Abstract: In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a method that includes forming a first layer comprising a first material over a surface of a second layer, wherein forming the first layer includes sequentially forming a plurality of monolayers of the second material over the surface of the second layer, the second layer comprises a plurality of rows of a second material extending along a first direction and spaced from one another in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the first layer conforms to the surface of the second layer.

Abstract: In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to articles that include a plurality of walls configured to form a grating. Each of the plurality of walls can include a layer of a first material and a layer of a second material different from the first material. The articles can retard incident radiation at wavelengths ?1 and ?2 by amounts ?1 and ?2, respectively, where |?1??2| is about 15 nm or more and ?1 is substantially equal to ?2.

Abstract: Films for optical use, articles containing such films, methods for making such films, and systems that utilize such films, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for enhancing functionality for photonic devices each including at least one operable surface. This method includes stacking the photonic devices such that each of the operable surfaces are aligned to form a composite surface, applying a film adapted to receive a replication to the composite surface and replicating a pattern of nanostructures in the applied film. Substantially, each of the operable surfaces is replicated with a sufficient portion of the replicated pattern of nanostructures to enhance operation of the devices by performing a given function associated with the nanostructures.

Abstract: A birefringent device of substantially uniform thickness less than about 10 microns, and being suitable for operating in a wavelength range about a central wavelength is disclosed. The device includes a base substrate, a layer of periodic index regions of alternating refractive indices applied to a first surface of the base substrate, and a cap substrate located substantially adjacent to the layer distal to the base substrate. The layer of periodic index regions has a periodicity of less than the central wavelength. The device being suitable to produce an arbitrary phase retardation between 0 and 2? phase.

Abstract: A tunable optoelectronic device comprising: a resonant grating filter exhibiting at least one filtering characteristic as electromagnetic radiation impinges thereupon; at least one dielectric material coupling said radiation onto said resonant grating filter and movably positioned with respect to said filter so as to adjust the at least one filtering characteristic of said filter; and, at least one driving circuit for selectively positioning said at least one dielectric material so as to tune said at least one filtering characteristic.

Abstract: Gratings and related devices and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A wavelength tunable device for operating on at least a portion of energy propagating through a waveguide is disclosed. The wavelength tunable device includes an upper cladding and a lower cladding having a core substantially disposed there between and suitable for optically coupling to the waveguide, a pattern of nanostructures positioned substantially on the upper cladding distal to the core so as to define a reflectivity for energy propagating through the waveguide, and, a movable membrane aligned with the pattern of nanostructures so as to at least partially define a gap there between. This gap may be selectively controlled upon actuation of the movable membrane so as to cause a corresponding change in the reflectivity.

Abstract: An optical device for combining two orthogonally polarized beams or splitting a beam into two orthogonally polarized beams is provided that utilizes two collimating/focusing lenses and a thin film wire-grid polarizer. Because the thin film wire-grid polarizer can be fabricated in very thin profile, the provision of a thin film wire-grid polarizer allows the optical polarization beam combiner/splitter device to be highly integrated and simultaneously realize a number of performance advantages of a thin film wire-grid polarizer over other types of polarizers utilized in various prior art polarization beam combiner/splitters.

Abstract: Optical retarders and related devices and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for enhancing functionality for photonic devices each including at least one operable surface. This method includes stacking the photonic devices such that each of the operable surfaces are aligned to form a composite surface, applying a film adapted to receive a replication to the composite surface and replicating a pattern of nanostructures in the applied film. Substantially, each of the operable surfaces is replicated with a sufficient portion of the replicated pattern of nanostructures to enhance operation of the devices by performing a given function associated with the nanostructures.