Abstract: An optical phase shifter may include a waveguide core that has a top surface, and a semiconductor contact that is laterally displaced relative to the waveguide core and is electrically connected to the waveguide core. A top surface of the semiconductor contact is above the top surface of the waveguide core. The waveguide core may include a p-type core region and an n-type core region. A p-type semiconductor region may be in physical contact with the n-type core region of the waveguide core, and an n-type semiconductor region may be in physical contact with the p-type core region of the waveguide core. A phase shifter region and a light-emitting region may be disposed at different depth levels, and the light-emitting region may emit light from a phase shifter region that is in a position adjacent to the light-emitting region.

Abstract: An optical phase shifter may include a waveguide core that has a top surface, and a semiconductor contact that is laterally displaced relative to the waveguide core and is electrically connected to the waveguide core. A top surface of the semiconductor contact is above the top surface of the waveguide core. The waveguide core may include a p-type core region and an n-type core region. A p-type semiconductor region may be in physical contact with the n-type core region of the waveguide core, and an n-type semiconductor region may be in physical contact with the p-type core region of the waveguide core. A phase shifter region and a light-emitting region may be disposed at different depth levels, and the light-emitting region may emit light from a phase shifter region that is in a position adjacent to the light-emitting region.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe optical structures and devices, and more particularly to improved, tunable optical structures including optical gratings that are dynamically affected and/or tuned by acousto-optic or electro-optic mechanisms.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures including integrated laser systems that employ external chirping structures that may advantageously include phase shifters and/or one or more filters. Further aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures including laser systems that employ external chirping structures that may advantageously include optical phased arrays.

Abstract: A waveguide includes an array of p-i-n junctions formed by ions implanted into the waveguide. The p-i-n junctions concentrate electric fields applied on the waveguide to convert the third order susceptibility ?(3) into the second order susceptibility ?(2) and induce the DC Kerr effect. The periodic electrical fields concentrated by the p-i-n junctions effectively create a wave vector, which together with the wave vectors of optical beams in the waveguide satisfies phase matching conditions for nonlinear optical effects. The phase matching can significantly enhance the efficiency of the nonlinear optical effects, such as second harmonic generation, sum frequency generation, difference frequency generation, and four-wave mixing. Waveguides with arrays of PIN junctions can also be used in phase modulators, amplitude modulators, and filters.

Abstract: An optical device may include at least two waveguides with different propagation constants. Each waveguide is associated with a grating antenna with a grating period selected to emit light at the same emission angle despite the different propagation constants. Each waveguide may be part of an optical path that includes phase shifters. Additionally, the waveguides may be formed in a waveguide layer that is separate from a perturbation layer in which the grating antennas as formed.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe photonic integrated circuits on a common substrate including an optical phased array having a plurality of emitters and a plurality of thermal phase shifters in which the thermal phase shifters are thermally isolated from one another through the effect of one or more trenches formed over and/or under and/or around the thermal phase shifters and/or waveguides including same.

Abstract: A photodetector includes a germanium layer evanescently coupled to a ring resonator. The ring resonator increases the interaction length between light guided by the ring resonator and the germanium layer without increasing the size of the photodetector, thereby keeping the photodetector's dark current at a low level. The germanium layer absorbs the guided light and converts the absorbed light into electrical signals for detection. The increased interaction length in the resonator allows efficient transfer of light from the resonator to the germanium layer via evanescently coupling. In addition, the internal and external quality factors (Q) of the ring resonator can be matched to achieve (nearly) full absorption of light in the germanium with high quantum efficiency.

Abstract: An optical phase shifter may include a waveguide core that has a top surface, and a semiconductor contact that is laterally displaced relative to the waveguide core and is electrically connected to the waveguide core. A top surface of the semiconductor contact is above the top surface of the waveguide core. The waveguide core may include a p-type core region and an n-type core region. A p-type semiconductor region may be in physical contact with the n-type core region of the waveguide core, and an n-type semiconductor region may be in physical contact with the p-type core region of the waveguide core. A phase shifter region and a light-emitting region may be disposed at different depth levels, and the light-emitting region may emit light from a phase shifter region that is in a position adjacent to the light-emitting region.

Abstract: An optical device may include at least two waveguides with different propagation constants. Each waveguide is associated with a grating antenna with a grating period selected to emit light at the same emission angle despite the different propagation constants. Each waveguide may be part of an optical path that includes phase shifters. Additionally, the waveguides may be formed in a waveguide layer that is separate from a perturbation layer in which the grating antennas as formed.

Abstract: A photodetector includes a germanium layer evanescently coupled to a ring resonator. The ring resonator increases the interaction length between light guided by the ring resonator and the germanium layer without increasing the size of the photodetector, thereby keeping the photodetector's dark current at a low level. The germanium layer absorbs the guided light and converts the absorbed light into electrical signals for detection. The increased interaction length in the resonator allows efficient transfer of light from the resonator to the germanium layer via evanescently coupling. In addition, the internal and external quality factors (Q) of the ring resonator can be matched to achieve (nearly) full absorption of light in the germanium with high quantum efficiency.

Abstract: A waveguide includes an array of p-i-n junctions formed by ions implanted into the waveguide. The p-i-n junctions concentrate electric fields applied on the waveguide to convert the third order susceptibility ?(3) into the second order susceptibility ?(2) and induce the DC Kerr effect. The periodic electrical fields concentrated by the p-i-n junctions effectively create a wave vector, which together with the wave vectors of optical beams in the waveguide satisfies phase matching conditions for nonlinear optical effects. The phase matching can significantly enhance the efficiency of the nonlinear optical effects, such as second harmonic generation, sum frequency generation, difference frequency generation, and four-wave mixing. Waveguides with arrays of PIN junctions can also be used in phase modulators, amplitude modulators, and filters.

Abstract: An optical phased array formed of a large number of nanophotonic antenna elements can be used to project complex images into the far field. These nanophotonic phased arrays, including the nanophotonic antenna elements and waveguides, can be formed on a single chip of silicon using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Directional couplers evanescently couple light from the waveguides to the nanophotonic antenna elements, which emit the light as beams with phases and amplitudes selected so that the emitted beams interfere in the far field to produce the desired pattern. In some cases, each antenna in the phased array may be optically coupled to a corresponding variable delay line, such as a thermo-optically tuned waveguide or a liquid-filled cell, which can be used to vary the phase of the antenna's output (and the resulting far-field interference pattern).

Abstract: An optical phased array formed of a large number of nanophotonic antenna elements can be used to project complex images into the far field. These nanophotonic phased arrays, including the nanophotonic antenna elements and waveguides, can be formed on a single chip of silicon using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Directional couplers evanescently couple light from the waveguides to the nanophotonic antenna elements, which emit the light as beams with phases and amplitudes selected so that the emitted beams interfere in the far field to produce the desired pattern. In some cases, each antenna in the phased array may be optically coupled to a corresponding variable delay line, such as a thermo-optically tuned waveguide or a liquid-filled cell, which can be used to vary the phase of the antenna's output (and the resulting far-field interference pattern).

Abstract: This invention describes a method and apparatus for actuation and multiplexed sensing using an array of sensing elements. The invention can be used for label-free detection of biological and chemical agents in a robust, miniaturized package. The invention integrates photonics, CMOS electronics, and Micro/Nano system technologies and allows multi-analyte sensing in the same package. The preferred actuation method is using magnetic thin films and preferred sensing method is optical using interference means.