Abstract: Techniques relating to an improved optical waveguide are described. The optical waveguide includes an upper and lower waveguide that each comprise a first and second layer, in which photons are transferred from the lower waveguide to the upper waveguide. A structured subwavelength coupling region is included, for example, in the first upper waveguide layer. The fill factor of the subwavelength grating coupling region is increased in the direction of light propagation to increase the index of refraction of the structured subwavelength coupling region and therefore improve photon transfer from the lower waveguide. Additionally, the width of the optical waveguide (at least along the structured subwavelength coupling region) remains constant as the fill factor increases.

Abstract: An optical phase modulator comprises a cascaded array of optical resonators, wherein each of the optical resonators has an input port and an output port. A plurality of waveguides are coupled between the optical resonators and are configured to provide cascaded optical communication between the optical resonators. Each of the waveguides is respectively coupled between the output port of one optical resonator and the input port of an adjacent optical resonator. A transmission electrode is positioned adjacent to the optical resonators, with the transmission electrode configured to apply a drive voltage across the optical resonators. The optical phase modulator is operative to co-propagate an input optical wave with the drive voltage, such that a resonator-to-resonator optical delay is matched with a resonator-to-resonator electrical delay.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for determining an acceleration. For example, an accelerometer system includes a resonator and a light-emitting device configured to generate, based on an error signal, an optical signal. Additionally, the accelerometer includes a modulator configured to receive the optical signal, generate a modulated optical signal responsive to receiving the optical signal, and output the modulated optical signal to the resonator. A photoreceiver receives a passed optical signal from the resonator, where the passed optical signal indicates a resonance frequency of the resonator. Additionally, the photoreceiver receives a reflected optical signal from the resonator. The photoreceiver generates one or more electrical signals based on the passed optical signal and the reflected optical signal. Processing circuitry generates the error signal and determines the acceleration based on the one or more electrical signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a silicon photonics integrated optical velocimeter are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes producing a laser output at a laser source; emitting the laser output from a plurality of emitters formed in an optical chip; receiving a plurality of reflected portions of the emitted laser output at an optical collector formed in the optical chip, wherein the plurality of reflected portions are reflected off of at least one surface; beating the laser output against the reflected portions of the emitted laser output, wherein one of the laser output or the reflected portions of the emitted laser output are modulated by at least one modulation frequency; and calculating a doppler shift for each of the plurality of reflected portions of the emitted laser output based on an output of the beating and the at least one modulation frequency.

Abstract: A sensor system comprises a pulsed light source, and a passive sensor head chip in communication with the light source. The sensor head chip includes a first photonics substrate, a transmitting optical component on the first photonics substrate and configured to couple a pulse, transmitted through a first optical fiber from the light source, into a region of interest; and a receiving optical component on the first photonics substrate and configured to couple backscattered light, received from the region of interest, into a second optical fiber. A signal processing chip communicates with the sensor head chip and light source. The signal processing chip includes a second photonics substrate and comprises a passive optical filter array that receives the backscattered light from the second optical fiber. The filter array includes notch filters in communication with each other and operative for frequency selection; and optical detectors respectively coupled to the notch filters.

Abstract: An optomechanical device for producing and detecting optical signals comprising a proof mass assembly, one or more laser devices, and a circuit. The one or more laser devices are configured to generate a first optical signal and a second optical signal. The circuit is configured to modulate, with an electro-optic modulator (EOM), the second optical signal, output the first optical signal and the second optical signal to the proof mass assembly, generate a filtered optical signal corresponding to a response by the proof mass assembly to the first optical signal without the second optical signal, and generate an electrical signal based on the filtered optical signal, wherein the EOM modulates the second optical signal based on the electrical signal.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for inducing mechanical vibration in one or more mechanical structures. For example, a system includes a mechanical structure extending along a longitudinal axis. The mechanical structure includes a set of mechanical beams, where the set of mechanical beams are configured to guide a modulated optical signal, and where the set of mechanical beams includes a first mechanical beam and a second mechanical beam separated by a gap. The first mechanical beam includes at least one of a first corrugated inner edge parallel to the longitudinal axis and a first corrugated outer edge parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second mechanical beam includes at least one of a second corrugated inner edge parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second corrugated outer edge parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Techniques relating to an improved optical waveguide are described. The optical waveguide includes an upper and lower waveguide that each comprise a first and second layer, in which photons are transferred from the lower waveguide to the upper waveguide. A structured subwavelength coupling region is included, for example, in the first upper waveguide layer. The fill factor of the subwavelength grating coupling region is increased in the direction of light propagation to increase the index of refraction of the structured subwavelength coupling region and therefore improve photon transfer from the lower waveguide. Additionally, the width of the optical waveguide (at least along the structured subwavelength coupling region) remains constant as the fill factor increases.

