Abstract: A method includes generating a sequence of multiple optical pulses, for transmission into an optical fiber (12) having an array of multiple equally spaced reflectors (14) embedded therein, the sequence having a pulse duration and a pulse repetition interval (PRI) that guarantee that reflections of any of the optical pulses from any of the reflectors do not overlap. The sequence of optical pulses is transmitted into the optical fiber. The reflections of the optical pulses from the reflectors are extracted from the optical fiber. One or more events affecting the optical fiber are identified by analyzing the reflections.

Abstract: Described herein are photonic communication platforms that can overcome the memory bottleneck problem, thereby enabling scaling of memory capacity and bandwidth well beyond what is possible with conventional computing systems. Some embodiments provide photonic communication platforms that involve use of photonic modules. Each photonic module includes programmable photonic circuits for placing the module in optical communication with other modules based on the needs of a particular application. The architecture developed by the inventors relies on the use of common photomask sets (or at least one common photomask) to fabricate multiple photonic modules in a single wafer. Photonic modules in multiple wafers can be linked together into a communication platform using optical or electronic means.

Abstract: An adaptive equalizer (70) according to this invention includes an adaptive equalization filter (71) configured to adaptively compensate for a waveform distortion caused by a polarization fluctuation of a received signal (61) by updating a tap coefficient, a first tap coefficient updater (72) configured to calculate the tap coefficient according to the polarization fluctuation of the received signal (61) using a variable step size and update the tap coefficient of the adaptive equalization filter (71), a second tap coefficient updater (73) configured to calculate the tap coefficient according to the polarization fluctuation of the received signal (61) using a fixed step size ?0, a polarization state estimator (74) configured to estimate a polarization state of the received signal (61) using the tap coefficient calculated by the second tap coefficient updater (73), and a step size updater (75) configured to obtain the step size corresponding to the polarization state estimated by the polarization state estimat

Abstract: The next-generation of optoelectronic systems will require efficient optical signal transfer between many discrete photonic components integrated onto a single substrate. While modern assembly processes can easily integrate thousands of electrical components onto a single board, photonic assembly is far more challenging due to the wavelength-scale alignment tolerances required. Here we address this problem by introducing a self-aligning photonic coupler insensitive to x, y, z displacement and angular misalignment. The self-aligning coupler provides a translationally invariant evanescent interaction between waveguides by intersecting them at an angle, which enables a lateral and angular alignment tolerance fundamentally larger than non-evanescent approaches such as edge coupling. This technology can function as a universal photonic connector interfacing photonic integrated circuits and microchiplets across different platforms.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pulse repetition rate multiplier including a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) including cascading Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs). An input may be connected to one end of the PIC and an output may be connected to the other end of the PIC such that a signal from the input runs through the cascading MZIs and out the output. The input may be configured to receive an input pulsed signal and the output may be configured to output a repetition rate multiplied signal. Advantageously, using a PIC as opposed to an optical fiber-based pulse rate multiplier allows for accurate fabrication of a pulse repetition rate multiplier configured to accept higher frequency pulsed signals.

Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and the second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns and less than a diameter of a buffer, and a smooth and continuous transition between the first and the second diameter portions. The second diameter portion is positioned between the first diameter portion and the second end. The axial passage further defines a tapered shape at the second end extending inward from the second end toward the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, another smooth and continuous transition can be provided between the taper shape and the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, the axial passage is smooth and continuous between the first and the second ends of the body. A hub holds the ferrule.

Abstract: A system for the transmission of optical and electrical signals has two optical connectors wherein each of the connectors have a metal ferrule electrically connected to a conductor. The system also has an adapter wherein having the connectors optically connected to each other via the adapter also electrically connects the conductor of optical connectors via the metal ferrules of the first and second optical connectors. Alternatively, a system can have first and second optical connectors wherein each of the connectors have an outer housing with a conductive interior surface. This system also has an adapter with at least one metal split sleeve wherein having the connectors optically connected to each other via the adapter also electrically connects optical connectors via the conductive interior surface of the outer housing of each optical connector contacting the at least one metal split sleeve.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical waveguide comprises: providing a sample of lithium niobate doped with magnesium oxide and having at least one grating of periodic domain inversion defined therein; applying a layer of metallic zinc to a surface of the sample over the at least one grating using sputter deposition; heating the sample in an atmosphere of pure oxygen to cause the zinc to indiffuse into the lithium niobate to form a waveguiding layer of increased refractive index under the surface of the sample; and using a dicing blade to cut two substantially parallel channels along a length direction of the at least one grating, to define a ridge waveguide between the two channels.

Abstract: A drawn glass element for producing glass optical waveguides is provided. The element has two first length portions with a first cross-sectional area and which define the two ends of the glass element; a second, intermediate length portion between the two first length portions, which has a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area; a first transition portion between the intermediate length portion and one of the first length portions; and a second transition portion between the intermediate length portion and another of the first length portions. The first and second transition portions have a cross-sectional area that steadily changes and merges from the first cross-sectional area into the second cross-sectional area.

