Abstract: An electro-optical single-sideband modulator comprising: an electro-optical substrate; a bimodal optical waveguide structure formed in the substrate to support different optical modes having associated optical frequencies and optical propagation constants and comprising an optical input to receive an input optical carrier signal having an optical frequency, and a pair of optical outputs to output corresponding SSB modulated optical signals, each having an optical frequency spectrum with a single side lobe; and an electrode structure formed on the substrate to receive an input electrical modulating signal having an associated electrical frequency and electrical propagation constant, and to responsively apply an electrical field to the bimodal optical waveguide structure.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention concern a device comprising: a cathode that lies on a cathode plane and includes, in an active region, one or more cathode straight-finger-shaped terminals with a main extension direction parallel to a first reference direction; for each cathode terminal, one or more electron emitters formed on, and in ohmic contact with, said cathode terminal; and a gate electrode that lies on a gate plane parallel to, and spaced apart from, said cathode plane, does not overlap the cathode and includes, in the active region, two or more gate straight-finger-shaped terminals with a main extension direction parallel to the first reference direction; wherein the gate terminals are interlaced with said cathode terminal(s).

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention concern a device comprising: a cathode that lies on a cathode plane and includes, in an active region one or more cathode straight-finger-shaped terminals with a main extension direction parallel to a first reference direction; for each cathode terminal, one or more electron emitters formed on, and in ohmic contact with, said cathode terminal; and a gate electrode that lies on a gate plane parallel to, and spaced apart from, said cathode plane, does not overlap the cathode and includes, in the active region, two or more gate straight-finger-shaped terminals with a main extension direction parallel to the first reference direction; wherein the gate terminals are interlaced with said cathode terminal(s).

Abstract: A photonic-assisted digital radar system comprising an active electronically-scanned antenna; a transmitting section comprising a waveform generator to generate a modulating signal; and a modulator to receive a transmission carrier and the modulating signal and to modulate the transmission carrier by means of the modulating signal; and a receiving section comprising a photonic-assisted analog-to-digital converter to convert electric analog signals into electric digital signals; and a digital signal processor to receive and process the electric digital signals. The photonic-assisted analog-to-digital converter comprises a mode-locked laser to generate an optical clock signal; and an electronic analog-to-digital converter; wherein the electronic analog-to-digital converter, the waveform generator, the modulator and the digital signal processor are configured to operate based on electric clock signals generated based on the optical clock signal.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for realization of polymeric materials with second order nonlinear electro-optical properties comprising the following steps: mixing of a chromophore with nonlinear optical properties with two or three hydroxy groups; isolation of said pure bi- or tri-isocyanate NLO chromophores obtained according to the above step; dissolution of said bi- or tri-isocyanate NLO chromophores obtained according to the above step in one or more isocyanate group not reactive solvents containing reactive substances; coating of a thin layer of said prepolymer mixture on a substrate and evaporation of said not reactive solvents; cross-linking and poling of said thin layer on substrate, by means of heating and application of an electric field; cooling of said thin cross-linked and poled layer at ambient temperature maintaining the applied poling electric field; switching off the poling electric field.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical frequency shifter (1) provided with: an electro-optical substrate (3) having a main surface (3a); an optical waveguide structure (2) formed in the substrate (3) and having two waveguide portions (7), which are spaced apart by a distance (S) such as to ensure mutual optical coupling therebetween; and an electrode structure (10) arranged above the main surface (3a) of the substrate (3) and having at least a first electrode (11). The substrate (3) has a Z-cut crystalline structure with Z crystal axis orthogonal to the main surface (3a) and comprises two oppositely poled portions (20, 21) having opposite orientations of the Z crystal axis; the two waveguide portions (7) are arranged underneath the first electrode (11), each in a respective one of the two oppositely poled portions (20, 21).

Abstract: A photonic-assisted digital radar system comprising an active electronically-scanned antenna; a transmitting section comprising a waveform generator to generate a modulating signal; and a modulator to receive a transmission carrier and the modulating signal and to modulate the transmission carrier by means of the modulating signal; and a receiving section comprising a photonic-assisted analog-to-digital converter to convert electric analog signals into electric digital signals; and a digital signal processor to receive and process the electric digital signals. The photonic-assisted analog-to-digital converter comprises a mode-locked laser to generate an optical clock signal; and an electronic analog-to-digital converter; wherein the electronic analog-to-digital converter, the waveform generator, the modulator and the digital signal processor are configured to operate based on electric clock signals generated based on the optical clock signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a digital electro-optical switch (1) comprising: an electro-optical substrate (3); a Y-shaped optical waveguide (2) formed in the substrate (3) and including an input branch (4) configured to be connected to an input optical waveguide, and two output branches (5) configured to be connected to respective output optical waveguides; and electrically conductive electrodes (6, 7) formed on the substrate (3) and including an inner electrode (7) arranged between the output branches (5), substantially at a branching area of the optical waveguide (2), and two outer electrodes (6) arranged outside the output branches (5), on opposite sides of the inner electrode (7), the outer electrodes (6) being electrically operable to make the electro-optical switch (1) operative between a first switching state wherein transmission of optical energy is enhanced between the input branch (4) and a first one of the output branches (5), and substantially inhibited in a second one of the output branches (5), and a se

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for realization of polymeric materials with second order nonlinear electro-optical properties comprising the following steps: mixing of a chromophore with nonlinear optical properties with two or three hydroxy groups; isolation of said pure bi- or tri-isocyanate NLO chromophores obtained according to the above step; dissolution of said bi- or tri-isocyanate NLO chromophores obtained according to the above step in one or more isocyanate group not reactive solvents containing reactive substances; coating of a thin layer of said prepolymer mixture on a substrate and evaporation of said not reactive solvents; cross-linking and poling of said thin layer on substrate, by means of heating and application of an electric field; cooling of said thin cross-linked and poled layer at ambient temperature maintaining the applied poling electric field; switching off the poling electric field.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical frequency shifter (1) provided with: an electro-optical substrate (3) having a main surface (3a); an optical waveguide structure (2) formed in the substrate (3) and having two waveguide portions (7), which are spaced apart by a distance (S) such as to ensure mutual optical coupling therebetween; and an electrode structure (10) arranged above the main surface (3a) of the substrate (3) and having at least a first electrode (11). The substrate (3) has a Z-cut crystalline structure with Z crystal axis orthogonal to the main surface (3a) and comprises two oppositely poled portions (20, 21) having opposite orientations of the Z crystal axis; the two waveguide portions (7) are arranged underneath the first electrode (11), each in a respective one of the two oppositely poled portions (20, 21).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a digital electro-optical switch (1) comprising: an electro-optical substrate (3); a Y-shaped optical waveguide (2) formed in the substrate (3) and including an input branch (4) configured to be connected to an input optical waveguide, and two output branches (5) configured to be connected to respective output optical waveguides; and electrically conductive electrodes (6, 7) formed on the substrate (3) and including an inner electrode (7) arranged between the output branches (5), substantially at a branching area of the optical waveguide (2), and two outer electrodes (6) arranged outside the output branches (5), on opposite sides of the inner electrode (7), the outer electrodes (6) being electrically operable to make the electro-optical switch (1) operative between a first switching state wherein transmission of optical energy is enhanced between the input branch (4) and a first one of the output branches (5), and substantially inhibited in a second one of the output branches (5), and a se