Abstract: An optical matrix multiplication unit for an optoelectronic system can be used to form an artificial neural network, having N input waveguides, M output waveguides and a plurality of matrix multiplication unit cells for signal processing of optical signals of one each of the N input waveguides and for transferring the processed signals into one each of the M output waveguides, wherein each of the matrix multiplication unit cells is allocated to one of the input waveguides and one of the output waveguides and undertakes a unique allocation between said two allocated waveguides. Each of the matrix multiplication unit cells has, for signal processing and signal transfer, a directional coupler, having an electrooptical modulator for transmission control of the directional coupler, interconnected between the allocated input waveguide and the allocated output waveguide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single photon detector device for detecting an optical signal comprising an optical fiber and at least one nanowire, wherein the optical fiber comprises a core area and a cladding area and is designed to conduct the optical signal along an optical axis, wherein, with respect to the optical axis, a first area of the optical fiber is an entrance area for the optical signal and a second area of the optical fiber is a detector area, and wherein the nanowire becomes superconducting at a predetermined temperature and is designed in the superconducting state to generate an output signal as a function of the optical signal. It is provided that in the detector area of the optical fiber the nanowire extends essentially along the optical axis of the optical fiber. A single photon detector device is thus provided which has a simple structure, a high efficiency, a high detection rate and a high spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: A co-processor for performing a matrix multiplication of an input matrix with a data matrix in one step may be provided. The co-processor receives input signals for the input matrix as optical signals. A plurality of photonic memory elements is arranged at crossing points of an optical waveguide crossbar array. The plurality of memory elements is configured to store values of the data matrix. Input signals are connected to input lines of the optical waveguide crossbar array. Output lines of the optical waveguide crossbar array represent a dot-product between a respective column of the optical waveguide crossbar array and the received input signals, and values of elements of the input matrix to be multiplied with the data matrix correspond to light intensities received at input lines of the respective photonic memory elements. Additionally, different wavelengths are used for each column of the input matrix optical signals.

Abstract: A co-processor for performing a matrix multiplication of an input matrix with a data matrix in one step may be provided. The co-processor receives input signals for the input matrix as optical signals. A plurality of photonic memory elements is arranged at crossing points of an optical waveguide crossbar array. The plurality of memory elements is configured to store values of the data matrix. Input signals are connected to input lines of the optical waveguide crossbar array. Output lines of the optical waveguide crossbar array represent a dot-product between a respective column of the optical waveguide crossbar array and the received input signals, and values of elements of the input matrix to be multiplied with the data matrix correspond to light intensities received at input lines of the respective photonic memory elements. Additionally, different wavelengths are used for each column of the input matrix optical signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single photon detector device for detecting an optical signal comprising an optical fiber and at least one nanowire, wherein the optical fiber comprises a core area and a cladding area and is designed to conduct the optical signal along an optical axis, wherein, with respect to the optical axis, a first area of the optical fiber is an entrance area for the optical signal and a second area of the optical fiber is a detector area, and wherein the nanowire becomes superconducting at a predetermined temperature and is designed in the superconducting state to generate an output signal as a function of the optical signal. It is provided that in the detector area of the optical fiber the nanowire extends essentially along the optical axis of the optical fiber. A single photon detector device is thus provided which has a simple structure, a high efficiency, a high detection rate and a high spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: A photonic device (100) comprising: an optical waveguide (101), and a modulating element (102) that is evanescently coupled to the waveguide (101); wherein the modulating element (102) modifies a transmission, reflection or absorption characteristic of the waveguide (101) dependant on its state, and the state of the modulating element (102) is switchable by an optical switching signal (125) carried by the waveguide (101), or by an electrical signal that heats the modulating element (102).

Abstract: A photonic device (100) comprising: an optical waveguide (101), and a modulating element (102) that is evanescently coupled to the waveguide (101); wherein the modulating element (102) modifies a transmission, reflection or absorption characteristic of the waveguide (101) dependant on its state, and the state of the modulating element (102) is switchable by an optical switching signal (125) carried by the waveguide (101), or by an electrical signal that heats the modulating element (102).

Abstract: A photonic device (100) comprising: an optical waveguide (101), and a modulating element (102) that is evanescently coupled to the waveguide (101); wherein the modulating element (102) modifies a transmission, reflection or absorption characteristic of the waveguide (101) dependant on its state, and the state of the modulating element (102) is switchable by an optical switching signal (125) carried by the waveguide (101), or by an electrical signal that heats the modulating element (102).

Abstract: The present invention is related to an integrated optical circuit, in particular, to an optical-field writable array, as well as to methods for its manufacturing and reconfiguring. The integrated optical circuit comprises at least one nanophotonic device and at least one photonic wire, wherein the nanophotonic device comprises a substrate equipped with at least one reception for at least one external connector, wherein the reception is coupled to at least one connector waveguide, and at least one set of nano-optic components, wherein the nano-optic component is one of a nanophotonic waveguide or a nanophotonic component, wherein the nano-photonic component is nano-optically coupled to at least one nanophotonic waveguide, wherein at least one of the nanophotonic waveguides is selectively coupleable to at least one of the connector waveguides, wherein the photonic wire connects at least one of the nanophotonic waveguides to at least one of the connector waveguides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and system for high-efficiency and low-noise detection of single photons within the visible and infrared spectrum. In certain embodiments, the device of the invention can be integrated within photonic circuits to provide on-chip photon detection. The device comprises a traveling wave design comprising a waveguide layer and a superconducting nanowire atop of the waveguide.