Abstract: Structures including stacked photonics chips and methods of fabricating a structure including stacked photonics chips. The structure comprises a first chip including a first waveguide core, a ring resonator adjacent to a portion of the first waveguide core, and a first dielectric layer over the first waveguide core and the ring resonator. The first dielectric layer has a first surface. The structure further comprises a second chip including a second waveguide core and a second dielectric layer over the second waveguide core. The second dielectric layer has a second surface adjacent to the first surface of the first dielectric layer, and the second waveguide core is positioned adjacent to the ring resonator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety female adapter device for fiber optic connections, configured to house a male optical connector, characterized in that it includes controlled release locking means configured to constrain a longitudinal sliding of the male connector with respect to the female adapter device, when the connector is inserted in the adapter device to establish the optical connection, and release the longitudinal sliding of the connector with respect to the adapter device, during the insertion or disconnection of the male connector in/from the female adapter device.

Abstract: A space active optical cable (SAOC) includes a cable including one or more optical fibers, and two or more electrical transceivers on opposing ends of the cable and interconnected by the cable. Each of the electrical transceivers includes an enclosure that encloses one or more light sources, one or more light detectors, and control electronics. Also included in the enclosure are a coupling medium to couple light into and out of the one or more optical fibers. The coupling medium can be reflecting surface or an on-axis mount. The enclosure provides a suitable heat propagation and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and the cable and the two or more electrical transceivers are radiation resistant. SAOC features optionally support a health check algorithm that allows trending optical performance in the absence of an optical connector and a potential surface treatment to increase nominally low emissivity of an EMI conductive surface.

Abstract: A photonic buried interposer for converting light between a first optical mode of a first optical component and a second optical mode of a second optical component, the second optical component being larger than the first optical component; the buried interposer comprising a bi-layer taper, the bi-layer taper comprising: a top device layer comprising an upper tapered waveguide; and a bottom device layer comprising a lower tapered waveguide; wherein the upper tapered waveguide extends from a first end for coupling to the first optical component to a second end for coupling to the second optical component; and the lower tapered waveguide starts from an intermediate location between the first and second ends and extends from the intermediate location to the second end.

Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule and a fiber optic connector housing make contact only along two sides of the fiber optic ferrule when in an unmated condition. One of the fiber optic ferrule and the fiber optic connector housing have been modified such that only two of the surfaces engage one another. The shoulders can be shortened, lengthened, or have a projection added to the current surfaces.

Abstract: A laser beam delivery system includes an optical beam launcher device and a waveguide assembly. The optical beam launcher device includes an optical relay system that includes a beam splitting optic that is configured to cause a laser beam that is input into the optical beam launcher device to be split into a first laser sub-beam and a second laser sub-beam, cause the first laser sub-beam to transmit to a first region of an input lens of the waveguide assembly, and cause the second laser sub-beam to transmit to a second region of the input lens. The waveguide assembly is configured to transmit the first laser sub-beam and the second laser sub-beam from the input lens to an output lens of the waveguide assembly, wherein the first laser sub-beam and the second laser sub-beam transmit from the waveguide assembly and form an output laser beam.

Abstract: A core, constituted by an amorphous undoped semiconductor (i type), which is formed on a lower clad layer, and a p-type layer and an n-type layer which are disposed on the lower clad layer with the core interposed therebetween and are formed in contact with the core are provided. The core is formed to be thicker than the p-type layer and the n-type layer. The p-type layer and the n-type layer are constituted by single crystal silicon.

Abstract: A multilayer photonic device is described, including an input region configured to receive an input signal, a multilayer stack optically coupled with the input region to receive the input signal, and an output region optically coupled with the multilayer stack to output an output signal. The multilayer stack can include a first metastructured dispersive region disposed in a first patterned layer of the multilayer stack and a second metastructured dispersive region disposed in a second patterned layer of the multilayer stack and optically coupled with the first metastructured dispersive region. The first metastructured dispersive region and the second metastructured dispersive region can together structure the multilayer stack to generate the output signal in response to the input signal.

Abstract: Thermal isolation elements are provided in wafer-bonded silicon photonics that include a photonic platform, including a heating element and an optical waveguide that are disposed between a first surface and a second surface (opposite to the first surface) of the photonic platform; a substrate, including a third surface and a fourth surface (opposite to the third surface); wherein the first surface of the photonic platform is bonded to the third surface of the substrate; and wherein a cavity is defined by a trench in one or more of: the first surface and extending towards, but not reaching, the second surface, and the third surface and extending towards, but not reaching, the fourth surface; wherein the cavity is filled with a gas of a known composition at a predefined pressure; and wherein the cavity is aligned with the optical waveguide and the heating element.

Abstract: An optical sensing system including an optical interrogator is operative with an array of reflective sensors, each sensor providing a separable reflected spectral response parameter such as a unique Gaussian standard deviation or reflected response compared to other sensors in the same operating wavelength range. The optical interrogator provides narrowband swept or broadband continuous optical power source to the array of FBG sensors, and an optical interrogator generates a g(x) representation of power vs wavelength of the reflected optical power and decomposes the representation into the wavelength of the individual sensors, thereby allowing operation of two or more FBG sensors in the same operating wavelength range.

Abstract: A device coupon for use in a hybrid integration process with a silicon platform. The device coupon comprises: an input waveguide, including an input facet; an active waveguide, coupled to the input waveguide, the active waveguide including a III-V semiconductor based electro-optical device; and an output waveguide, configured to couple light between the active waveguide and an output facet. The input waveguide and output waveguide are passive waveguides.