Abstract: Configurations for an optical splitter that includes a continuous curved reflector and methods thereof are disclosed. The optical splitter includes an input waveguide, one or more continuous curved reflector, and multiple output waveguides. The one or more continuous curved reflector may direct light toward the output waveguides. The optical splitter may include a single continuous curved reflector, or may include multiple continuous curved reflectors. In other instances, an optical splitter may include a lensed reflector that includes a plurality of continuous curved segments.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to optical measurement systems that utilize multiple emitters to emit light during a measurement, as well as methods of performing measurements using these optical measurement systems. The optical measurement systems may include a light generation assembly that is configured to generate light via a light source unit, and a photonic integrated circuit that includes a launch group having a plurality of emitters. Each of these emitters is optically coupled to the light generation assembly to receive light generated from the light generation assembly, and may emit this light from a surface of the photonic integrated circuit. The optical measurement system may perform a measurement in which the light generation assembly generates light and each of the plurality of emitters simultaneously emit light received from the light generation assembly.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein describe photonic passive delay lines that have a waveguide wound into a plurality of straight segments and bends. The photonic passive delay lines are configured to reduce losses from parasitic modes of light generated at the bends. Embodiments of the photonic passive delay lines vary the dimensions of the straight segments to provide different amounts of dephasing between a mode of input light received by the photonic passive delay line and one or more parasitic modes.

Abstract: Configurations for an optical system used for guiding light and reducing back-reflection back in an output waveguide is disclosed. The optical system may include an output waveguide defined in a slab waveguide. The output waveguide may terminate before an output side of the slab waveguide, which may reduce the back-reflection of light from the output side back into the output waveguide. The output side may define an optical element that may steer the output light. The optical element may collimate the output light, cause the output light to converge, or cause the output light to diverge.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein describe optomechanical phase shifters. The optomechanical phase shifters may be configured with an asymmetry that improves the performance of the OM phase shifter as a function of wavelength. In some instances, the optomechanical phase shifter includes a section of a waveguide having an asymmetric cross-sectional shape. In other instances an optomechanical phase shifter is incorporated into a controllable optical switch, such that OM phase shifters may be actuated to selectively route light to different outputs of the controllable optical switch.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein describe optical measurement systems for characterizing a sample. The optical measurement systems may selectively emit light from different numbers of launch groups, and may include a multi-stage optical switch network that may be controlled to route light to a desired number of launch groups. The optical measurement systems may further measure light using a corresponding number of detector groups. The optical measurement systems may perform measurements using a plurality of different wavelengths, where different groups of these wavelengths may be measured using different numbers of launch groups (as well as corresponding detector groups).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the layout of optical components included in a photonics integrated circuit (PIC) and the routing of optical traces between the optical components. The optical components can include light sources, a detector array, and a combiner. The optical components can be located in different regions of a substrate of the PIC, where the regions may include one or more types of active optical components, but also may exclude other types of active optical components. The optical traces can include a first plurality of optical traces for routing signals between light sources and a detector array, where the first plurality of optical traces can be located in an outer region of the substrate. The optical traces can also include a second plurality of optical traces for routing signals between the light sources and a combiner, where the second plurality of optical traces can be located in regions between banks of the light sources.

Abstract: Configurations for an optical system used for guiding light and reducing back-reflection back in an output waveguide is disclosed. The optical system may include an output waveguide defined in a slab waveguide. The output waveguide may terminate before an output side of the slab waveguide, which may reduce the back-reflection of light from the output side back into the output waveguide. The output side may define an optical element that may steer the output light. The optical element may collimate the output light, cause the output light to converge, or cause the output light to diverge.

Abstract: Configurations for an optical system used for guiding light and reducing back-reflection back in an output waveguide is disclosed. The optical system may include an output waveguide defined in a slab waveguide. The output waveguide may terminate before an output side of the slab waveguide, which may reduce the back-reflection of light from the output side back into the output waveguide. The output side may define an optical element that may steer the output light. The optical element may collimate the output light, cause the output light to converge, or cause the output light to diverge.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the layout of optical components included in a photonics integrated circuit (PIC) and the routing of optical traces between the optical components. The optical components can include light sources, a detector array, and a combiner. The optical components can be located in different regions of a substrate of the PIC, where the regions may include one or more types of active optical components, but also may exclude other types of active optical components. The optical traces can include a first plurality of optical traces for routing signals between light sources and a detector array, where the first plurality of optical traces can be located in an outer region of the substrate. The optical traces can also include a second plurality of optical traces for routing signals between the light sources and a combiner, where the second plurality of optical traces can be located in regions between banks of the light sources.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation detector pixel includes a set of epitaxial layers and a lens. The set of epitaxial layers defines an electromagnetic radiation absorber. The lens is directly bonded to the set of epitaxial layers.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a substrate, having a recess formed therein. An optical isolator is mounted in the recess. A laser includes a stack of epitaxial layers on the substrate and emits a beam of radiation toward the recess along a direction parallel to a surface of the substrate. A waveguide directs the beam emitted by the laser into the optical isolator.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a substrate, having a recess formed therein. An optical isolator is mounted in the recess. A laser includes a stack of epitaxial layers on the substrate and emits a beam of radiation toward the recess along a direction parallel to a surface of the substrate. A waveguide directs the beam emitted by the laser into the optical isolator.

