Abstract: A photonic system enabling the processing of high frequency microwave, mm-wave, THz signals or other RF signals. The processing may include, e.g., adjusting the frequency, quadrature, and/or power of the signals. In illustrative examples, the system uses a polychromatic light source producing at least two low noise optical emission frequencies that can be independently tuned in a broad frequency range and/or modulated in a broad frequency range using external modulators. An RF input signal is upconverted to one of the optical harmonics of the modulated polychromatic source, processed in the optical frequency domain, and downconverted to the RF domain (at the same or a different RF carrier frequency). The photonic system can be integrated on a planar optical substrate, such as a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). Optical local oscillators are also described for use in the photonic system or for other purposes. Various system, device, and method examples are provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to providing miniature power-efficient agile photonic generators of microwave waveforms. Illustrative examples use chip lasers integrated in close thermal proximity with one another to provide a miniature microwave arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). Due to the small size of the lasers and the close integration, common ambient fluctuations from the environment or other sources can be efficiently reduced, yielding improved spectral purity of generated radio-frequency (RF) signals. Tight physical integration also permits a small device footprint with minimal acceleration sensitivity. The lasers may be locked to cavities or other resonators to allow efficient decoupling of the frequency and amplitude modulation of the lasers to provide flexibility to the waveform generator. Exemplary devices described herein can produce frequency chirped signals for radar applications. The frequency chirp may be linear and/or nonlinear. Tuning methods are also described herein.

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: An FM LIDAR system is described that includes a frequency modulated LIDAR system that incorporates a laser source that is optically coupled to a whispering gallery mode optical resonator. Light from the laser that is coupled into the whispering gallery mode optical resonator is coupled back out as a returning counterpropagating wave having a frequency characteristic of a whispering gallery mode of the optical resonator. This returning wave is used to reduce the linewidth of the source laser by optical injection. Modulation of the optical properties of the whispering gallery mode optical resonator results in modulation of the frequency of the frequencies supported by whispering gallery modes of the resonator, and provides a method for producing highly linear and reproducible optical chirps that are highly suited for use in a LIDAR system. Methods of using such an FM LIDAR system and vehicle assisting systems that incorporate such FM LIDAR systems are also described.

Abstract: An FM LIDAR system is described that includes a frequency modulated LIDAR system that incorporates a laser source that is optically coupled to a whispering gallery mode optical resonator. Light from the laser that is coupled into the whispering gallery mode optical resonator is coupled back out as a returning counterpropagating wave having a frequency characteristic of a whispering gallery mode of the optical resonator. This returning wave is used to reduce the linewidth of the source laser by optical injection. Modulation of the optical properties of the whispering gallery mode optical resonator results in modulation of the frequency of the frequencies supported by whispering gallery modes of the resonator, and provides a method for producing highly linear and reproducible optical chirps that are highly suited for use in a LIDAR system. Methods of using such an FM LIDAR system and vehicle assisting systems that incorporate such FM LIDAR systems are also described.

Abstract: A photonic system enabling the processing of high frequency microwave, mm-wave, THz signals or other RF signals. The processing may include, e.g., adjusting the frequency, quadrature, and/or power of the signals. In illustrative examples, the system uses a polychromatic light source producing at least two low noise optical emission frequencies that can be independently tuned in a broad frequency range and/or modulated in a broad frequency range using external modulators. An RF input signal is upconverted to one of the optical harmonics of the modulated polychromatic source, processed in the optical frequency domain, and downconverted to the RF domain (at the same or a different RF carrier frequency). The photonic system can be integrated on a planar optical substrate, such as a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). Optical local oscillators are also described for use in the photonic system or for other purposes. Various system, device, and method examples are provided.

Abstract: One feature pertains to an apparatus that includes apparatus that includes an evanescent field coupler having a first surface that evanescently couples light between the evanescent field coupler and an open dielectric resonator. The apparatus also includes a thin film coating covering at least a portion of the first surface of the evanescent field coupler. The thin film coating is specifically designed so that the thin film coating reflects light of a first wavelength.

