Abstract: A time varying laser which can operate by taking advantage of transitions between time varying quasi-energy levels which are present in the driven system is disclosed. This can allow for laser operation at frequencies which are new, compared to the operation of the laser in absence of time-modulation. It can also allow for a novel mode of operation in which the system provides gain at multiple frequencies simultaneously, in a coherent fashion which is fundamentally different from multi-mode behavior in conventional lasers. Additionally, in systems with sufficiently strong modulation, these principles can lead to lasers which produce gain even in the thermodynamic ground state of the system, leading to a new form of lasing without inversion (LWI). In addition, these techniques have the potential to be used to create lasers at high frequencies (UV-Xray) which have been difficult to achieve via conventional laser mechanisms.

Abstract: Optical and electronic processors for calculating second-order and higher-order polynomials are described. A photonic processor can include an optical matrix multiplying unit OMMU that can perform vector-matrix multiplication. A portion of the inputs to the OMMU can be fed forward to combine with outputs from the OMMU when calculating polynomials. The described apparatus can also be used for probabilistic computing and polynomial combinatorial optimization.

Abstract: A radiative cooling device can include a reflector positionable to permit operation during daylight hours.

Abstract: A system and method that may enable the generation of highly-efficient, high-power, narrow-linewidth, and tunable light sources from microwave frequencies to mid-infrared wavelengths is disclosed. The light source comprises a nonlinear medium coupled to a multi-modal cavity and a high-energy pump source. The nonlinear medium provides three-wave mixing between modes present in the cavity to generate, for example, terahertz waves. The broadband cavity enables cascading nonlinear processes. By engineering the Q-factors of the cavity's many modes, red-shifted (stokes) cascaded nonlinear processes strongly dominate over their blue-shifted (anti-stokes) counterparts, resulting in a quasi-complete depletion of the pump energy into the THz mode.

Abstract: A principle which enables the generation of macroscopic Fock and sub-Poissonian states is disclosed. Generic components of the system include: an electromagnetic structure (possessing one or more electromagnetic resonances), a nonlinear electromagnetic element (such as a nonlinear crystal near or inside the structure), and a source of light. In one embodiment, stimulated gain is used to create large numbers of photons in a cavity, but with very low photon number noise (uncertainty) in the cavity, and thus acts as a Fock laser. This Fock laser is capable of producing these states due to a very sharp intensity-dependent gain (or loss) that selects a particular photon number. The disclosed system and method are robust against both atomic and optical decoherence. Various examples of the new Fock laser design are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that enhance the yield and speed of emission and control the spectral and angular emission of light emitted by materials under irradiation by high-energy particles through a process known as scintillation. In each case, a photonic structure (of nano- or micron-scale feature sizes) is integrated with a scintillating material, and the photonic structure enhances the yield or controls the spectrum of the material. Various embodiments of this technology and practical demonstrations are disclosed.

Abstract: A principle which enables the generation of macroscopic Fock and sub-Poissonian states is disclosed. Generic components of the system include: an electromagnetic structure (possessing one or more electromagnetic resonances), a nonlinear electromagnetic element (such as a nonlinear crystal near or inside the structure), and a source of light. In one embodiment, stimulated gain is used to create large numbers of photons in a cavity, but with very low photon number noise (uncertainty) in the cavity, and thus acts as a Fock laser. This Fock laser is capable of producing these states due to a very sharp intensity-dependent gain (or loss) that selects a particular photon number. The disclosed system and method are robust against both atomic and optical decoherence. Various examples of the new Fock laser design are also described.

Abstract: An optical neural network is constructed based on photonic integrated circuits to perform neuromorphic computing. In the optical neural network, matrix multiplication is implemented using one or more optical interference units, which can apply an arbitrary weighting matrix multiplication to an array of input optical signals. Nonlinear activation is realized by an optical nonlinearity unit, which can be based on nonlinear optical effects, such as saturable absorption. These calculations are implemented optically, thereby resulting in high calculation speeds and low power consumption in the optical neural network.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured to transfer energy non-radiatively with a second resonator structure over a distance greater than a characteristic size of the second resonator structure. The non-radiative energy transfer is mediated by a coupling of a resonant field evanescent tail of the first resonator structure and a resonant field evanescent tail of the second resonator structure.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a source high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy source, a second high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. A third high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. The source resonator and at least one of the second resonator and third resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said source resonator to said at least one of the second resonator and third resonator.

Abstract: An optical neural network is constructed based on photonic integrated circuits to perform neuromorphic computing. In the optical neural network, matrix multiplication is implemented using one or more optical interference units, which can apply an arbitrary weighting matrix multiplication to an array of input optical signals. Nonlinear activation is realized by an optical nonlinearity unit, which can be based on nonlinear optical effects, such as saturable absorption. These calculations are implemented optically, thereby resulting in high calculation speeds and low power consumption in the optical neural network.

