Abstract: A photonic modulator is provided that includes a transducer element that receives a RF input signal and converts the RF input signal into an elastic wave. One or more optical waveguides receive the elastic wave that has propagated a specified distance through an acoustic delay line. The one or more optical waveguides perform optomechanical transduction on the elastic wave in the presence of an optical wave, which produces one or more scattered optical waves. An optical circuit sums the one or more scattered waves to produce an optical signal output.

Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to various hybrid phononic-photonic waveguide structures that can exhibit nonlinear behavior associated with traveling-wave forward stimulated Brillouin scattering (forward-SBS). The various structures can simultaneously guide photons and phonons in a suspended membrane. By utilizing a suspended membrane, a substrate pathway can be eliminated for loss of phonons that suppresses SBS in conventional silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides. Consequently, forward-SBS nonlinear susceptibilities are achievable at about 3000 times greater than achievable with a conventional waveguide system. Owing to the strong phonon-photon coupling achievable with the various embodiments, potential application for the various embodiments presented herein cover a range of radiofrequency (RF) and photonic signal processing applications. Further, the various embodiments presented herein are applicable to applications operating over a wide bandwidth, e.g. 100 MHz to 50 GHz or more.

Abstract: A photonic modulator is provided that includes a transducer element that receives a RF input signal and converts the RF input signal into an elastic wave. One or more optical waveguides receive the elastic wave that has propagated a specified distance through an acoustic delay line. The one or more optical waveguides perform optomechanical transduction on the elastic wave in the presence of an optical wave, which produces one or more scattered optical waves. An optical circuit sums the one or more scattered waves to produce an optical signal output.

Abstract: A radio-frequency photonic devices employs photon-phonon coupling for information transfer. The device includes a membrane in which a two-dimensionally periodic phononic crystal (PnC) structure is patterned. The device also includes at least a first optical waveguide embedded in the membrane. At least a first line-defect region interrupts the PnC structure. The first optical waveguide is embedded within the line-defect region.

Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to various hybrid phononic-photonic waveguide structures that can exhibit nonlinear behavior associated with traveling-wave forward stimulated Brillouin scattering (forward-SBS). The various structures can simultaneously guide photons and phonons in a suspended membrane. By utilizing a suspended membrane, a substrate pathway can be eliminated for loss of phonons that suppresses SBS in conventional silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides. Consequently, forward-SBS nonlinear susceptibilities are achievable at about 3000 times greater than achievable with a conventional waveguide system. Owing to the strong phonon-photon coupling achievable with the various embodiments, potential application for the various embodiments presented herein cover a range of radiofrequency (RF) and photonic signal processing applications. Further, the various embodiments presented herein are applicable to applications operating over a wide bandwidth, e.g. 100 MHz to 50 GHz or more.

Abstract: Quasi-phase matched (QPM), semiconductor photonic waveguides include periodically-poled alternating first and second sections. The first sections exhibit a high degree of optical coupling (abbreviated “X2”), while the second sections have a low X2. The alternating first and second sections may comprise high-strain and low-strain sections made of different material states (such as crystalline and amorphous material states) that exhibit high and low X2 properties when formed on a particular substrate, and/or strained corrugated sections of different widths. The QPM semiconductor waveguides may be implemented as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), or germanium-on-silicon structures compatible with standard CMOS processes, or as silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) structures.

Abstract: An optical beam-steering apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes one or more optical waveguides and at least one row of metallic nanoantenna elements overlying and electromagnetically coupled to a respective waveguide. In each such row, individual nanoantenna elements are spaced apart along an optical propagation axis of the waveguide so that there is an optical propagation phase delay between successive pairs of nanoantenna elements along the row. The apparatus also includes a respective single electric heating element in thermal contact with each of the waveguides. Each heating element is arranged to heat, substantially uniformly, at least that portion of its waveguide that directly underlies the corresponding row of nanoantenna elements.