Abstract: A reflective optical element includes a reflective surface comprising a multitude of discrete recessed and non-recessed areas arranged along the reflective surface. The discrete areas are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function. Effecting at least partial reflow of one or more optical media or reflective materials can smooth the morphology of the reflective surface so as to reduce unwanted diffraction or scattering.

Abstract: A optical element (transmissive or reflective) includes a transmissive layer comprising two different optical media arranged among discrete volumes arranged along the layer. The discrete volumes are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first grating device configured to: receive a light beam that includes an optical signal with a particular wavelength from a fiber; and change a propagation direction of the optical signal according to the particular wavelength of the optical signal. The optical assembly also includes a second grating device configured to: receive the optical signal outputted from the first grating device; change the propagation direction of the optical signal according to the particular wavelength of the optical signal; and direct the optical signal onto a grating coupler. The first grating device and the second grating device are configured to satisfy a plurality of configuration constraints.

Abstract: An optical element (transmissive or reflective) includes a transmissive layer comprising two different optical media arranged among discrete volumes arranged along the layer. The discrete volumes are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first grating device configured to: receive a light beam that includes an optical signal with a particular wavelength from a fiber; and change a propagation direction of the optical signal according to the particular wavelength of the optical signal. The optical assembly also includes a second grating device configured to: receive the optical signal outputted from the first grating device; change the propagation direction of the optical signal according to the particular wavelength of the optical signal; and direct the optical signal onto a grating coupler. The first grating device and the second grating device are configured to satisfy a plurality of configuration constraints.

Abstract: An optical element includes a transmissive layer comprising a multitude of discrete volumes of first and second optical media arranged along the transmissive layer. The discrete volumes are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function. Effecting at least partial reflow of one or both of the optical media can smooth the morphology of the transmissive layer so as to reduce unwanted diffraction or scattering.

Abstract: An optical element includes a transmissive layer arranged on a substrate and made up of discrete volumes of first and second optical media. The layer is between the substrate and another optical medium. The volumes are arranged so that, averaged over a wavelength's distance of an incident optical signal, the effective reflectivities of the two surfaces of the transmissive layer and the effective double-pass phase delay through the transmissive layer are substantially constant across the transmissive layer. The reflectivities and phase delay result in net power reflectivity that differs from that of the substrate in direct contact with the other optical medium. The transmissive layer can be arranged as an anti-reflection layer.

Abstract: A method for improving surface accuracy of an optical component comprises: positioning a first surface of the optical component against a reference surface of a reference member; urging together the reference member and the optical component; adhering a second surface of the optical component to a first surface of a support member; and separating the reference member from the optical component while leaving the optical component adhered to the support member. Urging together the reference member and the optical component substantially conforms the surface accuracy of the first surface of the optical component to the surface accuracy of the reference surface of the reference member. Adhering the optical component to the support member and then separating the reference member from the optical component leaves the surface accuracy of the first surface of the optical component substantially in conformance with the surface accuracy of the first surface of the reference member.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first grating device configured to: receive a light beam that includes an optical signal with a particular wavelength from a fiber; and change a propagation direction of the optical signal according to the particular wavelength of the optical signal. The optical assembly also includes a second grating device configured to: receive the optical signal outputted from the first grating device; change the propagation direction of the optical signal according to the particular wavelength of the optical signal; and direct the optical signal onto a grating coupler. The first grating device and the second grating device are configured to satisfy a plurality of configuration constraints.

Abstract: A reflective optical element includes a reflective surface comprising a multitude of discrete recessed and non-recessed areas arranged along the reflective surface. The discrete areas are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function. Effecting at least partial reflow of one or more optical media or reflective materials can smooth the morphology of the reflective surface so as to reduce unwanted diffraction or scattering.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first grating device configured to: receive a light beam that includes an optical signal with a particular wavelength from a fiber; and change a propagation direction of the optical signal according to the particular wavelength of the optical signal. The optical assembly also includes a second grating device configured to: receive the optical signal outputted from the first grating device; change the propagation direction of the optical signal according to the particular wavelength of the optical signal; and direct the optical signal onto a grating coupler. The first grating device and the second grating device are configured to satisfy a plurality of configuration constraints.