Abstract: A nanophotonic device includes at least two waveguides located on top of a transparent substrate, which form an intersection point at which a part of a first waveguide simultaneously constitutes a part of a second waveguide. A nanoscale element located on top of the intersection point so that it partially or completely covers the intersection point is switchable between two different states, which differ by a refractive index value. The nanophotonic device is operated by injecting at least two optical pulses into the waveguides. Intensity of the optical pulses is selected so that a superposition of the optical pulses switches the nanoscale element into a desired state. Also disclosed is a nanophotonic matrix array in which parallel waveguides form nanophotonic devices. The nanophotonic matrix array may be used as a spatial light modulator (SLM), as an optical mirror, as an optical absorber, or as a tunable optical grating array.

Abstract: Devices which operate on gradient optical forces, in particular, nanoscale mechanical devices which are actuable by gradient optical forces. Such a device comprises a waveguide and a dielectric body, with at least a portion of the waveguide separated from the dielectric body at a distance which permits evanescent coupling of an optical mode within the waveguide to the dielectric body. This results in an optical force which acts on the waveguide and which can be exploited in a variety of devices on a nano scale, including all-optical switches, photonic transistors, tuneable couplers, optical attenuators and tuneable phase shifters.

Abstract: A nanophotonic device includes at least two waveguides located on top of a transparent substrate, which form an intersection point at which a part of a first waveguide simultaneously constitutes a part of a second waveguide. A nanoscale element located on top of the intersection point so that it partially or completely covers the intersection point is switchable between two different states, which differ by a refractive index value. The nanophotonic device is operated by injecting at least two optical pulses into the waveguides. Intensity of the optical pulses is selected so that a superposition of the optical pulses switches the nanoscale element into a desired state. Also disclosed is a nanophotonic matrix array in which parallel waveguides form nanophotonic devices. The nanophotonic matrix array may be used as a spatial light modulator (SLM), as an optical mirror, as an optical absorber, or as a tunable optical grating array.

Abstract: A nanophotonic device comprises at least two segments, wherein each segment comprises a grating coupler for receiving incident light and a superconducting stripe located on a substrate, wherein the grating coupler is optically coupled to a superconducting stripe of a superconducting single-photon detector. The nanophotonic device further comprises at least two further segments which do not comprise a superconducting stripe, wherein the grating couplers in the further segments constitute an optical reference port for aligning an optical fiber array to the nanophotonic device, wherein an optical coupling is provided between at least two of the optical reference ports. Additionally, a single-photon camera comprises a housing, wherein the housing comprises a single-photon detector chip with at least one nanophotonic device, a method for manufacturing the nanophotonic device, and a method for aligning an optical fiber array to the nanophotonic device.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an integrated optical circuit, in particular, to an optical-field writable array, as well as to methods for its manufacturing and reconfiguring. The integrated optical circuit comprises at least one nanophotonic device and at least one photonic wire, wherein the nanophotonic device comprises a substrate equipped with at least one reception for at least one external connector, wherein the reception is coupled to at least one connector waveguide, and at least one set of nano-optic components, wherein the nano-optic component is one of a nanophotonic waveguide or a nanophotonic component, wherein the nano-photonic component is nano-optically coupled to at least one nanophotonic waveguide, wherein at least one of the nanophotonic waveguides is selectively coupleable to at least one of the connector waveguides, wherein the photonic wire connects at least one of the nanophotonic waveguides to at least one of the connector waveguides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and system for high-efficiency and low-noise detection of single photons within the visible and infrared spectrum. In certain embodiments, the device of the invention can be integrated within photonic circuits to provide on-chip photon detection. The device comprises a traveling wave design comprising a waveguide layer and a superconducting nanowire atop of the waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices which operate on gradient optical forces, in particular, nanoscale mechanical devices which are actuable by gradient optical forces. Such a device comprises a waveguide and a dielectric body, with at least a portion of the waveguide separated from the dielectric body at a distance which permits evanescent coupling of an optical mode within the waveguide to the dielectric body. This results in an optical force which acts on the waveguide and which can be exploited in a variety of devices on a nano scale, including all-optical switches, photonic transistors, tuneable couplers, optical attenuators and tuneable phase shifters. The waveguide can also comprise a gap such that two cantilever bridges are formed.

Abstract: Devices which operate on gradient optical forces, in particular, nanoscale mechanical devices which are actuable by gradient optical forces. Such a device comprises a waveguide and a dielectric body, with at least a portion of the waveguide separated from the dielectric body at a distance which permits evanescent coupling of an optical mode within the waveguide to the dielectric body. This results in an optical force which acts on the waveguide and which can be exploited in a variety of devices on a nano scale, including all-optical switches, photonic transistors, tuneable couplers, optical attenuators and tuneable phase shifters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices which operate on gradient optical forces, in particular, nanoscale mechanical devices which are actuable by gradient optical forces. Such a device comprises a waveguide and a dielectric body, with at least a portion of the waveguide separated from the dielectric body at a distance which permits evanescent coupling of an optical mode within the waveguide to the dielectric body. This results in an optical force which acts on the waveguide and which can be exploited in a variety of devices on a nano scale, including all-optical switches, photonic transistors, tuneable couplers, optical attenuators and tuneable phase shifters. The waveguide can also comprise a gap such that two cantilever bridges are formed.