Abstract: The present disclosure provides a polarization attenuator and a polarization attenuation method to solve the problem of polarization dependent loss of optical devices, or to be used in optical devices or systems as a polarizer structure. The polarization attenuator comprises a first main waveguide, an offset waveguide and a second main waveguide which are arranged in sequence, wherein an output surface of the first main waveguide partially overlaps an input surface of the offset waveguide; an output surface of the offset waveguide partially overlaps an input surface of the second main waveguide; the first main waveguide or the second main waveguide supports fundamental modes and supports at least one high order mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a polarization attenuator and a polarization attenuation method to solve the problem of polarization dependent loss of optical devices, or to be used in optical devices or systems as a polarizer structure. The polarization attenuator comprises a first main waveguide, an offset waveguide and a second main waveguide which are arranged in sequence, wherein an output surface of the first main waveguide partially overlaps an input surface of the offset waveguide; an output surface of the offset waveguide partially overlaps an input surface of the second main waveguide; the first main waveguide or the second main waveguide supports fundamental modes and supports at least one high order mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a WDM optical system that includes a tunable filter for selecting one or more optical channels from a WDM optical signal. A portion of a WDM signal enters a first optical filter stage that exhibits a periodic transmission spectrum and possesses individually tunable filter elements. A second optical filter stage receives throughput from the first filter stage and has a periodic transmission spectrum and individually tunable filter elements. A controller electrically communicates with the optical filter to select individual optical channels from the portion of the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal received through the filter input port; each selected optical channel is output via a filter throughput port. In an exemplary embodiment, each tunable filter element is a micro-ring resonator and the micro-ring resonators in the first filter stage have a different free spectral range (FSR) than the micro-ring resonators of the second filter stage.

Abstract: The current invention provides methods for detecting trace analytes in solution or suspension using coupled micro-ring resonators. The methods of the current invention determine the presence and concentration of the target analytes in real time by exposing the micro-ring resonator to the analyte and determining the resulting rate of change of resonance wavelength experienced by a sensing micro-ring resonator as compared to a reference micro-ring resonator.

Abstract: A method for separating the orthogonal polarization components of an incident optical signal into two spatially separated output ports is described. The method comprises a Mach-Zehnder interferometer where one of the two branches has a section of waveguide that exhibits form-birefringence. This integrated optic Polarization Beam Splitter (PBS) is broadband, has high extinction ratio, and has characteristics that are tunable.

Abstract: A method for separating the orthogonal polarization components of an incident optical signal into two spatially separated output ports is described. The method comprises a Mach-Zehnder interferometer where one of the two branches has a section of waveguide that exhibits form-birefringence. This integrated optic Polarization Beam Splitter (PBS) is broadband, has high extinction ratio, and has characteristics that are tunable.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an optical circuit on a substrate. The method includes the deployment of a plurality of mask images to define an optical circuit image in photoresist. Each of the mask images define parts of the optical circuit and the totality of all mask images substantially define an optical circuit. A photolithography system globally aligns and exposes the mask images in photoresist. The resultant composite image is substantially indistinguishable from a single image of the entire optical circuit. Different images for each of the mask image parts can be substituted with other images or image parts and thereby exponentially increasing the number of circuit permutations from a predetermined number of available mask images. The method is also applicable to generating a unique optical circuit from a pre-existing library of reticle images. The images are printed in predetermined locations on a substrate to define the desired optical circuit.

Abstract: A method for separating the orthogonal polarization components of an incident optical signal into two spatially separated output ports is described. The method comprises a Mach-Zehnder interferometer where one of the two branches has a section of waveguide that exhibits form-birefringence. This integrated optic Polarization Beam Splitter (PBS) is broadband, has high extinction ratio, and has characteristics that are tunable.