Abstract: A confocal inspection system can analyze light collected from a sample. For absorptive samples, it can be desirable to bin the collected light as a function of optical path length traversed in the sample. To perform this binning, the optical system can direct the collected light to a body having a surface that includes concentric annular portions that impart unique non-focusing angular redirections to respective portions of the collected light. In some examples, the annular portions are planar and have respective surface normals that are uniquely angled with respect to one another. In other examples, the annular portions are planar and parallel, and include respective zero-power, blazed diffraction gratings having unique combinations of blaze angle and blaze orientation with respect to one another. Light from each annular portion can be focused onto a respective lateral location at a detector plane.

Abstract: A laser system includes a seed source optically coupled to an extra cavity harmonic generator system may produce a round, non-astigmatic third harmonic output beam from a nominally round, non-astigmatic, diffraction limited input fundamental beam from the seed source. The system may include a second harmonic generation crystal. An input fundamental beam size is expanded in a non-walkoff direction for the SHG crystal at the SHG crystal input face. A higher harmonic generation crystal has an output face oriented at an oblique angle of incidence in a non-walkoff direction for the HHG crystal such that an output higher harmonic beam size is contracted in this direction. Expansion of the input fundamental beam at the SHG crystal input face exceeds reduction of third harmonic beam at the HHG crystal output face.

Abstract: An extra cavity harmonic generator system may produce a round, non-astigmatic third harmonic output beam from a nominally round, non-astigmatic, diffraction limited input fundamental beam. The system may include a second harmonic generation crystal. An input fundamental beam size is expanded in a non-walkoff direction for the SHG crystal at the SHG crystal input face. A higher harmonic generation crystal has an output face oriented at an oblique angle of incidence in a non-walkoff direction for the HHG crystal such that an output higher harmonic beam size is contracted in this direction. Expansion of the input fundamental beam at the SHG crystal input face exceeds reduction of third harmonic beam at the HHG crystal output face.

Abstract: An extra cavity harmonic generator system may produce a round, non-astigmatic third harmonic output beam from a nominally round, non-astigmatic, diffraction limited input fundamental beam. The system may include a second harmonic generation crystal. An input fundamental beam size is expanded in a non-walkoff direction for the SHG crystal at the SHG crystal input face. A higher harmonic generation crystal has an output face oriented at an oblique angle of incidence in a non-walkoff direction for the HHG crystal such that an output higher harmonic beam size is contracted in this direction. Expansion of the input fundamental beam at the SHG crystal input face exceeds reduction of third harmonic beam at the HHG crystal output face.

Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus includes an optically transmissive structure (e.g., a prism) having two planar faces and a third planar face that connects the two planar faces, two or more light sources located outside the structure, and a photodetector array located outside the prism. The structure, light sources, and photodetector array are configured such that light from the light sources that is totally internally reflected at an optical interface between the prism and a sample outside the structure proximate one of the two planar faces is incident on a portion of the photodetector array that depends on a refractive index of the sample. The light sources are positioned with respect to the structure and photodetector array such that the totally internally reflected light from each light source corresponds to a different range of refractive index of the sample and maps to a corresponding portion of the photodetector array.

Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus includes an optically transmissive structure having planar first, second, and third faces, two or more light sources located outside the structure adjacent the first face, and a photodetector array located outside the prism adjacent the first face. The structure, light sources, and photodetector array are configured such that light from the light sources that is totally internally reflected at an optical interface between the prism and a sample outside the structure proximate the second face is reflected at the third face and incident on a portion of the photodetector array that depends on a refractive index of the sample. The light sources are positioned with respect to the structure and photodetector array such that the totally internally reflected light from each light source corresponds to a different range of refractive index of the sample and maps to a corresponding portion of the photodetector array.

Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus includes an optically transmissive structure (e.g., a prism) having two planar faces and a third planar face that connects the two planar faces, two or more light sources located outside the structure, and a photodetector array located outside the prism. The structure, light sources, and photodetector array are configured such that light from the light sources that is totally internally reflected at an optical interface between the prism and a sample outside the structure proximate one of the two planar faces is incident on a portion of the photodetector array that depends on a refractive index of the sample. The light sources are positioned with respect to the structure and photodetector array such that the totally internally reflected light from each light source corresponds to a different range of refractive index of the sample and maps to a corresponding portion of the photodetector array.