Abstract: A silicon-based photonic chip is provided that includes an interface for optically coupling the photonic chip to an optical fiber or an optical fiber assembly. The interface includes: a single-mode waveguide configured to guide light and to provide a first light beam; a first optical element configured to expand the light beam in a first direction in-plane of the photonic chip, thereby providing an expanded light beam; and a second optical element configured to deflect and to further expand the expanded light beam in a second direction, thereby providing an output light beam from the photonic chip. Also provided are methods for fabricating such a photonic chip.

Abstract: A silicon-based photonic chip is provided that includes an interface for optically coupling the photonic chip to an optical fiber or an optical fiber assembly. The interface includes: a single-mode waveguide configured to guide light and to provide a first light beam; a first optical element configured to expand the light beam in a first direction in-plane of the photonic chip, thereby providing an expanded light beam; and a second optical element configured to deflect and to further expand the expanded light beam in a second direction, thereby providing an output light beam from the photonic chip. Also provided are methods for fabricating such a photonic chip.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fabrication of optical switches in transparent substrates. The method includes exposing part of the substrate to a stream of femtosecond laser pulses to form an exposed volume which can later be etched to form a channel used for microfluidic control of the switch. This process is referred to as femtosecond laser induced chemical etching (FLICE). The waveguides of the optical switch are also written in the substrate by using femtosecond laser inscription (FLI), which can be performed in the same operation as the exposure step in the FLICE formation of the channel, thus ensuring alignment between the waveguides and the channel.

Abstract: An optical system and method for connecting two optical fibers is described in the present disclosure. An example optical system includes a first optical fiber embedded in an embedding material, the first optical fiber comprising side walls extending in a longitudinal direction in contact with the embedding material, a second, external, optical fiber, and a self-written waveguide in optical contact with the first and second optical fibers. Only a cross section perpendicular to the side walls of the first optical fiber is outside the embedding material, in contact with the self-written waveguide.

Abstract: A method for optically and mechanically coupling an optical fiber to an optical or optoelectronic component on a substrate is provided. The method comprises: providing an optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding, the core being exposed at an end face of the optical fiber; forming a polymer waveguide core on the end face, the polymer waveguide core extending from the fiber core; bringing the polymer waveguide core in proximity of the optical or optoelectronic component; providing a liquid optical material, the liquid optical material embedding the polymer waveguide core; and curing the liquid optical material, thereby forming a polymer cladding layer encapsulating the polymer waveguide core and mechanically attaching the optical fiber to the optical or optoelectronic component.

Abstract: An optical system and method for connecting two optical fibers is described in the present disclosure. An example optical system includes a first optical fiber embedded in an embedding material, the first optical fiber comprising side walls extending in a longitudinal direction in contact with the embedding material, a second, external, optical fiber, and a self-written waveguide in optical contact with the first and second optical fibers. Only a cross section perpendicular to the side walls of the first optical fiber is outside the embedding material, in contact with the self-written waveguide.

Abstract: A method for optically and mechanically coupling an optical fiber to an optical or optoelectronic component on a substrate is provided. The method comprises: providing an optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding, the core being exposed at an end face of the optical fiber; forming a polymer waveguide core on the end face, the polymer waveguide core extending from the fiber core; bringing the polymer waveguide core in proximity of the optical or optoelectronic component; providing a liquid optical material, the liquid optical material embedding the polymer waveguide core; and curing the liquid optical material, thereby forming a polymer cladding layer encapsulating the polymer waveguide core and mechanically attaching the optical fiber to the optical or optoelectronic component.

Abstract: An optical fluorescence-based sensor comprising at least one sensing element is disclosed. In one aspect, the at least one sensing element comprises a waveguide comprising a waveguide core, a light source optically coupled to an input part of the waveguide core, and a photodetector optically coupled to an output part of the waveguide core, the waveguide core being made of a material comprising a mixture of an optical material and a fluorescent dye.

Abstract: A splice with core-writing technology includes: (a) two fiber ends aligned and separated by a gap in a mechanical alignment system containing a polymerizable resin composition and photoinitiators; (b) the core bridge is written by launching UV or visible light through one or both fibers to be connected; and (c) the cladding is formed by flooding light or by thermal curing of polymerizable material to obtain the required refractive index contrast for waveguiding. The splice can be between two fibers, one of which is a connectorized stub. The fibers can be arranged in parallel or in optical alignment with a reflective device.

Abstract: An optical fluorescence-based sensor comprising at least one sensing element is disclosed. In one aspect, the at least one sensing element comprises a waveguide comprising a waveguide core, a light source optically coupled to an input part of the waveguide core, and a photodetector optically coupled to an output part of the waveguide core, the waveguide core being made of a material comprising a mixture of an optical material and a fluorescent dye.

Abstract: An optical shear sensor that includes a first and second outer surface at opposing sides and a sensing element is disclosed. In one aspect, the sensing element has an optoelectronic source for emitting light of a predetermined wavelength and having a source front surface where light exits the optoelectronic source, and a photodetector for detecting light of the predetermined wavelength and having a detector front surface where light of the optoelectronic source is received. The optoelectronic source is positioned along the first outer surface and emits light towards the second outer surface. A flexible sensing layer transparent to the predetermined wavelength covers the front surface of the optoelectronic source and the front surface of the photodetector. Upon application of a shear stress, the sensing layer deforms elastically and the outer surfaces are displaced along directions parallel to each other and the source front surface so the intensity of light detected by the photodetector changes.