Abstract: One feature pertains to an apparatus that includes apparatus that includes an evanescent field coupler having a first surface that evanescently couples light between the evanescent field coupler and an open dielectric resonator. The apparatus also includes a thin film coating covering at least a portion of the first surface of the evanescent field coupler. The thin film coating is specifically designed so that the thin film coating reflects light of a first wavelength.

Abstract: The disclosure relates in sonic aspects to a radar device utilizing frequency modulated continuous waves (FMCW) to illuminate a target. The device uses two or more fixed transmitter antennas spaced apart to provide high resolution imaging with fast resolution time. In one example, the radar device includes: a signal source providing a transmission signal; a first transmitter for transmitting the signal as a first FMCW to a target; a second transmitter for transmitting the signal as a second FMCW to the target, where the first and second transmitters are spaced apart by a distance greater than a wavelength of the transmission signal; a receiver for receiving a reflected signal from the target; and an analyzer for determining the target distance and angle of the target with respect to the transmitters based on the received signal and the transmission signal. Radar devices with multiple input, multiple output transmitters are also described.

Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to providing miniature power-efficient agile photonic generators of microwave waveforms. Illustrative examples use chip lasers integrated in close thermal proximity with one another to provide a miniature microwave arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). Due to the small size of the lasers and the close integration, common ambient fluctuations from the environment or other sources can be efficiently reduced, yielding improved spectral purity of generated radio-frequency (RF) signals. Tight physical integration also permits a small device footprint with minimal acceleration sensitivity. The lasers may be locked to cavities or other resonators to allow efficient decoupling of the frequency and amplitude modulation of the lasers to provide flexibility to the waveform generator. Exemplary devices described herein can produce frequency chirped signals for radar applications. The frequency chirp may be linear and/or nonlinear. Tuning methods are also described herein.

Abstract: One feature pertains to an apparatus that includes apparatus that includes an evanescent field coupler having a first surface that evanescently couples light between the evanescent field coupler and an open dielectric resonator. The apparatus also includes a thin film coating covering at least a portion of the first surface of the evanescent field coupler. The thin film coating is specifically designed so that the thin film coating reflects light of a first wavelength.

Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to an open dielectric resonator with nanoparticles secured on its outer surface, where the nanoparticles are located, sized and/or shaped to increase an amount of backscattered light in the resonator to provide substantially lossless, coherent backscattering of light. In some examples, fine particles are used instead of nanoparticles. Other features relate to a laser system having a plasmon-activated cavity optically coupled to a laser where the plasmon-activated cavity is configured to (a) receive a laser beam, (b) scatter the laser beam in accordance with a plasmon resonance, and (c) feed at least a portion of the laser beam back to the laser for self-injection locking of the laser. The plasmon-activated cavity may be a dielectric resonator with surface particles configured to stabilize the laser to a frequency of a plasmon mode to reduce a linewidth of the laser.

Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to a two-point locking system for stabilizing a frequency comb oscillator using at least two optical transitions of the same atomic/molecular sample. In an example, an optical reference sample is provided that is characterized by two or more optical transitions. A coherent light source provides polychromatic coherent light (such as an optical frequency comb). The beams of light, occupying the same spatial mode volume or separated in space, and having frequencies in the vicinity of the optical transitions of the reference sample, interrogate the resonances of the reference sample. Interrogation signals obtained using phase/frequency/amplitude spectroscopy or other spectroscopy techniques are then used to stabilize the frequency harmonics of the light. If the harmonics belong to the same coherent frequency comb, the entire comb becomes stabilized using this procedure. In an illustrative example, a stable atomic optical clock is provided using these techniques.

Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) for underwater applications. An exemplary LIDAR system described herein uses a green and/or blue semiconductor laser, which is self-injection locked using a high-quality factor micro-resonator, such as a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator. The self-injection locking results in a single mode operation of the laser and reduction of its linewidth. The self-injection allows transferring frequency modulation from the optical micro-resonator to the laser frequency without significant impact on the power of the laser. In some examples, the LIDAR operates in a continuous wave frequency modulated (CWFM) mode. The CWFM LIDAR may be used for ranging, velocity determination, etc., particularly for underwater applications and may be mounted to watercraft or to aircraft designed to fly over water to take underwater measurements.

