Abstract: A method of stimulating a MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) structure (e.g. a cantilever), and an optical sensor for use in such a method, using optical radiation pressure instead of electrostatic pressure, or the like. An optical pulse creates optical radiation pressure which stimulates movement of the MEMS structure and then movement of the MEMS structure may be measures. An interrogating light may be input after the optical pulse to measure movement of the MEMS structure. Advantageously, the same light source can be utilized to stimulate movement of the MEMS structure and to measure movement of the MEMS structure.

Abstract: An optical sensor including a MEMS structure, and a grating coupled resonating structure positioned adjacent to the MEMS structure, the grating coupled resonating structure comprising an interrogating grating coupler configured to direct light towards the MEMS structure. The interrogating grating coupler is two dimensional, and the interrogating grating coupler and the MEMS structure form an optical resonant cavity.

Abstract: A method of crystallising a thin film (220) including the steps of: depositing a thin film (220) on a substrate (210; and exposing the thin film (220) as deposited on the substrate (210) and the substrate (210) to a plasma for a time period of greater than 5 minutes, wherein: the thin film (220) is one of an amorphous magneto optic material, an amorphous electro optic material or a nitride material; a gas (130) is excited with a radio frequency (RF) field to form the plasma; the thin film (220) and the substrate (210) are, in the course of being exposed to the plasma, heated to temperatures of between 400° C. and 550° C. by the plasma; and the thin film (220) is at least partially crystallised by the plasma.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for analysing a sample. The apparatus comprises a waveguide (205), including an input for receiving light and an output, a first microring resonator (210) optically coupled to the waveguide (205), and a first flexible optical waveguide (215) optically coupled to the first microring resonator (210). The first flexible optical waveguide (215) includes a portion for interacting with the sample. Light transmitted from the output of said waveguide (205) is modulated at a first optical resonant wavelength of the first microring resonator (210) and the modulation is a function of a distance between the first flexible optical waveguide (215) and the first microring resonator (210).

Abstract: A structure (10) for rotating a plane of polarization of a polarized visible light signal, including a lower mirror (13) bonded to a top of a substrate (11) with a first bonding layer (12a), a magneto-optic layer (14) disposed on a top of the lower mirror (13), and an upper mirror (15) disposed on a top of the magneto-optic layer (14); wherein when the structure (10) is annealed the first bonding layer (12a) aids adhesion of the lower mirror (13) to the substrate (11).

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, and computer-program product for producing magneto-optic materials in the blue and green wavelengths. The apparatus includes a substrate generally transparent to a light signal including a component at a predetermined visible frequency; a stack of optical multilayers overlying the substrate for transmitting the component with at least about forty percent power therethrough and having at least about twenty-four degrees of Faraday rotation per micron for the predetermined visible frequency less than about six hundred nanometers. The method includes processes for the manufacture and assembly of the disclosed materials, with the computer program product including machine-executable instructions for carrying out the disclosed methods.