Abstract: An optical coupler device comprises a substrate having a substantially planar upper surface, and a grating structure on the upper surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, the grating structure comprises a copropagating array of waveguides that are substantially parallel to each other and extend along at least a portion of the upper surface of the substrate. Each of the waveguides has opposing sidewalls, wherein a width of each waveguide is defined by a distance between the opposing sidewalls. The opposing sidewalls each have a periodic structure that produces a sidewall modulation for each of the waveguides. An input port is in optical communication with the grating structure. The input port is configured to direct an input light beam in plane into the grating structure such that the beam propagates along the waveguides. The grating structure is configured to diffract the beam out of plane and into free space.

Abstract: In an example, an optical coupler includes a waveguide structure. The waveguide structure includes a waveguide layer having a proximal end and a distal end. The waveguide layer includes a first waveguide that extends from the proximal end along a first portion of the waveguide layer and widens along a second portion of the first waveguide layer toward the distal end. The waveguide layer further includes one or more additional waveguides that extend from the proximal end along the first portion of the waveguide layer. Each of the one or more additional waveguides narrow along the second portion of the waveguide layer to separate distal tips at the distal end. The waveguide structure is configured to match an integrated photonics mode to a fiber mode supported by an optical fiber at the proximal end and transition the mode to only the first waveguide toward the distal end.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated photonics quantum vector magnetometer are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a device includes a substrate; a radio frequency emitter that emits energy in a range of radio frequencies; and a waveguide layer formed on the substrate. The waveguide layer includes a first waveguide of a first material, wherein a probe laser is propagating within the first waveguide; and a second waveguide, wherein the second waveguide is positioned proximate to the first waveguide along a coupling length such that a pump laser propagating within the second waveguide is coupled into the first waveguide along the coupling length, wherein the pump laser causes the first material to absorb the probe laser at one or more frequencies in the range of frequencies. Moreover, the device includes a processing device that calculates a magnetic field strength based on an identification of the one or more frequencies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated photonics vertical coupler are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a device includes a first waveguide having a first photon and a second photon propagating therein, wherein the first photon and the second photon are propagating in orthogonal modes. Further, the device includes a second waveguide having a second coupling portion in close proximity with a first coupling portion of the first waveguide, wherein a physical relationship between the first waveguide and the second waveguide along the length of the second coupling portion causes an adiabatic transfer of the first photon and the second photon into distinct orthogonal modes of the second waveguide at different locations in the second coupling portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a self-injection locked SBS laser are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a system includes a pump laser source providing a pump laser; an SBS resonator receiving the pump laser through a first port and scattering some of the pump laser to provide an SBS laser through the first port, wherein a frequency shift of Brillouin scattering within the SBS resonator is an integer multiple of a free-spectral range for the SBS resonator; a filter receiving the pump laser on a first filter port and the SBS laser on a second filter port, wherein the pump laser is output through the second filter port and the SBS laser is output through a drop port; and a pump laser path coupling the output pump laser into the pump laser source, wherein a frequency of the pump laser becomes locked to a resonance frequency of the SBS resonator.

Abstract: An optical phased array comprises a first substrate layer, and a first device array on the first substrate layer. The first device array includes a first set of emitters and a first set of waveguides. Each waveguide in the first set of waveguides is respectively coupled to one of the emitters in the first set of emitters. A second substrate layer is over the first substrate layer in a stacked configuration, and a second device array is on the second substrate layer. The second device array includes a second set of emitters and a second set of waveguides. Each waveguide in the second set of waveguides is respectively coupled to one of the emitters in the second set of emitters. The second sets of emitters and waveguides are positioned on the second substrate to be offset with respect to the first sets of emitters and waveguides on the first substrate.