Abstract: An FM LIDAR system is described that includes a frequency modulated LIDAR system that incorporates a laser source that is optically coupled to a whispering gallery mode optical resonator. Light from the laser that is coupled into the whispering gallery mode optical resonator is coupled back out as a returning counterpropagating wave having a frequency characteristic of a whispering gallery mode of the optical resonator. This returning wave is used to reduce the linewidth of the source laser by optical injection. Modulation of the optical properties of the whispering gallery mode optical resonator results in modulation of the frequency of the frequencies supported by whispering gallery modes of the resonator, and provides a method for producing highly linear and reproducible optical chirps that are highly suited for use in a LIDAR system. Methods of using such an FM LIDAR system and vehicle assisting systems that incorporate such FM LIDAR systems are also described.

Abstract: An FM LIDAR system is described that includes a frequency modulated LIDAR system that incorporates a laser source that is optically coupled to a whispering gallery mode optical resonator. Light from the laser that is coupled into the whispering gallery mode optical resonator is coupled back out as a returning counterpropagating wave having a frequency characteristic of a whispering gallery mode of the optical resonator. This returning wave is used to reduce the linewidth of the source laser by optical injection. Modulation of the optical properties of the whispering gallery mode optical resonator results in modulation of the frequency of the frequencies supported by whispering gallery modes of the resonator, and provides a method for producing highly linear and reproducible optical chirps that are highly suited for use in a LIDAR system. Methods of using such an FM LIDAR system and vehicle assisting systems that incorporate such FM LIDAR systems are also described.

Abstract: An optical atomic clock utilizing two different laser light sources is described. A source laser is locked to a first optical resonator, which supports a whispering gallery mode for the source laser and generates optical hyperparametric sidebands from the source laser output by multi-wave mixing. A reference laser is locked to an atomic reference via a second optical resonator, and the first optical resonator is locked to the reference laser. Optical parametric sidebands, which are locked to an atomic reference but are generated from a wavelength unrelated to the clock transition of the atomic reference, are coupled out of the first optical resonator to generate an RF signal useful in atomic timekeeping.

Abstract: An optical atomic clock utilizing two different laser light sources is described. A source laser is locked to a first optical resonator, which supports a whispering gallery mode for the source laser and generates optical hyperparametric sidebands from the source laser output by multi-wave mixing. A reference laser is locked to an atomic reference via a second optical resonator, and the first optical resonator is locked to the reference laser. Optical parametric sidebands, which are locked to an atomic reference but are generated from a wavelength unrelated to the clock transition of the atomic reference, are coupled out of the first optical resonator to generate an RF signal useful in atomic timekeeping.

Abstract: An FM LIDAR system is described that includes a frequency modulated LIDAR system that incorporates a laser source that is optically coupled to a whispering gallery mode optical resonator. Light from the laser that is coupled into the whispering gallery mode optical resonator is coupled back out as a returning counterpropagating wave having a frequency characteristic of a whispering gallery mode of the optical resonator. This returning wave is used to reduce the linewidth of the source laser by optical injection. Modulation of the optical properties of the whispering gallery mode optical resonator results in modulation of the frequency of the frequencies supported by whispering gallery modes of the resonator, and provides a method for producing highly linear and reproducible optical chirps that are highly suited for use in a LIDAR system. Methods of using such an FM LIDAR system and vehicle assisting systems that incorporate such FM LIDAR systems are also described.

Abstract: Optical filters comprising one or more optically-coupled Fabry-Perot resonators are disclosed. In some embodiments, the one or more optically coupled Fabry-Perot resonators include a graded index fiber. In some embodiments, the one or more optically coupled Fabry-Perot resonators are coupled end-to-end, whereas in other embodiments the one or more optically coupled Fabry-Perot resonators are side-coupled through evanescence. One or more implementations of an optical filter allow a spectral response of an input light beam to be controlled, through various approaches, e.g., by exposing a component fiber to ultra-violet radiation.