Abstract: An integrated tunable waveguide element includes: a cladding. A high k dielectric layer is disposed within the cladding. At least one waveguide is disposed adjacent to the high k dielectric layer. At least one two dimensional monolayer pad is disposed on or in the high k dielectric layer adjacent to a portion of the at least one waveguide. An integrated 2×2 array element is also described.

Abstract: A device for attaching at least one optical fiber to a chip includes at least one nanowaveguide disposed on a substrate of a chip to be attached to an at least one off-chip fiber respectively. At least one oxide taper mode converter is disposed around a nanowaveguide end and in optical communication with and modally coupled to each of the at least one nanowaveguide respectively, and adapted such that each corresponding fiber of at least one off-chip fiber corresponds to a cleaved fiber end each cleaved fiber end to be fused to each oxide taper mode converter respectively to optically couple and mode match each cleaved fiber end to each of the nanowaveguide ends of each of the at least one nanowaveguide via the oxide taper mode converter by a modal coupling. A method for attaching at least one optical fiber to a chip is also described.

Abstract: An integrated optical spectrometer includes an optical bus configured to accept a light to be measured. Each ring resonator of an array of integrated ring resonators and detectors is optically coupled to the optical bus and to at least one detector. A matrix multiplication process is operatively coupled to each detector. The matrix multiplication process determines based on data from the array of integrated ring resonators and detectors and a calibration matrix of the array of integrated ring resonators and detectors, a spectral content of the light to be measured. A method of calibrating and operating an integrated optical spectrometer, a method to generate a calibration matrix for a ring array of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) spectrometer, and a method for spectrum reconstruction for a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) spectrometer are also described.

Abstract: An integrated tunable waveguide element includes: a cladding. A high k dielectric layer is disposed within the cladding. At least one waveguide is disposed adjacent to the high k dielectric layer. At least one two dimensional monolayer pad is disposed on or in the high k dielectric layer adjacent to a portion of the at least one waveguide. An integrated 2×2 array element is also described.

Abstract: A microcantilever sensing system includes a waveguide cantilever that permits an optical signal to propagate through an endface of the cantilever. The propagated signal is received by a receiver waveguide across a gap from the cantilever. The receiver waveguide provides the optical signal to a differential beamsplitter. The signal is differentially split according to the position of the optical signal incident upon the receiving waveguide. A method of determining a deflection waveguide microcantilever is also disclosed. An optical signal is transmitted from the endface of a waveguide microcantilever and received by the receiver waveguide. The optical signal is differentially split and then each split signal is compared to determine beam deflection. A method of fabricating a microcantilever sensor provides a differential beamsplitter in optical communication with a waveguide cantilever.