Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to micro-electro-mechanical systems and photonic interconnects employing micro-electro-mechanical systems. One micro-electro-mechanical system embodiment of the present invention includes a lens structure and an actuator. The lens structure includes a substantially transparent membrane having a flexible, curved surface, and a reservoir holding fluid that is fluidly coupled to the membrane. The actuator system is operably coupled to the reservoir in order to exert pressure on the fluid to change the curvature of the membrane and the focal point of the lens structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to photonic systems and methods that can be used to encode data in carrier electromagnetic waves. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic switch comprises: a waveguide configured to guide electromagnetic waves; a number of holes in the waveguide that prevent propagation of the electromagnetic waves beyond the holes; a reservoir located beneath the holes and filled with a liquid having the same refractive index as the photonic crystal; and a device for forcing the liquid into the holes so that the refractive index of the holes matches approximately the refractive index of the waveguide and the electromagnetic waves can propagate within the waveguide beyond the holes.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are directed to light-emitting devices including a photonic grating configured to extract spontaneous emission of electromagnetic radiation from a light-emitting structure. In one aspect of the present invention, a light-emitting device includes a light-emitting structure having an active region designed to emit electromagnetic radiation with a selected frequency. The light-emitting device further includes a photonic grating spaced from the active region of the light-emitting structure. The photonic grating is capable of supporting a leaky guided mode that extends within the active region of the light-emitting structure. The leaky guided mode has a mode frequency approximately equal to the selected frequency emitted by the active region and a mode wavevector that is approximately equal to a reciprocal lattice vector of the photonic grating.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to electromagnetic wave amplification systems employing photonic gratings. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electromagnetic radiation amplification system comprises a photonic grating and a pump source. The photonic grating is configured with a planar periodic lattice of holes in a slab. The pump source is coupled to the photonic grating and outputs an electronic stimulus that excites electronic energy states in the photonic grating so that a coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation incident upon the photonic grating stimulates emission of coherent electromagnetic radiation that amplifies the coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An optical interconnect has a plurality of optical data sources, a plurality of optical data receivers, a diffractive optical element configured to diffract an optical beam from at least one alignment optical source to at least one sensor, and an aligning element configured to align optical beams from the optical data sources to said optical data receivers, according to readings from the sensor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to photonic systems and methods that can be used to encode data in carrier electromagnetic waves. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for encoding data in carrier electromagnetic waves is provided. The method comprises: transmitting a number of carrier electromagnetic waves in a first waveguide; coupling one or more of the carrier electromagnetic waves into a resonant cavity of a photonic crystal coupled to the first waveguide; modulating the one or more carrier electromagnetic waves within the resonant cavity in order to generate data encoded electromagnetic waves; and coupling the data encoded electromagnetic waves into a second waveguide.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an electric-field-enhancement structure is disclosed. The electric-field-enhancement structure includes a substrate and an ordered arrangement of dielectric particles having at least two adjacent dielectric particles spaced from each other a controlled distance. The controlled distance is selected so that when a resonance mode is excited in each of the at least two adjacent dielectric particles responsive to excitation electromagnetic radiation, each of the resonance modes interacts with each other to result in an enhanced electric field between the at least two adjacent dielectric particles. Other aspects of the present invention are electric-field-enhancement apparatuses that utilize the described electric-field-enhancement structures, and methods of enhancing an electric field between adjacent dielectric particles.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to photonic systems and methods that can be used to encode data in carrier electromagnetic waves. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for encoding data in carrier electromagnetic waves is provided. The method comprises: transmitting a number of carrier electromagnetic waves in a first waveguide; coupling one or more of the carrier electromagnetic waves into a resonant cavity of a photonic crystal coupled to the first waveguide; modulating the one or more carrier electromagnetic waves within the resonant cavity in order to generate data encoded electromagnetic waves; and coupling the data encoded electromagnetic waves into a second waveguide.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to photonic systems and methods that can be used to encode data in carrier electromagnetic waves. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic switch comprises: a waveguide configured to guide electromagnetic waves; a number of holes in the waveguide that prevent propagation of the electromagnetic waves beyond the holes; a reservoir located beneath the holes and filled with a liquid having the same refractive index as the photonic crystal; and a device for forcing the liquid into the holes so that the refractive index of the holes matches approximately the refractive index of the waveguide and the electromagnetic waves can propagate within the waveguide beyond the holes.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to photonic systems and methods that can be used to encode data in carrier electromagnetic waves. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic system comprises a first waveguide configured to transmit a number of electromagnetic waves. The photonic system includes a photonic crystal with a resonant cavity and is configured to selectively and evanescently couple one or more of the electromagnetic waves from the first waveguide into the resonant cavity. The photonic system also includes a second waveguide positioned to transmit and extract one or more electromagnetic waves from the resonant cavity via evanescent coupling.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to modulators that can be operated electronically and used to modulate electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment of the present invention, a modulator comprises a slot waveguide having a top semiconductor layer, a bottom semiconductor layer, and a transmission layer sandwiched between the top semiconductor layer and the bottom semiconductor layer. The slot waveguide also includes a plurality of holes forming a Bragg grating along the length of the slot waveguide.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to micro-electro-mechanical systems and photonic interconnects employing micro-electro-mechanical systems. One micro-electro-mechanical system embodiment of the present invention includes a lens structure and an actuator. The lens structure includes a substantially transparent membrane having a flexible, curved surface, and a reservoir holding fluid that is fluidly coupled to the membrane. The actuator system is operably coupled to the reservoir in order to exert pressure on the fluid to change the curvature of the membrane and the focal point of the lens structure.