Abstract: An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar Luneburg lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes a curved (e.g., semi-circular or arced) grating coupler that diffracts the collimated beams out of the lens plane. The beams can be steered in the plane by controlling the direction along which the lens is illuminated and out of the plane by varying the beam wavelength. Unlike other beam steering devices, this device can operate over an extremely wide field of view—up to 180°—without any aberrations off boresight. In other words, the beam quality is uniform in all directions, unlike with aplanatic lenses, thanks to the circular symmetry of the planar Luneburg lens, which may be composed of subwavelength features. The lens is also robust to misalignment and fabrication imperfections and can be made using standard CMOS processes.

Abstract: An optical neural network is constructed based on photonic integrated circuits to perform neuromorphic computing. In the optical neural network, matrix multiplication is implemented using one or more optical interference units, which can apply an arbitrary weighting matrix multiplication to an array of input optical signals. Nonlinear activation is realized by an optical nonlinearity unit, which can be based on nonlinear optical effects, such as saturable absorption. These calculations are implemented optically, thereby resulting in high calculation speeds and low power consumption in the optical neural network.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a source high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy source, a second high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. A third high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. The source resonator and at least one of the second resonator and third resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said source resonator to said at least one of the second resonator and third resonator.

Abstract: An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar Luneburg lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes a curved (e.g., semi-circular or arced) grating coupler that diffracts the collimated beams out of the lens plane. The beams can be steered in the plane by controlling the direction along which the lens is illuminated and out of the plane by varying the beam wavelength. Unlike other beam steering devices, this device can operate over an extremely wide field of view—up to 180°—without any aberrations off boresight. In other words, the beam quality is uniform in all directions, unlike with aplanatic lenses, thanks to the circular symmetry of the planar Luneburg lens, which may be composed of subwavelength features. The lens is also robust to misalignment and fabrication imperfections and can be made using standard CMOS processes.

Abstract: An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar dielectric lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes an output coupler, such as a grating or photonic crystal, that guides the collimated beams in different directions out of the lens plane. A switch matrix controls which input port is illuminated and hence the in-plane propagation direction of the collimated beam. And a tunable light source changes the wavelength to control the angle at which the collimated beam leaves the plane of the substrate. The device is very efficient, in part because the input port (and thus in-plane propagation direction) can be changed by actuating only log2 N of the N switches in the switch matrix. It can also be much simpler, smaller, and cheaper because it needs fewer control lines than a conventional optical phased array with the same resolution.

Abstract: A photonic parallel network can be used to sample combinatorially hard distributions of Ising problems. The photonic parallel network, also called a photonic processor, finds the ground state of a general Ising problem and can probe critical behaviors of universality classes and their critical exponents. In addition to the attractive features of photonic networks—passivity, parallelization, high-speed and low-power—the photonic processor exploits dynamic noise that occurs during the detection process to find ground states more efficiently.

Abstract: An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar dielectric lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes an output coupler, such as a grating or photonic crystal, that guides the collimated beams in different directions out of the lens plane. A switch matrix controls which input port is illuminated and hence the in-plane propagation direction of the collimated beam. And a tunable light source changes the wavelength to control the angle at which the collimated beam leaves the plane of the substrate. The device is very efficient, in part because the input port (and thus in-plane propagation direction) can be changed by actuating only log2 N of the N switches in the switch matrix. It can also be much simpler, smaller, and cheaper because it needs fewer control lines than a conventional optical phased array with the same resolution.

Abstract: An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar Luneburg lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes a curved (e.g., semi-circular or arced) grating coupler that diffracts the collimated beams out of the lens plane. The beams can be steered in the plane by controlling the direction along which the lens is illuminated and out of the plane by varying the beam wavelength. Unlike other beam steering devices, this device can operate over an extremely wide field of view—up to 180°—without any aberrations off boresight. In other words, the beam quality is uniform in all directions, unlike with aplanatic lenses, thanks to the circular symmetry of the planar Luneburg lens, which may be composed of subwavelength features. The lens is also robust to misalignment and fabrication imperfections and can be made using standard CMOS processes.

Abstract: A photonic parallel network can be used to sample combinatorially hard distributions of Ising problems. The photonic parallel network, also called a photonic processor, finds the ground state of a general Ising problem and can probe critical behaviors of universality classes and their critical exponents. In addition to the attractive features of photonic networks—passivity, parallelization, high-speed and low-power—the photonic processor exploits dynamic noise that occurs during the detection process to find ground states more efficiently.