Abstract: An apparatus includes a wavelength-selective switch having an optical demultiplexer having N optical outputs, a first optical multiplexer having N optical inputs, a second optical multiplexer having N optical inputs, and a plurality of controllable 1×P optical switches. Integer P is greater than or equal to 2. Each of the optical switches is connected to a corresponding one of the optical outputs of the optical demultiplexer and is connected to corresponding ones of the optical inputs of the respective first and second optical multiplexers. The optical AWG demultiplexer has an optical AWG sampling coefficient of one or more for light with a wavelength in the optical telecommunication C-band, L-band, or S-band.

Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus includes an optical fiber for which a complete orthogonal basis of propagating modes at an optical telecommunication frequency includes ones of the propagating modes with different angular momenta. The optical fiber has a tubular optical core and an outer optical cladding in contact with and surrounding the tubular optical core. The tubular optical core has a larger refractive index than the optical cladding. The tubular optical core is configured such that those of the propagating modes whose angular momenta have the lowest magnitude for the propagating modes have substantially the same radial intensity profile.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical fiber having a plurality of optical cores therein. Each optical core is located lateral in the optical fiber to the remaining one or more optical cores and is able to support a number of propagating optical modes at telecommunications wavelengths. Each number is less than seventy.

Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus includes an optical fiber for which a complete orthogonal basis of propagating modes at an optical telecommunication frequency includes ones of the propagating modes with different angular momenta. The optical fiber has a tubular optical core and an outer optical cladding in contact with and surrounding the tubular optical core. The tubular optical core has a larger refractive index than the optical cladding. The tubular optical core is configured such that those of the propagating modes whose angular momenta have the lowest magnitude for the propagating modes have substantially the same radial intensity profile.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more optical de-interleavers. Each optical de-interleaver includes an optical component having a first pair of optical input and output ports and a second pair of optical input and output ports and a 1×2 optical coupler. Each optical output port of the optical component is optically connected to a corresponding optical port of the 1×2 optical coupler. The optical component is constructed to operate as a first optical filter for light propagating between the optical ports of the first pair and is constructed to operate as a second optical filter for light propagating between the optical ports of the second pair. The first and second optical filters have substantially regularly spaced and interleaved passbands.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wavelength-selective switch having an optical demultiplexer having N optical outputs, a first optical multiplexer having N optical inputs, a second optical multiplexer having N optical inputs, and a plurality of controllable 1×P optical switches. Integer P is greater than or equal to 2. Each of the optical switches is connected to a corresponding one of the optical outputs of the optical demultiplexer and is connected to corresponding ones of the optical inputs of the respective first and second optical multiplexers. The optical AWG demultiplexer has an optical AWG sampling coefficient of one or more for light with a wavelength in the optical telecommunication C-band, L-band, or S-band.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical fiber having a plurality of optical cores therein. Each optical core is located lateral in the optical fiber to the remaining one or more optical cores and is able to support a number of propagating optical modes at telecommunications wavelengths. Each number is less than seventy.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a planar optical waveguide having an optical core and optical cladding next to the optical core. The optical core or cladding includes a plurality of particles therein. Each particle has a nucleus and polymeric molecules permanently bonded to the nucleus to form a shell. A plurality of nuclei are dispersed in said core or cladding.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a planar optical structure that includes an input coupler, first and second planar waveguides and an output coupler, all on a planar substrate. The input coupler is configured to divide an incoming light into two input light beams. Each of the first and second waveguides is configured to receive one of the two input light beams. The first waveguide has a first core with a width that is greater than a width of a second core of the second waveguide. At least one of the first or second planar waveguides is birefringent. The output coupler is configured to receive the light beams after passage through the first and second waveguides. A first output light beam from the output coupler is substantially TE polarized light and a second output light beam from the output coupler is substantially TM polarized light.

