combined response providing a delay to the transmitted optical signal which varies with frequency.

Abstract: An optical beam spot size convertor is provided having a body. The body comprises a first optical waveguide having a first refractive index and a plurality of second optical waveguides each having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index. The first optical waveguide is arranged to receive an input optical beam. The first optical waveguide is further arranged such that light from the input optical beam is coupled from the first optical waveguide into the plurality of second optical waveguides. The body further comprises an output optical waveguide and a reflective part coupled to the plurality of second optical waveguides and to the output optical waveguide. The reflective part is arranged to focus optical beams received from the plurality of second optical waveguides into a single optical beam which is directed to the output optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optical coupler (40; 50) comprises a substrate (41). A first waveguide element (45) is provided in a first layer with respect to the substrate, wherein the first waveguide element (45) comprises a first end (45a) and a second end (45b), and wherein the first end (45a) of the first waveguide element (45) is coupled to input/output light to/from a first end of the optical coupler. A second waveguide element (43) is provided in a second layer, the second layer arranged adjacent to the first layer, wherein the second waveguide element (43) comprises a first end (43a) and a second end (43b), and wherein the first end (43a) of the second waveguide element (43) is coupled to input/output light to/from a second end of the optical coupler.

Abstract: An integrated circuit optical interconnect for connecting a first circuit part arranged to output an optical signal and a second circuit part arranged to receive an optical signal. The integrated circuit optical interconnect comprises a body comprising a glass material. The glass material has embedded therein an optical waveguide arrangement having an input, located at a surface of the body, for coupling to the first circuit part, and an output, located at a surface of the body, for coupling to the second circuit part. The optical waveguide arrangement comprises at least two optical waveguide segments extending in different directions through the glass material and at least one reflecting part arranged between the two optical waveguide segments, for directing an optical signal from one of the optical waveguide segments to the other of the optical waveguide segments.

Abstract: An optical beam spot size convertor is provided having a body. The body comprises a first optical waveguide having a first refractive index and a plurality of second optical waveguides each having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index. The first optical waveguide is arranged to receive an input optical beam. The first optical waveguide is further arranged such that light from the input optical beam is coupled from the first optical waveguide into the plurality of second optical waveguides. The body further comprises an output optical waveguide and a reflective part coupled to the plurality of second optical waveguides and to the output optical waveguide. The reflective part is arranged to focus optical beams received from the plurality of second optical waveguides into a single optical beam which is directed to the output optical waveguide.

Abstract: There is provided an optical switch. The optical switch comprises a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide, a first optical ring resonator and a second optical ring resonator. The first optical ring resonator is arranged between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, wherein the first optical ring resonator is capable of coupling an optical signal travelling along the first optical waveguide in a first direction to the second optical waveguide such that the optical signal travels in a second direction along the second optical waveguide. The second optical ring resonator is arranged between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide; wherein the second optical ring resonator is capable of coupling an optical signal travelling along the first optical waveguide in the first direction to the second optical waveguide such that the optical signal travels in a third direction along the second optical waveguide opposite to the second direction.

Abstract: A device (100) for processing a signal, the device comprising a polarization module (102) configured to receive a multi-wavelength optical input signal (Si) comprising a plurality of wavelengths, and for each wavelength. The polarization module is configured to convert a component of each wavelength having a first polarization mode into a converted component having a second, different, polarization mode. The device further comprises a processing module (104,106,114,128) configured to combine the converted component of each wavelength with a direct component of each wavelength received with said second polarization mode. The processing module is configured to generate a multi-wavelength optical output signal (So) solely having said second polarization mode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a coupling element configured to couple light between an optical device and one or more optical fiber comprises forming one or more waveguide in the silica. The one or more waveguide having a refractive index configured to guide the light between the optical device and the optical fiber. The forming of the one or more waveguide comprises photo-inducing a refractive index variation of the silica material.

Abstract: A device (100) for processing a signal, the device comprising a polarization module (102) configured to receive a multi-wavelength optical input signal (Si) comprising a plurality of wavelengths, and for each wavelength. The polarization module is configured to convert a component of each wavelength having a first polarization mode into a converted component having a second, different, polarization mode. The device further comprises a processing module (104,106,114,128) configured to combine the converted component of each wavelength with a direct component of each wavelength received with said second polarization mode. The processing module is configured to generate a multi-wavelength optical output signal (So) solely having said second polarization mode.

Abstract: In an integrated polarization splitting and rotating photonic device comprising at least one first waveguide; a second waveguide, both said waveguides extending from an input section to an output section; a top cladding; a bottom cladding and a symmetry-breaking layer so as to form an optical guiding structure in a wafer chip, said top and bottom claddings extending throughout the whole optical guiding structure sandwiching said waveguides therebetween, said symmetry-breaking layer extends in the optical guiding structure at least over the whole guiding structure length, and, at the input section, the at least one first waveguide core has a predetermined width through the optical guiding structure to the output section, receiving an input light signal, and further, the second waveguide core, both at the input and the output section, has a width narrower than said predetermined width of the first waveguide core; so that the optical guiding structure guides a first mode substantially confined within said at lea