Abstract: An optomechanical device optomechanical device for stabilizing an optomechanical resonator comprising a circuit configured to generate a first optical signal and a second optical signal, modulate the first optical signal, modulate the second optical signal, and combine the first optical signal and the second optical signal into a combined optical signal to direct the combined optical signal into an assembly. An inner sidewall of a first beam structure of the assembly has a first inner spatial frequency correspond to a second inner spatial frequency of an inner sidewall of a second beam structure of the assembly and an outer sidewall of the first beam structure has a first outer spatial frequency correspond to a second outer spatial frequency of an outer sidewall of the second beam structure.

Abstract: Systems and embodiments for an integrated photonics mode splitter and converter are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a system includes a substrate having a first index of refraction. Additionally, the system includes a waveguide layer on the substrate, wherein the waveguide has a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction. Also, the waveguide layer includes one or more mode splitters that receive at least one of a first photon in a first mode and a second photon in a second mode through an input port and provide one of the first photon through a first output port and the second photon through a second output port. The waveguide layer also includes a mode converter coupled to the second output of a mode splitter, wherein the mode converter receives the second photon through a port and outputs the second photon in the first mode through the port.

Abstract: Embodiments relating to an integrated photonics air data system are disclosed. A light beam from a laser source is routed to a plurality of tunable optical filters operative to transmit the light beam to one of a plurality of emitting grating couplers at any given time. The tunable optical filters are configured such that the light beam is emitted into the region of interest at different times from each of the emitting grating couplers. A passive optical filter array is configured to receive scattered light from the emitted light beam. The passive optical filter array comprises a plurality of optical notch filters operative for frequency selection, and a plurality of optical detectors each respectively coupled to an output of one of the optical notch filters. The passive optical filter array is operative to perform frequency spectrum decomposition of the received scattered light into a plurality of signals.

Abstract: Systems and embodiments for an integrated photonics tensor magnetometer are described herein. In certain embodiments, a system includes a plurality of magnetometers. The system also includes a laser carrier wafer coupled to each of the plurality of magnetometers that commonly distributes one or more lasers to each of the magnetometers in the plurality of magnetometers. Additionally, the system includes a plurality of photodetectors that detect light emitted from the laser carrier wafer and the plurality of magnetometers. Further, the system includes one or more processors that execute computer-executable instructions that cause the processor to monitor and control operation of the one or more lasers and calculate a magnetic field gradient based on the detected light from the magnetometers.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for determining an acceleration. For example, an accelerometer system includes a resonator and a light-emitting device configured to generate, based on an error signal, an optical signal. Additionally, the accelerometer includes a modulator configured to receive the optical signal, generate a modulated optical signal responsive to receiving the optical signal, and output the modulated optical signal to the resonator. A photoreceiver receives a passed optical signal from the resonator, where the passed optical signal indicates a resonance frequency of the resonator. Additionally, the photoreceiver receives a reflected optical signal from the resonator. The photoreceiver generates one or more electrical signals based on the passed optical signal and the reflected optical signal. Processing circuitry generates the error signal and determines the acceleration based on the one or more electrical signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated photonics vertical coupler are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a device includes a first waveguide having a first photon and a second photon propagating therein, wherein the first photon and the second photon are propagating in orthogonal modes. Further, the device includes a second waveguide having a second coupling portion in close proximity with a first coupling portion of the first waveguide, wherein a physical relationship between the first waveguide and the second waveguide along the length of the second coupling portion causes an adiabatic transfer of the first photon and the second photon into distinct orthogonal modes of the second waveguide at different locations in the second coupling portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated photonics quantum vector magnetometer are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a device includes a substrate; a radio frequency emitter that emits energy in a range of radio frequencies; and a waveguide layer formed on the substrate. The waveguide layer includes a first waveguide of a first material, wherein a probe laser is propagating within the first waveguide; and a second waveguide, wherein the second waveguide is positioned proximate to the first waveguide along a coupling length such that a pump laser propagating within the second waveguide is coupled into the first waveguide along the coupling length, wherein the pump laser causes the first material to absorb the probe laser at one or more frequencies in the range of frequencies. Moreover, the device includes a processing device that calculates a magnetic field strength based on an identification of the one or more frequencies.