Abstract: An exemplary optical modulator includes an interferometer. The interferometer includes an input optical coupler, an output optical coupler, and two or more controllable optical waveguides. Each controllable optical waveguide connects the input optical coupler to the output optical coupler and has an electro-absorption modulator along a segment thereof. Two of the controllable optical waveguides are connected to transmit to an output of the output optical coupler light of substantially different maximum amplitude.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for manufacture thereof. The apparatus includes a passive optical waveguide structure and a photodiode detector structure. The structures are located on a substrate, and the photodiode detector is laterally proximate to the semiconductor passive waveguide structure. The passive optical waveguide structure includes a first lateral portion of a semiconductor optical core layer on the substrate, a semiconductor upper optical cladding layer on the optical core layer, and a first lateral portion of a doped semiconductor layer on the upper optical cladding layer. The photodiode detector structure includes a second lateral portion of the semiconductor optical core layer, a semiconductor optical absorber layer on the optical core layer, and a second lateral portion of the doped semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for manufacture thereof. The apparatus includes a passive optical waveguide structure and a photodiode detector structure. The structures are located on a substrate, and the photodiode detector is laterally proximate to the semiconductor passive waveguide structure. The passive optical waveguide structure includes a first lateral portion of a semiconductor optical core layer on the substrate, a semiconductor upper optical cladding layer on the optical core layer, and a first lateral portion of a doped semiconductor layer on the upper optical cladding layer. The photodiode detector structure includes a second lateral portion of the semiconductor optical core layer, a semiconductor optical absorber layer on the optical core layer, and a second lateral portion of the doped semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A mode-locked laser that has an optical cavity containing multiple optical amplifiers, each dedicated to a respective spectral portion of an optical signal generated by the laser, wherein the dispersion effects are managed by utilizing a separate intra-cavity phase tuner for each such spectral portion and/or by having appropriately configured waveguides corresponding to different spectral portions. Advantageously, a relatively wide combined gain spectrum provided by the optical amplifiers and the intra-cavity dispersion compensation provided by the phase tuners and/or waveguides enable this laser to realize a mode-locking regime that results in the emission of an optical pulse train having a relatively wide frequency spectrum.

Abstract: An exemplary optical modulator includes an interferometer. The interferometer includes an input optical coupler, an output optical coupler, and two or more controllable optical waveguides. Each controllable optical waveguide connects the input optical coupler to the output optical coupler and has an electro-absorption modulator along a segment thereof. Two of the controllable optical waveguides are connected to transmit to an output of the output optical coupler light of substantially different maximum amplitude.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for use thereof. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes first and second 1×N couplers integrated on a substrate and configured to receive an optical symbol having an intended time slot, N being at least three. The apparatus, in this embodiment, further includes N waveguide arms integrated on the substrate, having modulators and coupled between the first and second 1×N couplers. The apparatus, in this embodiment, additionally, includes a modulator controller configured to drive the modulators such that, following transmission over a distance, components of the optical symbol outside of the intended time slot are attenuated relative to components within the intended time slot.

Abstract: An optical receiver has a monolithically integrated electrical and optical circuit that includes a substrate with a planar surface. Along the planar surface, the monolithically integrated electrical and optical circuit has an optical hybrid, one or more variable optical attenuators, and photodetectors. The optical hybrid is connected to receive light beams, to interfere light of said received light beams with a plurality of relative phases and to output said interfered light via optical outputs thereof. Each of the one or more variable optical attenuators connects between a corresponding one of the optical outputs and a corresponding one of the photodetectors.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a planar optical structure that includes an input coupler, first and second planar waveguides and an output coupler, all on a planar substrate. The input coupler is configured to divide an incoming light into two input light beams. Each of the first and second waveguides is configured to receive one of the two input light beams. The first waveguide has a first core with a width that is greater than a width of a second core of the second waveguide. At least one of the first or second planar waveguides is birefringent. The output coupler is configured to receive the light beams after passage through the first and second waveguides. A first output light beam from the output coupler is substantially TE polarized light and a second output light beam from the output coupler is substantially TM polarized light.

Abstract: Transmissive WSS-based mesh nodes of degree N, N?3, includes N node port apparatuses connected to provide a multiple wavelength channel signal with reciprocal connectivity between the N node ports. Each node port apparatus has an input port and N?1 output ports and comprises either (1) a coupler connected to said input port and having N?1 outputs, (2) a transmissive 1×(N?1) WSS connected to said input port and responsive to a control signal C for establishing a switching connection to one of its N?1 outputs, or (3) a coupler connected to said input port and having X+1 outputs including one output connected to an input of a transmissive 1×Y WSS having Y outputs, where X+Y equals N?1, the sum of the remaining X outputs of the coupler and the Y outputs of the transmissive 1×Y WSS being the N?1 output ports of the node port apparatus.

Abstract: An exemplary optical modulator includes an interferometer. The interferometer includes an input optical coupler, an output optical coupler, and two or more controllable optical waveguides. Each controllable optical waveguide connects the input optical coupler to the output optical coupler and has an electro-absorption modulator along a segment thereof. Two of the controllable optical waveguides are connected to transmit to an output of the output optical coupler light of substantially different maximum amplitude.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for use thereof. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes first and second 1×N couplers integrated on a substrate and configured to receive an optical symbol having an intended time slot, N being at least three. The apparatus, in this embodiment, further includes N waveguide arms integrated on the substrate, having modulators and coupled between the first and second 1×N couplers. The apparatus, in this embodiment, additionally, includes a modulator controller configured to drive the modulators such that, following transmission over a distance, components of the optical symbol outside of the intended time slot are attenuated relative to components within the intended time slot.