Abstract: A method for cylindrical processing of an optical medium, including optical fiber and optical materials of substantially cylindrical form. The method of the preferred embodiments includes the steps of rotating an optical medium about a longitudinal relative rotation axis thereof relative to a processing tool; spatially selectively applying the processing tool to a portion of a surface of the optical medium in operative cooperation with relative rotation of the optical medium and the processing tool, thereby producing a patterned (i.e., spatially selective) structural alteration of the optical medium, the pattern including altered, differentially-altered and unaltered portions of the optical medium.

Abstract: A micro-cavity resonator including a micro-cavity capable of high and ultra-high Q values and a silicon substrate. Portions of the silicon substrate located below a periphery of the micro-cavity are removed to form a pillar, which supports the micro-cavity. Optical energy travels along an inner surface of the micro-cavity.

Abstract: The present invention is a micro-cavity laser and methods related thereto. In the preferred embodiments, the micro-cavity laser comprises a laser pump signal in a fiber waveguide which is optically coupled to a micro-cavity resonator through a fiber taper. The micro-resonator includes a gain medium necessary for lasing action. The lasing frequency can be determined based upon the gain medium, the micro-cavity structure, as well as frequency selective elements such as gratings incorporated into the micro-cavity. The tapered fiber waveguide permits the micro-cavity laser to operate without a break in the fiber waveguide. In the preferred embodiments, the micro-cavity resonator is constructed from a doped silica or a semiconductor material. The present invention provides a compact laser with improved emissions and coupling efficiencies. Alternative configurations include multiple micro-cavities on a single fiber waveguide and/or utilizing multiple waveguides attached to one or more micro-cavity resonators.

Abstract: An optical wave power control device and method enables signal control, such as modulation and switching, to be effected within an uninterrupted propagation element, e.g. an optical fiber or planar waveguide. The propagation element is configured such that a portion of its wave guided power encompasses the exterior surface of the element, intercepting the periphery of an adjacent high Q volumetric resonator. Power of a chosen resonant wavelength is coupled into the resonator, where it circulates with very low loss in accordance with the principles of a whispering gallery mode device, and returns energy to the propagation element. By introducing loss within the resonator, the propagated power can be varied between substantially full and substantially zero amplitudes. Loss factors can be maintained such that the resonator is overcoupled, i.e.

Abstract: A laser Doppler velocimeter is formed using erbium-doped fiber as the lasing medium. The fiber is diode-pumped. By properly modulating the lasing in the fiber, pulses of radiation may be generated. A telescope acts as the transmission device to focus the radiation at a specified point, and may also act as the receiving system for reflected radiation. The portion of the reflected radiation collected by the receiving system is analyzed to determine the Doppler shift caused by aerosols or objects at the focal point of the telescope.

Abstract: An optically based resonating sensor useful for detecting and discriminating specified substances present in the environment is provided. The resonating sensor comprises a light source and a coupler adapted to allow light to pass from the light source to a resonator wherein the light is stored for a specified period of time. The resonator is coupled to the coupler such that some portion of the light passing through the coupler enters the resonator and some portion of the light resonating within the resonator exits the resonator to the coupler. The outer surface of the resonator is modified such that the interaction of the modified outer surface of the resonator with a specified substance in the environment alters some characteristic of the light flowing through the sensor system. A detector is arranged to observe and detect the interactions between the modified outer surface and the light flowing through the system.

Abstract: A resonator, e.g., a silica microsphere or disk, is used between two fiber optic cables to form an add/drop filter. The resonator is resonant with the frequency to be added or dropped. In this way, only that particular channel is added or dropped as needed.

Abstract: An optical signal may be received into orthogonal linearly polarized modes of a transmission optical waveguide, the transmission waveguide including first and second transverse-coupling segments thereof. Optical signal polarized along one polarization direction may be substantially completely transferred from the transmission waveguide into a first transverse-coupled waveguide, the first transverse-coupled waveguide being optically transverse-coupled to the first transverse-coupling segment of the transmission waveguide. Optical signal polarized along the other polarization direction may be substantially completely transferred from the transmission waveguide into a second transverse-coupled waveguide, the second transverse-coupled waveguide being optically transverse-coupled to the second transverse-coupling segment of the transmission waveguide. The optical signals carried by the first and second transverse-coupled waveguides may be combined into a single waveguide.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises an optical device fabricated on a substrate, an external-transfer optical waveguide fabricated on the substrate and/or on the optical device, and a transmission optical waveguide. The optical device and/or the external-transfer waveguide are adapted for and positioned for transfer of optical power therebetween (end-transfer or transverse-transfer). The external-transfer waveguide and/or the transmission waveguide are adapted for transverse-transfer of optical power therebetween (mode-interference-coupled or adiabatic). The transmission waveguide is initially provided as a component mechanically separate from the substrate, device, and external-transfer waveguide. Assembly of the transmission waveguide with the substrate, device, and/or external-transfer waveguide results in relative positioning of the external-transfer waveguide and the transmission waveguide for enabling transverse-transfer of optical power therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention is a Raman laser and methods related thereto. In the preferred embodiments, the Raman laser comprises a laser pump signal in a fiber waveguide which is optically coupled to a micro-resonator through a fiber taper. The micro-resonator is constructed from a material that has a high Q when it is formed into a micro-resonator and is phase matched to the waveguide. The lasing frequency can be determined based upon the pump input or the micro-resonator material. In the preferred embodiments, the micro-resonator is constructed from a fused silica material. The present invention provides a compact laser with improved emissions and coupling efficiencies and the ability to use stimulated Raman scattering effects to create lasers having frequencies that are otherwise difficult to obtain. Alternative configurations include multiple micro-resonators on a single fiber waveguide and/or utilizing multiple waveguides attached to one or more micro-resonators.