Abstract: In an example, an optical coupler includes a waveguide structure. The waveguide structure includes a waveguide layer having a proximal end and a distal end. The waveguide layer includes a first waveguide that extends from the proximal end along a first portion of the waveguide layer and widens along a second portion of the first waveguide layer toward the distal end. The waveguide layer further includes one or more additional waveguides that extend from the proximal end along the first portion of the waveguide layer. Each of the one or more additional waveguides narrow along the second portion of the waveguide layer to separate distal tips at the distal end. The waveguide structure is configured to match an integrated photonics mode to a fiber mode supported by an optical fiber at the proximal end and transition the mode to only the first waveguide toward the distal end.

Abstract: A resonant fiber optic gyroscope (RFOG) comprises two integrated photonics interfaces coupling the optical resonator coil to the multi-frequency laser source that drives the RFOG; wherein the two integrated photonics interfaces comprise a first waveguide layer and a second waveguide layer wherein the first waveguide layer comprises two waveguide branches which come together to form a single waveguide branch; the second waveguide layer comprises two waveguide branches which remain separate from each other; and wherein the waveguide structure is configured to match an integrated photonics mode to a fiber mode supported by an optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with a sample testing device are provided. For example, an example sample testing device may include a substrate layer defining a bottom surface of the sample testing device, as well as a waveguide disposed on the substrate layer and includes at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel.

Abstract: In an example, an integrated optical circuit (IOC) includes a first substrate formed of a first material and a first waveguide formed of a second material and positioned on the first substrate. The first waveguide includes a plurality of branches and is configured to polarize light beams that propagate through the first waveguide. The IOC further includes a second substrate formed of a third material, the second substrate coupled to or positioned on the first substrate. The IOC further includes a plurality of straight waveguides formed in the second substrate, each of the plurality of straight waveguides optically coupled to a respective branch of the plurality of branches of the first waveguide. The IOC further includes a plurality of electrodes positioned proximate to the plurality of straight waveguides, the plurality of electrodes configured to modulate the phase of light beams that propagate through the plurality of straight waveguides.

Abstract: A method for reducing or eliminating bias instability in a SBS laser gyroscope comprises introducing a first pump signal propagating in a CW direction, and a second pump signal propagating in a CCW direction in a resonator; generating a CCW first-order SBS signal and a CW first-order SBS signal in the resonator; increasing a power level of the first pump signal above a threshold level such that the CW first-order SBS signal generates a CCW second-order SBS signal; and increasing a power level of the second pump signal above the threshold level such that the CCW first-order SBS signal generates a CW second-order SBS signal. Above the threshold level, an intensity fluctuation of the first-order SBS signals disappear and their DC power are clamped at substantially the same power level. A Kerr effect bias instability of the SBS laser gyroscope is reduced or eliminated by the clamped first-order SBS signals.

Abstract: An optical phase modulator comprises a cascaded array of optical resonators, wherein each of the optical resonators has an input port and an output port. A plurality of waveguides are coupled between the optical resonators and are configured to provide cascaded optical communication between the optical resonators. Each of the waveguides is respectively coupled between the output port of one optical resonator and the input port of an adjacent optical resonator. A transmission electrode is positioned adjacent to the optical resonators, with the transmission electrode configured to apply a drive voltage across the optical resonators. The optical phase modulator is operative to co-propagate an input optical wave with the drive voltage, such that a resonator-to-resonator optical delay is matched with a resonator-to-resonator electrical delay.

Abstract: An integrated photonics chip for thermal imaging comprises a photonics substrate including a plurality of receiver elements. Each receiver element comprises a first grating coupler optically coupled to a first waveguide filter and configured to receive a first wavelength of light at a given angle, with the first waveguide filter configured to pass the first wavelength of light; and a second grating coupler optically coupled to a second waveguide filter and configured to receive a second wavelength of light at the given angle, with second waveguide filter configured to pass the second wavelength of light. Each receiver element receives the wavelengths of light from an object of interest that emits the light due to blackbody radiation, and receives the wavelengths of light at respectively different angles. Each grating coupler receives a unique wavelength of light with respect to the other wavelengths of light received by the other grating couplers.