Abstract: An optical phase modulator comprises a cascaded array of optical resonators, wherein each of the optical resonators has an input port and an output port. A plurality of waveguides are coupled between the optical resonators and are configured to provide cascaded optical communication between the optical resonators. Each of the waveguides is respectively coupled between the output port of one optical resonator and the input port of an adjacent optical resonator. A transmission electrode is positioned adjacent to the optical resonators, with the transmission electrode configured to apply a drive voltage across the optical resonators. The optical phase modulator is operative to co-propagate an input optical wave with the drive voltage, such that a resonator-to-resonator optical delay is matched with a resonator-to-resonator electrical delay.

Abstract: A magnetometer comprises a diode structure including a diamond material having free electrons and free charge carriers. An electrical circuit is coupled to the diode structure and is operative to apply a forward bias voltage to the diode structure. An optical detector is operative to collect and measure an electroluminescence produced by the diode structure after the forward bias voltage is applied to the diode structure. A processor is coupled to the optical detector and is operative to determine a magnetic field based on the measured electroluminescence produced by the diode structure.

Abstract: An optomechanical device comprising an assembly, one or more laser devices configured to generate a first optical signal and a second optical signal, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to modulate the second optical signal and output the first optical signal and the second optical signal to the assembly. A first element of a first beam structure shifts the first spatial frequency of the assembly by approximately 180 degrees and a second element of a second beam structure shifts the second spatial frequency of the assembly by approximately 180 degrees such that a first optical resonance is generated, which is probed by the first optical signal interacting with the assembly, and a second optical resonance is generated, which is probed by the second optical signal interacting with the assembly, where the first optical resonance and the second optical resonance are spectrally separated by a minimum threshold.

Abstract: An integrated photonics chip for thermal imaging comprises a photonics substrate including a plurality of receiver elements. Each receiver element comprises a first grating coupler optically coupled to a first waveguide filter and configured to receive a first wavelength of light at a given angle, with the first waveguide filter configured to pass the first wavelength of light; and a second grating coupler optically coupled to a second waveguide filter and configured to receive a second wavelength of light at the given angle, with second waveguide filter configured to pass the second wavelength of light. Each receiver element receives the wavelengths of light from an object of interest that emits the light due to blackbody radiation, and receives the wavelengths of light at respectively different angles. Each grating coupler receives a unique wavelength of light with respect to the other wavelengths of light received by the other grating couplers.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for determining, using an electro-opto-mechanical accelerometer system, a frequency value in order to determine an acceleration value. For example, an accelerometer system includes a light-emitting device configured to emit an optical signal and a circuit. The circuit is configured to modulate, using a modulating device, the optical signal to produce a modulated optical signal, receive, using a photoreceiver, the modulated optical signal, convert, using the photoreceiver, the modulated optical signal into an electrical signal, process the electrical signal to obtain a processed electrical signal, and transmit the processed electrical signal to the modulating device, where the modulating device is configured to modulate the optical signal based on the processed electrical signal. Additionally, the circuit is configured to determine, based on the processed electrical signal, a frequency value.