Abstract: An optical interconnect has a plurality of optical data sources, a plurality of optical data receivers, a diffractive optical element configured to diffract an optical beam from at least one alignment optical source to at least one sensor, and an aligning element configured to align optical beams from the optical data sources to said optical data receivers, according to readings from the sensor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to analyte detection methods and to photonic-based sensors that employ photonic crystal gratings to detect analytes. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic-based sensor includes a source, a photonic crystal, and a photodetector. The source is configured to output electromagnetic radiation. The photonic crystal includes a photonic crystal grating positioned to receive the electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation interacts with the photonic crystal grating and an analyte situated on or in the photonic crystal grating to produce a transmission spectrum that characterizes the analyte. The photodetector is positioned to detect the transmission spectrum.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to electromagnetic wave amplification systems employing photonic gratings. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electromagnetic radiation amplification system comprises a photonic grating and a pump source. The photonic grating is configured with a planar periodic lattice of holes in a slab. The pump source is coupled to the photonic grating and outputs an electronic stimulus that excites electronic energy states in the photonic grating so that a coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation incident upon the photonic grating stimulates emission of coherent electromagnetic radiation that amplifies the coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an electric-field-enhancement structure is disclosed. The electric-field-enhancement structure includes a substrate and an ordered arrangement of dielectric particles having at least two adjacent dielectric particles spaced from each other a controlled distance. The controlled distance is selected so that when a resonance mode is excited in each of the at least two adjacent dielectric particles responsive to excitation electromagnetic radiation, each of the resonance modes interacts with each other to result in an enhanced electric field between the at least two adjacent dielectric particles. Other aspects of the present invention are electric-field-enhancement apparatuses that utilize the described electric-field-enhancement structures, and methods of enhancing an electric field between adjacent dielectric particles.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to analyte detection methods and to photonic-based sensors that employ photonic crystal gratings to detect analytes. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic-based sensor includes a source, a photonic crystal, and a photodetector. The source is configured to output electromagnetic radiation. The photonic crystal includes a photonic crystal grating positioned to receive the electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation interacts with the photonic crystal grating and an analyte situated on or in the photonic crystal grating to produce a transmission spectrum that characterizes the analyte. The photodetector is positioned to detect the transmission spectrum.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to photonic systems and methods that can be used to encode data in carrier electromagnetic waves. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic system comprises a first waveguide configured to transmit a number of electromagnetic waves. The photonic system includes a photonic crystal with a resonant cavity and is configured to selectively and evanescently couple one or more of the electromagnetic waves from the first waveguide into the resonant cavity. The photonic system also includes a second waveguide positioned to transmit and extract one or more electromagnetic waves from the resonant cavity via evanescent coupling.

Abstract: A photonic crystal light emitting diode (“PXLED”) is provided. The PXLED includes a periodic structure, such as a lattice of holes, formed in the semiconductor layers of an LED. The parameters of the periodic structure are such that the energy of the photons, emitted by the PXLED, lies close to a band edge of the band structure of the periodic structure. Metal electrode layers have a strong influence on the efficiency of the PXLEDs. Also, PXLEDs formed from GaN have a low surface recombination velocity and hence a high efficiency. The PXLEDs are formed with novel fabrication techniques, such as the epitaxial lateral overgrowth technique over a patterned masking layer, yielding semiconductor layers with low defect density. Inverting the PXLED to expose the pattern of the masking layer or using the Talbot effect to create an aligned second patterned masking layer allows the formation of PXLEDs with low defect density.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a tiled periodic metal film sensor can be used to measure refractive index changes of a thin layer of liquid to determine changes in the liquid composition. The tiled periodic metal film sensor senses reflected light as a function of wavelength and infers a change in the refractive index of the fluid.