Abstract: An all-optical switch includes a microsphere optical resonator coated with a conjugated polymer. A signal light beam propagating along a first SPARROW waveguide defining a throughput channel is evanescently coupled into the resonant whispering gallery modes (WGM) of the microsphere, and out of the microsphere onto a second SPARROW waveguide defining a drop channel. A secondary switching light beam is used to heat the microsphere resonator, thereby shifting its resonant frequency so that it no longer overlaps with the signal beam frequency. Light coupling into the microsphere and onto the drop channel is thus eliminated, and the signal beam is switched from the drop channel to the throughput channel. The time constant for the WGM resonant frequency shifting was about 165 ms, indicating thermo-optic switching capabilities at speeds on the order of 100 microseconds for high-Q modes. Multiple frequencies or channels can be routed using a switch configuration with multiple microspheres and drop channels.

Abstract: An infrared absorption spectrometer features an optical microcavity, and a waveguide that evanescently couples light into the microcavity. The optical resonance frequency of the microcavity is tuned to coincide with an atomic or molecular resonance frequency of a selected atom or molecule. In this way, light coupled into the microcavity will experience absorption in the presence of an atomic or molecular subtance. The absorption causes a measurable change in the evanescent light coupling into the microcavity. The detection sensitivity of the spectrometer is significantly increased, compared to prior art spectrometers, because of the high Q value of the microcavity and the ensuing long optical path lengths of the resonant modes traveling within the microcavity.

Abstract: An optical resonator accelerometer includes an optical microcavity and an optical waveguide that evanescently couples light incident on an input end of the waveguide core into the high-Q WGMs of the microcavity at a coupling efficiency of over 99%. The waveguide includes a waveguide core, and a multi-layer dielectric stack that has alternating high and low refractive index dielectric layers. The reflectivity of the dielectric stack is sufficient to isolate the waveguide core and the microcavity from the substrate. A flexure has a first end mounted to the substrate, and a second end arranged to interact with said optical microcavity. The flexure is responsive to an inertial input to cause a change in the coupling geometry between the microcavity and the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A miniaturized chemical sensor features an optical microcavity coated with a surface layer, and a waveguide that evanescently couples light into the microcavity. The surface layer is adapted to chemically interact with one or more molecule species in a chemical vapor surrounding the microcavity, so as to alter the evanescent light coupling between the optical microcavity and the waveguide. The chemical interaction causes a change in the index of refraction of the microcavity, resulting in a measurable phase difference readout. The refractive index sensitivity is substantially increased, because of the high Q-value of the optical microcavity.

Abstract: An optical resonator accelerometer includes an optical microcavity and an optical waveguide that evanescently couples light incident on an input end of the waveguide core into the high-Q WGMs of the microcavity at a coupling efficiency of over 99%. The waveguide includes a waveguide core, and a multi-layer dielectric stack that has alternating high and low refractive index dielectric layers. The reflectivity of the dielectric stack is sufficient to isolate the waveguide core and the microcavity from the substrate. A flexure has a first end mounted to the substrate, and a second end arranged to interact with said optical microcavity. The flexure is responsive to an inertial input to cause a change in the coupling geometry between the microcavity and the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An all-optical switch includes a microsphere optical resonator coated with a conjugated polymer. A signal light beam propagating along a first SPARROW waveguide defining a throughput channel is evanescently coupled into the resonant whispering gallery modes (WGM) of the microsphere, and out of the microsphere onto a second SPARROW waveguide defining a drop channel. A secondary switching light beam is used to heat the microsphere resonator, thereby shifting its resonant frequency so that it no longer overlaps with the signal beam frequency. Light coupling into the microsphere and onto the drop channel is thus eliminated, and the signal beam is switched from the drop channel to the throughput channel. The time constant for the WGM resonant frequency shifting was about 165 ms, indicating thermo-optic switching capabilities at speeds on the order of 100 microseconds for high-Q modes. Multiple frequencies or channels can be routed using a switch configuration with multiple microspheres and drop channels.