Abstract: Transmissive diffraction grating(s), reflector(s), and multiple optical sources/receivers are arranged such that each one of multiple optical signals at corresponding different wavelengths co-propagating along a multiplexed beam path would: (i) be transmissively, dispersively diffracted at a multiplexed transmission region of a grating; (ii) propagate between the multiplexed transmission region and multiple demultiplexed transmission regions of a grating undergoing reflection(s) from the reflector(s); (iii) be transmissively, dispersively diffracted at the demultiplexed transmission regions; and (iv) propagate between the demultiplexed transmission regions and the sources/receivers along multiple demultiplexed beam paths.

Abstract: A optical element (transmissive or reflective) includes a transmissive layer comprising two different optical media arranged among discrete volumes arranged along the layer. The discrete volumes are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function.

Abstract: A first transmissive diffraction grating includes a multiplexed transmission region; a second diffraction grating includes multiple demultiplexed transmission regions that are spatially displaced from one another and characterized by average corresponding grating-normal vector direction, grating wavevector magnitude, and grating wavevector direction. The demultiplexed transmission regions differ with respect to at least one of those parameters.

Abstract: An optical element (transmissive or reflective) includes a transmissive layer comprising two different optical media arranged among discrete volumes arranged along the layer. The discrete volumes are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function.

Abstract: Transmissive diffraction grating(s), reflector(s), and multiple optical sources/receivers are arranged such that each one of multiple optical signals at corresponding different wavelengths co-propagating along a multiplexed beam path would: (i) be transmissively, dispersively diffracted at a multiplexed transmission region of a grating; (ii) propagate between the multiplexed transmission region and multiple demultiplexed transmission regions of a grating undergoing reflection(s) from the reflector(s); (iii) be transmissively, dispersively diffracted at the demultiplexed transmission regions; and (iv) propagate between the demultiplexed transmission regions and the sources/receivers along multiple demultiplexed beam paths.

Abstract: A optical element (transmissive or reflective) includes a transmissive layer comprising two different optical media arranged among discrete volumes arranged along the layer. The discrete volumes are arranged to approximate a desired phase function (typically modulo 2?) and are smaller than an operational wavelength in order to provide a range of phase delays needed to adequately approximate the desired phase function.

Abstract: Transmissive diffraction grating(s), reflector(s), and multiple optical sources/receivers are arranged such that each one of multiple optical signals at corresponding different wavelengths co-propagating along a multiplexed beam path would: (i) be transmissively, dispersively diffracted at a multiplexed transmission region of a grating; (ii) propagate between the multiplexed transmission region and multiple demultiplexed transmission regions of a grating undergoing reflection(s) from the reflector(s); (iii) be transmissively, dispersively diffracted at the demultiplexed transmission regions; and (iv) propagate between the demultiplexed transmission regions and the sources/receivers along multiple demultiplexed beam paths.

Abstract: An optical diffraction grating includes a substantially transparent grating substrate which has substantially flat first and second surfaces, and a set of grating lines on the first surface characterized by a grating spacing ?. The grating substrate has a temperature-dependent refractive index nsub and is immersed in a medium having a temperature-dependent refractive index nmed. The first and second substrate surfaces are non-parallel and form a dihedral angle ?. The gratings lines are substantially perpendicular to a plane of incidence defined by surface-normal vectors of the first and second surfaces. Variation of a diffraction angle ?d? with temperature, exhibited by the optical diffraction grating at a design wavelength ? and at a design incidence angle ?in in the plane of incidence, is less than that variation exhibited by a reference diffraction grating that has parallel first and second substrate surfaces but is otherwise identical to the optical diffraction grating.

Abstract: A diffraction grating comprises a substrate with a set of protruding ridges and intervening trenches characterized by a ridge spacing ?, width d, and height h. The substrate comprises a dielectric or semiconductor material with a refractive index n1; the first substrate surface faces an optical medium with a refractive index n2 that is less than n1. Each ridge has a metal layer on its top surface of thickness t; at least a portion of the bottom surface of each trench is substantially free of metal. Over an operational wavelength range, ?/2n1<?<?/(n1+n2) can be satisfied. An optical signal can be incident on the diffractive elements from within the substrate at an incidence angle that exceeds the critical angle. The parameters n1, n2, ?, d, h, and t can be selected to yield desired polarization dependence or independence of the diffraction efficiency.