Abstract: A multi-layer laterally-confined dispersion-engineered optical waveguide may include one multi-layer reflector stack for guiding an optical mode along a surface thereof, or may include two multi-layer reflector stacks with a core therebetween for guiding an optical mode along the core. Dispersive properties of such multi-layer waveguides enable modal-index-matching between low-index optical fibers and/or waveguides and high-index integrated optical components and efficient transfer of optical signal power therebetween. Integrated optical devices incorporating such multi-layer waveguides may therefore exhibit low (<3 dB) insertion losses. Incorporation of an active layer (electro-optic, electro-absorptive, non-linear-optical) into such waveguides enables active control of optical loss and/or modal index with relatively low-voltage/low-intensity control signals. Integrated optical devices incorporating such waveguides may therefore exhibit relatively low drive signal requirements.

Abstract: A hybrid and tapered waveguide coupler that has two different single-mode waveguide sections for light at two different wavelengths to couple light at the two different wavelengths into or out of an optical device located in a reach of an evanescent field of the guided optical energy in the waveguide coupler.

Abstract: A resonant optical modulator comprises a transmission fiber-optic waveguide, a circumferential-mode optical resonator transverse-coupled thereto, a modulator optical component transverse-coupled to the circumferential-mode resonator, and a modulator control component. A control signal applied to the modulator optical component through the modulator control component alters the round-trip optical loss of the circumferential-mode resonator, thereby altering the transmission of a resonant optical signal through the transmission fiber-optic waveguide. The modulator optical element may comprise an open waveguide or a closed waveguide (i.e., resonator). The resonator round-trip optical loss may be altered by altering the optical absorption/scattering of the modulator optical component, by altering the amount of optical power transfer between the resonator and the modulator optical component, or by altering an optical resonance frequency of a resonant modulator optical component.

Abstract: Logic operations are carried out among multiple optical signals based on their wavelength. The logic operations can be based on four wave mixing which produces an output based on polarizations of the inputs. The same circuit can be caused to carry out multiple truth tables. Applications are disclosed for adding, logical inversion, and error correction. The error correction can take the form of parity bit generation or correction of data bits.

Abstract: A resonant optical filter including a first and second transmission optical waveguides, and a resonator, which resonator may include one or more resonator segements evanescently optically coupled therebetween. The resonator supports a circumferential resonant optical mode and is evanescently coupled to each of the first and second transmission optical waveguides.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical resonator on an optical fiber including the steps of generating a differential of a physical property (e.g., diameter, density, refractive index, chemical composition, and so forth) of a transverse segment of the resonator fiber. The resonator fiber segment may substantially confine a circumferential optical mode propagating around the resonator fiber segment circumference at least partially within the resonator fiber segment, thereby enabling substantial confinement of a substantially resonant circumferential optical mode near a surface of the fiber, and enabling evanescent optical coupling between circumferential optical mode and an optical mode supported by a second optical element. Specialized techniques for spatially selectively generating the differential may include masking/etching, masking/deposition, laser machining, laser patterning, combinations thereof, and/or functional equivalents thereof.

Abstract: The present invention applies to resonant optical power control device assemblies and methods relating thereto, and includes an alignment device preferably including one or more waveguide-alignment grooves, resonator alignment grooves, and alignment groves for a second optical element including a modulator. One embodiment includes a transmission optical waveguide, a circumferential-mode optical resonator; and a second optical element, optionally including one or more of an optical modulator or a second transmission optical waveguide, and optionally including a modulator optical control element. In this embodiment, the alignment grooves reliably establish and stably maintain evanescent optical coupling between the optical elements positioned in such grooves. A method for assembling a resonant optical power control devices is also disclosed.

Abstract: A channel-obtaining device takes the desired channel and uses a resonant semiconductor device to mix the channel to a different frequency. The dropped channel is sufficiently removed from the other channels in frequency that it can be effectively separated.

Abstract: The present invention is a micro-cavity laser and methods related thereto. In the preferred embodiments, the micro-cavity laser comprises a laser pump signal in a fiber waveguide which is optically coupled to a micro-cavity resonator through a fiber taper. The micro-resonator includes a gain medium necessary for lasing action. The lasing frequency can be determined based upon the gain medium, the micro-cavity structure, as well as frequency selective elements such as gratings incorporated into the micro-cavity. The tapered fiber waveguide permits the micro-cavity laser to operate without a break in the fiber waveguide. In the preferred embodiments, the micro-cavity resonator is constructed from a doped silica or a semiconductor material. The present invention provides a compact laser with improved emissions and coupling efficiencies. Alternative configurations include multiple micro-cavities on a single fiber waveguide and/or utilizing multiple waveguides attached to one or more micro-cavity resonators.

Abstract: A laser Doppler velocimeter is formed using erbium-doped fiber as the lasing medium. The fiber is diode-pumped. By properly modulating the lasing in the fiber, pulses of radiation may be generated. A telescope acts as the transmission device to focus the radiation at a specified point, and may also act as the receiving system for reflected radiation. The portion of the reflected radiation collected by the receiving system is analyzed to determine the Doppler shift caused by aerosols or objects at the focal point of the telescope.