Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for an optical frequency converter configured to double or have a carrier frequency of an input optical signal. The input optical signal provided to the optical frequency converter is a higher order mode than a mode of the output optical signal. The optical frequency converter comprises a core, cladding material, and a substrate. The core includes a first core portion of non-linear crystalline material which is non-centrosymmetric, and a second core portion and a third core portion of the non-linear crystalline material each of which is centrosymmetric. The first, the second, and the third core portions are coplanar with and adjacent to the first core portion between the second and the third core portions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating optical lead fluctuations in an RFOG include sources for generating first and second optical signals; an optical resonator; first and second lead lines connected to the sources and the resonator, wherein the sources couple the first and second optical signals into the first and second lead lines, and the first and the second lead lines couple the first and second optical signals into the optical resonator for propagation within the optical resonator in opposite directions; a tapping device coupled to the optical resonator that couples portions of the first and second optical signals out of the optical resonator; a combiner that combines the portions of the first and second optical signals to produce a combined output; and a photodetector that generates a beat note signal from the combined output.

Abstract: A supercontinuum generator includes at least one dispersion compensated transmission line. Each dispersion compensated transmission line includes a pair of a first portion of and a second portion of transmission line optical waveguide that are optically connected by one pair of chirped Bragg gratings. Each chirped Bragg grating includes an optical waveguide with gratings. By interspersing the pair of chirped Bragg gratings between the pair of the first and the second portions, coherence of the spectral components of an optical frequency comb is increased. As a result, a power spectral density, of each of the spectral components of an output optical frequency comb, is increased.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for implementing a low insertion loss optical coupler utilizing adiabatic tapering of spacings between two adjacent optical waveguides and tapering of a portion of one of the optical waveguides. An optical resonator with a higher quality factor may be formed using two of the low insertion loss optical couplers.

Abstract: A waveguide coupler that includes a base portion, a higher-order portion, and a tapered portion is provided. The base portion has a first width. The higher-order portion has a second width that is less than the first width of the base portion. The second width of the higher-order portion is selected so that higher-order mode energy is deconfined to allow for the receiving and passing of the higher-order mode energy. The tapered portion is positioned between the base portion and the higher-order portion. The tapered portion transitions between the first width of the base portion to the second width of the higher-order portion.

Abstract: In some examples, a hybrid waveguide is described herein. The hybrid waveguide comprises a waveguide core and a cladding material surrounding the waveguide core. The waveguide core includes a first optical waveguide layer that is formed from a ?(2) nonlinear optical material. The waveguide core also includes a second optical waveguide layer disposed on top of the first optical waveguide layer. The second optical waveguide layer is formed of a non-?(2) optical material. A width of the first optical waveguide layer is substantially equal to a width of the second optical waveguide layer, and an index of refraction of the first optical waveguide layer is within fifteen percent of an index of refraction of the second optical waveguide layer.

Abstract: To fabricate a waveguide with improved light coupling efficiency utilizing second order nonlinear optical coupling processes, localized thickness variations of at least one waveguide layer are first measured instead of assuming a constant thickness. Such localized thickness variations can change the phase matching condition needed to propagate light in the waveguide, thereby reducing efficiency of a waveguide. The width of the waveguide is then fabricated based on the localized thickness variations in order to achieve a desired modal phase matching condition, for example, by finite element modeling. In doing so, the waveguide can improve light coupling efficiency by compensating for localized thickness variations during the fabrication process.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for generating an optical frequency comb with a standing wave optical resonator including a Bragg grating. The Bragg grating shifts alternatively higher and lower wavelengths of resonances in a stop bandwidth of the Bragg grating. A resonance in the stop bandwidth whose wavelength is shifted higher can be used to compensate for shifting of the wavelength lower due to the Kerr effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating optical lead fluctuations in an RFOG include sources for generating first and second optical signals; an optical resonator; first and second lead lines connected to the sources and the resonator, wherein the sources couple the first and second optical signals into the first and second lead lines, and the first and the second lead lines couple the first and second optical signals into the optical resonator for propagation within the optical resonator in opposite directions; a tapping device coupled to the optical resonator that couples portions of the first and second optical signals out of the optical resonator; a combiner that combines the portions of the first and second optical signals to produce a combined output; and a photodetector that generates a beat note signal from the combined output.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for an optical frequency converter configured to double or have a carrier frequency of an input optical signal. The input optical signal provided to the optical frequency converter is a higher order mode than a mode of the output optical signal. The optical frequency converter comprises a core, cladding material, and a substrate. The core includes a first core portion of non-linear crystalline material which is non-centrosymmetric, and a second core portion and a third core portion of the non-linear crystalline material each of which is centrosymmetric. The first, the second, and the third core portions are coplanar with and adjacent to the first core portion between the second and the third core portions.

Abstract: A nonlinear wave mixing system with grating assisted phase matching is provided. The system includes a pump laser and a nonlinear waveguide. The pump laser is used to generate pump light at a select wavelength. The nonlinear waveguide is configured to generate produced light from the pump light that is directed into the nonlinear waveguide. The nonlinear waveguide includes at least one backward grating that is configured to diffract the produced light in a backward direction relative to a direction the produced light travels in the nonlinear waveguide to reach the backward grating. The backward grating having a grating momentum that generates counter-propagating phase matching in the produced light.

Abstract: A nonlinear wave mixing system with grating assisted phase matching is provided. The system includes a pump laser and a nonlinear waveguide. The pump laser is used to generate pump light at a select wavelength. The nonlinear waveguide is configured to generate produced light from the pump light that is directed into the nonlinear waveguide. The nonlinear waveguide includes at least one backward grating that is configured to diffract the produced light in a backward direction relative to a direction the produced light travels in the nonlinear waveguide to reach the backward grating. The backward grating having a grating momentum that generates counter-propagating phase matching in the produced light.

Abstract: A nonlinear wave mixing system with grating assisted phase matching is provided. The system includes a pump laser and a nonlinear waveguide. The pump laser is used to generate pump light at a select wavelength. The nonlinear waveguide is configured to generate produced light from the pump light that is directed into the nonlinear waveguide. The nonlinear waveguide includes at least one backward grating that is configured to diffract the produced light in a backward direction relative to a direction the produced light travels in the nonlinear waveguide to reach the backward grating. The backward grating having a grating momentum that generates counter-propagating phase matching in the produced light.

Abstract: An optical spectrometer uses broadband radiation detectors to measure thermal radiation generated by the varied heating of an object without complex mechanical mechanisms, narrowband filters, or the like. The received thermal radiation is used to deduce spectral qualities of either the thermal radiation emitter or a second object reflecting or transmitting this thermal radiation.

Abstract: An optical spectrometer uses broadband radiation detectors to measure thermal radiation generated by the varied heating of an object without complex mechanical mechanisms, narrowband filters, or the like. The received thermal radiation is used to deduce spectral qualities of either the thermal radiation emitter or a second object reflecting or transmitting this thermal radiation.