Abstract: An optical amplifier device employing a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) that reduces the amount of residual pump power in the optical output of the amplifier is disclosed. The MZI amplifier employs two geometrically linear optical amplifier arms or two multi-spatial-mode racetrack optical amplifiers to amplify a signal with a pumping beam, with the signal output port having extremely low levels of residual pump power. The MZI optical amplifier is a silicon photonic integrated circuit, with all optical amplifiers, couplers, phase shifters, and optical attenuators formed of silicon photonic integrated circuit elements. The MZI optical amplifier may include one, two, or three MZI stages, and multiple MZI optical amplifiers may be used in parallel or sequentially to achieve higher overall signal gain or power. The MZI optical amplifier may employ Brillouin-scattering-based amplifiers, Raman-based integrated waveguide optical amplifiers, or Erbium-doped integrated waveguide optical amplifiers.

Abstract: Devices and systems for opto-acoustic signal processing are described herein. In one embodiment, the device may include a structure configured to laterally confine travelling acoustic phonons (hypersound) throughout, a first multimode optical waveguide embedded within the structure, and an acoustic phonon emitter within the structure, where the first multimode optical waveguide is selected to couple to the acoustic phonons (hypersound) confined within the structure. In one embodiment, the system may include a first light source optically coupled to a proximal end of the first multimode optical waveguide, the first light source emitting a probe wave having a frequency ?p(1), and a driver configured to drive the acoustic phonon emitter to emit acoustic phonons (hypersound).

Abstract: Techniques for producing a Brillouin laser are provided. According to some aspects, techniques are based on forward Brillouin scattering and a multimode acousto-optic waveguide in which light is scattered between optical modes of the waveguide via the Brillouin scattering. This process may transfer energy from a waveguide mode of pump light to a waveguide mode of Stokes light. This process may be referred to herein as Stimulated Inter-Modal Brillouin Scattering (SIMS). Since SIMS is based on forward Brillouin scattering, laser (Stokes) light may be output in a different direction than back toward the input pump light, and as such there is no need for a circulator or other non-reciprocal device to protect the pump light as in conventional devices.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a mechanical oscillator as a quantum memory are described. According to some aspects, a qubit may be coupled to a piezoelectric material such that the electric field of the qubit causes stress within the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material may be in contact with a crystalline substrate forming an acoustic resonator such that the qubit couples to bulk acoustic waves in the crystalline substrate via its interaction with the piezoelectric material. According to some aspects, application of a suitable electromagnetic pulse to the qubit may cause an exchange of energy from the qubit to the acoustic phonon system and thereby transfer quantum information from the qubit to the phonon system.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a mechanical oscillator as a quantum memory are described. According to some aspects, a qubit may be coupled to a piezoelectric material such that the electric field of the qubit causes stress within the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material may be in contact with a crystalline substrate forming an acoustic resonator such that the qubit couples to bulk acoustic waves in the crystalline substrate via its interaction with the suitable electromagnetic pulse to the qubit may cause an exchange of energy from the qubit to the acoustic phonon system and thereby transfer quantum information from the qubit to the phonon system.

Abstract: Devices and systems for opto-acoustic signal processing are described herein. In one embodiment, the device may include a structure configured to laterally confine travelling acoustic phonons (hypersound) throughout, a first multimode optical waveguide embedded within the structure, and an acoustic phonon emitter within the structure, where the first multimode optical waveguide is selected to couple to the acoustic phonons (hypersound) confined within the structure. In one embodiment, the system may include a first light source optically coupled to a proximal end of the first multimode optical waveguide, the first light source emitting a probe wave having a frequency ?p(1), and a driver configured to drive the acoustic phonon emitter to emit acoustic phonons (hypersound).

Abstract: Techniques are provided to optomechanically couple light to a crystal structure, thereby producing stable, coherent bulk acoustic modes within the structure. In some embodiments, a resonator may comprise a plano-convex crystal structure to which pump light may be applied. The pump light may transfer energy to acoustic phonon modes of the crystal structure so as to create acoustic phonon modes with a coherence length greater than a length of the crystal structure. High frequency and high quality factor resonators may thereby be produced and operated.

Abstract: Techniques for producing a Brillouin laser are provided. According to some aspects, techniques are based on forward Brillouin scattering and a multimode acousto-optic waveguide in which light is scattered between optical modes of the waveguide via the Brillouin scattering. This process may transfer energy from a waveguide mode of pump light to a waveguide mode of Stokes light. This process may be referred to herein as Stimulated Inter-Modal Brillouin Scattering (SIMS). Since SIMS is based on forward Brillouin scattering, laser (Stokes) light may be output in a different direction than back toward the input pump light, and as such there is no need for a circulator or other non-reciprocal device to protect the pump light as in conventional devices.

Abstract: Influence of distance between two coupled strong-confinement photonic devices on optically resonant condition thereof and/or on optical forces.

Abstract: Influence of distance between two coupled strong-confinement photonic devices on optically resonant condition thereof and/or on optical forces.

Abstract: A system and a method for generating terahertz (THz) radiation are provided. The system includes a photonic crystal structure comprising at least one nonlinear material that enables optical rectification. The photonic crystal structure is configured to have the suitable transverse dispersion relations and enhanced density photonic states so as to allow THz radiation to be emitted efficiently when an optical or near infrared pulse travels through the nonlinear part of the photonic crystal.

Abstract: A system and a method for generating terahertz (THz) radiation are provided. The system includes a photonic crystal structure comprising at least one nonlinear material that enables optical rectification. The photonic crystal structure is configured to have the suitable transverse dispersion relations and enhanced density photonic states so as to allow THz radiation to be emitted efficiently when an optical or near infrared pulse travels through the nonlinear part of the photonic crystal.