Abstract: High-performance ultra-wideband Phased Array Antennas (PAA) are disclosed, having unique capabilities, enabled through photonic integrated circuits and novel optical architectures. Unique capabilities for PAA systems are enabled by photonic integration and ultra-low-loss waveguides. Novel aspects include optical multiplexing combining wavelength division multiplexing and/or a novel extension to array photodetectors, providing the capability to combine many RF photonic signals with very low loss. Architectures include tunable optical up-conversion and down-conversion systems, moving a chosen frequency band between baseband and a high RF frequency band with high dynamic range. Simultaneous multi-channel RF beamforming is achieved through power combining/splitting of optical signals.

Abstract: A low noise, single mode laser includes a semiconductor gain element generating light and having a highly reflective first end forming a first end of a laser cavity. The gain element may be monolithically or discretely integrated with, or distinct from, and coupled to a waveguide comprised of a low loss material with a refractive index ‘n’ greater than 3. The waveguide includes a Bragg grating forming the second end of the laser cavity. A cavity phase control section may be provided between the gain element and the Bragg grating. Two photodetector monitors provide a feedback signal for locking the light from the gain element to a specific wavelength on the Bragg grating reflection spectrum by varying at least one of the cavity phase control section and the gain element bias current. The Bragg grating may have a physical length larger than 10 mm and that occupies at least 50% of the optical length of the external cavity.

Abstract: A laser including: a gain chip; an external cavity incorporating a Bragg grating; and a baseplate; wherein a first end of the gain chip has a high reflectivity facet forming a first end of the laser cavity; a second end of the gain chip has a low reflectivity facet; and a second part of the external cavity comprises a Bragg grating, supported by the baseplate, the temperature of the baseplate being maintained through a feedback loop; wherein the optical length of the external cavity is at least an order of magnitude greater than the optical length of the gain chip; wherein the Bragg grating is physically long and occupies a majority of the length of the external cavity and is apodized to control the sidemodes of the grating reflection.

Abstract: A laser including: a gain chip; an external cavity incorporating a Bragg grating; and a baseplate; wherein a first end of the gain chip has a high reflectivity facet forming a first end of the laser cavity; a second end of the gain chip has a low reflectivity facet; and a second part of the external cavity comprises a Bragg grating, supported by the baseplate, the temperature of the baseplate being maintained through a feedback loop; wherein the optical length of the external cavity is at least an order of magnitude greater than the optical length of the gain chip; wherein the Bragg grating is physically long and occupies a majority of the length of the external cavity and is apodized to control the sidemodes of the grating reflection.

Abstract: A laser including: a gain chip; an external cavity incorporating a Bragg grating; and a baseplate; wherein a first end of the gain chip has a high reflectivity facet forming a first end of the laser cavity; a second end of the gain chip has a low reflectivity facet; and a second part of the external cavity comprises a Bragg grating, supported by the baseplate, the temperature of the baseplate being maintained through a feedback loop; wherein the optical length of the external cavity is at least an order of magnitude greater than the optical length of the gain chip; wherein the Bragg grating is physically long and occupies a majority of the length of the external cavity and is apodized to control the sidemodes of the grating reflection.

Abstract: A laser including: a gain chip; an external cavity incorporating a Bragg grating; and a baseplate; wherein a first end of the gain chip has a high reflectivity facet forming a first end of the laser cavity; a second end of the gain chip has a low reflectivity facet; and a second part of the external cavity comprises a Bragg grating, supported by the baseplate, the temperature of the baseplate being maintained through a feedback loop; wherein the optical length of the external cavity is at least an order of magnitude greater than the optical length of the gain chip; wherein the Bragg grating is physically long and occupies a majority of the length of the external cavity and is apodized to control the sidemodes of the grating reflection.

Abstract: This invention provides ultra-low noise lasers with exceptional performance through the use of ultra-low loss microresonator based filters/reflectors including multiple (?3) microresonator rings with different ring radii. The ultra-low loss microresonators provide a long effective laser cavity length enabling very narrow linewidth laser operation, with multiple (?3) microresonators providing extremely high selectivity of the lasing mode over a very wide wavelength range; supporting single wavelength and widely tunable wavelength laser operation. The highly selective and also low loss filter/reflector supports high output power operation of the lasers.

Abstract: This invention provides a balanced thermal approach to the tuning of an optical time delay device in order to eliminate any long-term time response of the device performance due to thermal time constants of the device, its mount, packaging or electronic temperature control circuits. The invention provides multiple ways to improve the thermal tuning speed of the balanced thermal approach. Additionally, the invention overcomes an issue of microresonator non-uniformity by operating a large group of microresonators as a ‘super-ring’ by tuning the large group together to provide a controllable group delay with large bandwidth.

Abstract: This invention provides a tunable delay of an optical signal having a carrier with an angular frequency ?0 and a single side band having a signal band with a median angular frequency ?r. The delay line comprises at least a first, a second and a third integrated resonators coupled sequentially to a waveguide. The first and the second resonators have angular resonant frequencies ?1=?r??? and ?2=?r+?? respectively, where ?? is a deviation from the median frequency. The third resonator provides a phase delay difference between the phase at the optical carrier ?0 and the phase at the median frequency ?r equal to (?r??0)Td, where Td is the time delay. The device provides an equal group delay to all frequency components in the output signal and also equal phase delay for all frequency components of an RF signal when the optical signal is downconverted at a photodetector. The device may find applications controlling the time delay to antenna elements in a phased array system.