Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide includes a substrate, a waveguide under-cladding layer disposed on the substrate, and a waveguide core, having top and sidewall surfaces, disposed on the under-cladding layer. A glassy surface smoothing layer disposed on the waveguide core top surface and sidewall surfaces and has a refractive index, relative to a refractive index of the waveguide core, that enables guided optical transmission through the waveguide core and the glassy surface smoothing layer. In fabrication of the optical waveguide, a waveguide under-cladding layer is formed on a substrate and a waveguide core having sidewall surfaces and a top surface is formed on the under-cladding layer. A liquid suspension comprising particles of a glassy material is applied on the top and sidewall surfaces of the waveguide core. The applied liquid glassy particle suspension is heated to form a glassy surface smoothing layer on the waveguide core top surface and sidewall surfaces.

Abstract: A multispectral pixel structure is provided that includes a plurality of stacked cavity arrangements for emitting or detecting a plurality of specified wavelengths, wherein each stacked cavity arrangement having a photoactive layer for spectral emission or detection of one of the specified wavelengths. The photoactive layer is positioned within a resonant cavity stack and the resonant cavity stack being positioned between two adjacent mirror stacks. A plurality of coupling-matching layers are positioned between one or more of the stack mirror arrangements for controlling optical phase and coupling strength between emitted or incident light and resonant modes in each of the stacked cavity arrangements.

Abstract: A surface plasmon polariton (SPP) pixel structure is provided. The SPP pixel structure includes a coupling structure that couples the probing light into the SPP mode by matching the in-plane wave vector by changing the refractive index of the coupling structure using thermo-optic effects to vary the coupling strength of the probing light into the SPP mode. An absorber layer is positioned on the coupling structure for absorbing incident infrared/thermal radiation being detected.

Abstract: A magneto-optical isolator device is provided. The isolator device includes a substrate and a bottom cladding layer that is formed on the substrate. An optical resonator structure is formed on the bottom cladding layer. The resonator structure includes crystalline or amorphous diamagnetic silicon or silicon-germanium so as to provide non-reciprocal optical isolation. A top cladding layer is formed on the resonator structure. One or more magnetic layers positioned on the top cladding layer or between the top cladding or bottom cladding layers and the optical resonator structure.

Abstract: An infrared photodiode structure is provided. The infrared photodiode structure includes a doped semiconductor layer having ions of certain conductivity. An active photodetecting region is positioned on the doped semiconductor layer for detecting an infrared light signal. The active photodetecting region includes one or more amorphous semiconductor materials so as to allow for high signal-to-noise ratio being achieved by invoking carrier hopping and band conduction, under dark and illuminated conditions.

Abstract: A surface plasmon polariton (SPP) pixel structure is provided. The SPP pixel structure includes a coupling structure that couples the probing light into the SPP mode by matching the in-plane wave vector by changing the refractive index of the coupling structure using thermo-optic effects to vary the coupling strength of the probing light into the SPP mode. An absorber layer is positioned on the coupling structure for absorbing incident infrared/thermal radiation being detected.

Abstract: A planar mid-infrared (mid-IR) integrated microphotonic platform includes at least one laser performing lasing functions. The at least one laser comprises chalcogenide glass. At least amplifier structure is coupled to the at least one laser for performing optical amplification. The at least amplifier structure comprises chalcogenide glass. At least one waveguide structure is coupled to the at least one amplifier structure for guiding an optical signal in the microphotonic platform. The at least waveguide structure comprises chalcogenide glass. At least one modulator structure is coupled to the at least one waveguide structure for modulating the optical signal. The at least modulator structure comprises chalcogenide glass. At least one photodetector is coupled to the at least one modulator structure for performing photodetecting functions of the microphotonic platform. The at least photodetector comprises chalcogenide glass.

Abstract: A ring resonator structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a core, and a cladding. Either the core or the cladding comprises chalcogenide glass to improve electromagnetic confinement in the ring resonator structure.

Abstract: A resonator structure includes a substrate and a cladding layer formed on the substrate. A plurality of lens-shaped optical structures is formed on the cladding layer. The lens-shaped optical structures comprise chacolgenide glass being exposed to a reflow process so as to make smooth the surface of the resonator structure and increase substantially its Q factor.

Abstract: A planar mid-infrared (mid-IR) integrated microphotonic platform includes at least one laser performing lasing functions. The at least one laser comprises chalcogenide glass. At least amplifier structure is coupled to the at least one laser for performing optical amplification. The at least amplifier structure comprises chalcogenide glass. At least one waveguide structure is coupled to the at least one amplifier structure for guiding an optical signal in the microphotonic platform. The at least waveguide structure comprises chalcogenide glass. At least one modulator structure is coupled to the at least one waveguide structure for modulating the optical signal. The at least modulator structure comprises chalcogenide glass. At least one photodetector is coupled to the at least one modulator structure for performing photodetecting functions of the microphotonic platform. The at least photodetector comprises chalcogenide glass.

Abstract: A resonator structure includes a substrate and a cladding layer formed on the substrate. A plurality of lens-shaped optical structures is formed on the cladding layer. The lens-shaped optical structures comprise chacolgenide glass being exposed to a reflow process so as to make smooth the surface of the resonator structure and increase substantially its Q factor.

Abstract: A thin film quaternary compound semiconductor comprising arsenic (As), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te) and copper (Cu) atoms with adjustable molar concentrations during processing, whose atomic arrangement is predominantly amorphous, glassy or polycrystalline, and dominated by covalent chemical bonds between the said atoms. The amorphous nature of the atomic arrangement gives predominance to short range atomic order, eliminating the constraints of lattice constant mismatch and polarity mismatch with the substrate, which opens the way to wide chemical compositional adjustments and to lower-cost deposition processes such as thermal evaporation or sputtering.