Abstract: An optical channel add/drop router includes at least one optical waveguide disposed on a substrate, and an optical microcavity resonator. Each waveguide includes a waveguide core, and a multi-layer dielectric stack with alternating high and low refractive index dielectric layers. Light propagates from one of the I/O ports or add/drop port of the waveguide, through one of the waveguide channels. Frequency components of the light that match a resonant mode of the microcavity are coupled into the microcavity, and out of the microcavity onto a different waveguide channel, so that desired channels are added to or dropped from the input signal. Optical power transfer efficiency of over 95% can been achieved at a transfer linewidth of about 1 MHz.

Abstract: An optical resonator system includes a substrate, and a SPARROW optical waveguide disposed on the substrate for evanescently coupling light into an optical microcavity. The SPARROW waveguide includes a multi-layer dielectric stack formed of alternating high and low refractive index dielectric layers, and a waveguide core disposed on the dielectric stack. The waveguide core has an input end and an output end, and is adapted for transmitting optical radiation incident on the input end to the output end. The optical microcavity is disposed at a distance from the optical waveguide that is sufficiently small so as to allow evanescent coupling of light from the optical waveguide into the optical microcavity. The dielectric stack in the SPARROW waveguide isolates the waveguide core and the microcavity from the substrate, so that an optical coupling efficiency approaching 100% can be obtained.

Abstract: A miniaturized chemical sensor features an optical microcavity coated with a surface layer, and a waveguide that evanescently couples light into the microcavity. The surface layer is adapted to chemically interact with one or more molecule species in a chemical vapor surrounding the microcavity, so as to alter the evanescent light coupling between the optical microcavity and the waveguide. The chemical interaction causes a change in the index of refraction of the microcavity, resulting in a measurable phase difference readout. The refractive index sensitivity is substantially increased, because of the high Q-value of the optical microcavity.

Abstract: An optical resonator system includes a substrate, and a SPARROW optical waveguide disposed on the substrate for evanescently coupling light into an optical microcavity. The SPARROW waveguide includes a multi-layer dielectric stack formed of alternating high and low refractive index dielectric layers, and a waveguide core disposed on the dielectric stack. The waveguide core has an input end and an output end, and is adapted for transmitting optical radiation incident on the input end to the output end. The optical microcavity is disposed at a distance from the optical waveguide that is sufficiently small so as to allow evanescent coupling of light from the optical waveguide into the optical microcavity. The dielectric stack in the SPARROW waveguide isolates the waveguide core and the microcavity from the substrate, so that an optical coupling efficiency approaching 100% can be obtained.

Abstract: An infrared absorption spectrometer features an optical microcavity, and a waveguide that evanescently couples light into the microcavity. The optical resonance frequency of the microcavity is tuned to coincide with an atomic or molecular resonance frequency of a selected atom or molecule. In this way, light coupled into the microcavity will experience absorption in the presence of an atomic or molecular subtance. The absorption causes a measurable change in the evanescent light coupling into the microcavity. The detection sensitivity of the spectrometer is significantly increased, compared to prior art spectrometers, because of the high Q value of the microcavity and the ensuing long optical path lengths of the resonant modes traveling within the microcavity.

Abstract: An optical channel add/drop router includes at least one optical waveguide disposed on a substrate, and an optical microcavity resonator. Each waveguide includes a waveguide core, and a multi-layer dielectric stack with alternating high and low refractive index dielectric layers. Light propagates from one of the I/O ports or add/drop port of the waveguide, through one of the waveguide channels. Frequency components of the light that match a resonant mode of the microcavity are coupled into the microcavity, and out of the microcavity onto a different waveguide channel, so that desired channels are added to or dropped from the input signal. Optical power transfer efficiency of over 95% can been achieved at a transfer linewidth of about 1 MHz.