Abstract: An embodiment of an optical structure includes a core having first and second ends and a first side with a first grating profile having a first phase shift distributed between the first and second ends, and a cladding disposed around the core. Such an optical structure can be used in an electro-optic modulator (EOM), and can render the EOM smaller in size than currently available EOMs.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate and nanoscale fin formed from a first material, a RF emitter that emits energy in a range of radio frequencies, and a waveguide formed from a second material. The device further includes a bichromatic directional coupler configured to couple pump and probe laser light into the waveguide. The waveguide is positioned proximate to the nanoscale fin along a coupling length such that the pump laser light propagating within the waveguide is coupled into the nanoscale fin from evanescent wave overlap along the coupling length. The pump laser light causes the first material to absorb the probe laser light when energy emitted by the RF emitter is at one or more frequencies dependent on a magnetic field. The device further includes a processor configured to determine a magnetic field strength of the magnetic field based on an identification of the one or more frequencies.

Abstract: An optical coupler device comprises an optical waveguide having a first edge and an opposing second edge that extend in a direction substantially parallel to a propagation direction of an input light beam injected into the optical waveguide. A grating structure is on a portion of the optical waveguide, with the grating structure having a first side and an opposing second side. The first and second sides of the grating structure extend in the same direction as the first and second edges of the optical waveguide. An optical slab adjoins with the first side of the grating structure and is in optical communication with an output of the grating structure. The grating structure includes an array of grating lines configured to diffract the input light beam into the slab at an angle with respect to the propagation direction, such that a diffracted light beam is output from the slab.

Abstract: An optical coupler device comprises an optical waveguide having a first edge and an opposing second edge that extend in a direction substantially parallel to a propagation direction of an input light beam injected into the optical waveguide. A grating structure is on a portion of the optical waveguide, with the grating structure having a first side and an opposing second side. The first and second sides of the grating structure extend in the same direction as the first and second edges of the optical waveguide. An optical slab adjoins with the first side of the grating structure and is in optical communication with an output of the grating structure. The grating structure includes an array of grating lines configured to diffract the input light beam into the slab at an angle with respect to the propagation direction, such that a diffracted light beam is output from the slab.

Abstract: An optical coupler device comprises a substrate having a substantially planar upper surface, and a grating structure on the upper surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, the grating structure comprises a copropagating array of waveguides that are substantially parallel to each other and extend along at least a portion of the upper surface of the substrate. Each of the waveguides has opposing sidewalls, wherein a width of each waveguide is defined by a distance between the opposing sidewalls. The opposing sidewalls each have a periodic structure that produces a sidewall modulation for each of the waveguides. An input port is in optical communication with the grating structure. The input port is configured to direct an input light beam in plane into the grating structure such that the beam propagates along the waveguides. The grating structure is configured to diffract the beam out of plane and into free space.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator comprises a resonator comprising a first waveguide having a first end and second end; a first grating at the first end; and a second grating at the second end. An input channel is in communication with the resonator, and comprises a second waveguide having a first end and second end; an input port at the first end; a third grating at the second end; and a first coupler configured to couple light between the second waveguide and the first waveguide. An output channel is in communication with the resonator, and comprises a third waveguide having a first end and second end; an all-pass filter at the first end; a readout port at the second end; and a second coupler configured to couple light between the first and third waveguides. The all-pass filter is configured to adjust a coupling strength between the second coupler and the readout port.

Abstract: Systems and embodiments for an integrated photonics tensor magnetometer are described herein. In certain embodiments, a system includes a plurality of magnetometers. The system also includes a laser carrier wafer coupled to each of the plurality of magnetometers that commonly distributes one or more lasers to each of the magnetometers in the plurality of magnetometers. Additionally, the system includes a plurality of photodetectors that detect light emitted from the laser carrier wafer and the plurality of magnetometers. Further, the system includes one or more processors that execute computer-executable instructions that cause the processor to monitor and control operation of the one or more lasers and calculate a magnetic field gradient based on the detected light from the magnetometers.