Abstract: An optical switch for routing light between two waveguides is disclosed. The switch, or router, comprises a movable waveguide, the movable waveguide having two positions, wherein in a first position the movable waveguide is interposed between the two waveguides and transmits light between the two waveguides by evanescent wave coupling, and in the other position the movable waveguide is retracted from the two waveguides and is not transmitting light between the two waveguides. Means for moving the movable waveguide between the two positions is also disclosed. The optical switches are used in M×N optical routing arrays being capable of directing light from any one of the M input ports to any one of the N output ports with additional ADD/DROP functions.

Abstract: An optical switch for routing light between two waveguides is disclosed. The switch, or router, comprises a movable waveguide, the movable waveguide having two positions, wherein in a first position the movable waveguide is interposed between the two waveguides and transmits light between the two waveguides by evanescent wave coupling, and in the other position the movable waveguide is retracted from the two waveguides and is not transmitting light between the two waveguides. Means for moving the movable waveguide between the two positions is also disclosed. The optical switches are used in M×N optical routing arrays being capable of directing light from any one of the M input ports to any one of the N output ports with additional ADD/DROP functions.

Abstract: An interferometric method for providing stability of a laser is enabled by way of utilization of a novel optical interferometric measurement apparatus. The method can enable locking of a laser to a cavity in a bandwidth limited only by propagation delays in the cavity and the tuning behavior of the laser.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for realizing unusually sensitive and stable interferometric measurement capabilities. The apparatus comprises an optical interferometer with at least two optical outputs, the ratio of whose intensities can vary with a tuning parameter; and at least one detector, each of which is optically connected to the interferometer, and producing in aggregate at least two linearly-independent signals that depend on the light intensity and the tuning parameter, which are combined to produce a first measurement whose sensitivity to light intensity changes is substantially smaller than that of either of the two linearly-independent signals, and a second measurement whose sensitivity to the tuning parameter is substantially smaller than that of either of the two linearly-independent signals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an analytic method for detecting trace elements in fluid solution. A cation exchange resin is packed with a radiolabelled exchange material having certain characteristics and replaces the trace element ions in the fluid which becomes labelled. The label is subsequently detected using sensitive and well known radiation detection methods.