Abstract: A stimulated Brillouin scattering gyroscope is provided. A pump laser generates continuous wave (CW) energy that travels through at least one bus waveguide to a waveguide resonator. A reflector is positioned within the waveguide resonator. The reflector is configured to pass at least some of the CW energy in a first direction and reflect at least some stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) energy in a second direction. A first detector is in operational communication with the at least one bus waveguide to detect CW energy. An output of the first detector used to at least adjust a pump laser frequency of the pump laser. A second detector is also in operational communication with the at least one bus waveguide. The second detector is used to determine phase shifts in detected SBS energy to determine at least rotation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated photon source and detector of entangled photons are provided. In certain embodiments, a system includes a first waveguide layer comprising a photon producing waveguide configured to provide two photons propagating in orthogonal modes of a single waveguide. The system also includes a second waveguide layer comprising a photon conditioning waveguide network, the second waveguide layer formed on the first waveguide layer, the second waveguide layer having a different index of refraction.

Abstract: An emitter configuration layout for an optical phased array comprises a plurality of emitters arranged around a perimeter, and a plurality of waveguides, with each of the waveguides respectively coupled to one of the emitters. The plurality of emitters are operative to generate a single far-field peak.

Abstract: A stimulated Brillouin scattering gyroscope is provided. A pump laser generates continuous wave (CW) energy that travels through at least one bus waveguide to a waveguide resonator. A reflector is positioned within the waveguide resonator. The reflector is configured to pass at least some of the CW energy in a first direction and reflect at least some stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) energy in a second direction. A first detector is in operational communication with the at least one bus waveguide to detect CW energy. An output of the first detector used to at least adjust a pump laser frequency of the pump laser. A second detector is also in operational communication with the at least one bus waveguide. The second detector is used to determine phase shifts in detected SBS energy to determine at least rotation.

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 optical coupler comprises an adiabatic waveguide structure having a proximal end and a distal end, with the adiabatic waveguide structure comprising: a first waveguide comprising an input section at the proximal end; a first coupling section contiguous with the input section and extending toward the distal end; and a first laterally displaced section contiguous with the first coupling section. The first waveguide narrows along the first coupling section, from the input section to the first laterally displaced section. A second waveguide is separate from the first waveguide and comprises a second laterally displaced section adjacent to the proximal end; a second coupling section contiguous with the second laterally displaced section and extending toward the distal end; and an output section contiguous with the second coupling section. The second waveguide widens along the second coupling section, from the second laterally displaced section to the output section.

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 apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises: an optical resonator including a surface; wherein a Bragg grating is formed at least part of the surface of the optical resonator; and wherein the Bragg grating has a Bragg frequency substantially equal to a center frequency of an Nth order Brillouin gain region capable of generating an Nth order Stokes signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated photon source and detector of entangled photons are provided. In certain embodiments, a system includes a first waveguide layer comprising a photon producing waveguide configured to provide two photons propagating in orthogonal modes of a single waveguide. The system also includes a second waveguide layer comprising a photon conditioning waveguide network, the second waveguide layer formed on the first waveguide layer, the second waveguide layer having a different index of refraction.

Abstract: Systems and embodiments for an integrated photonics mode splitter and converter are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a system includes a substrate having a first index of refraction. Additionally, the system includes a waveguide layer on the substrate, wherein the waveguide has a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction. Also, the waveguide layer includes one or more mode splitters that receive at least one of a first photon in a first mode and a second photon in a second mode through an input port and provide one of the first photon through a first output port and the second photon through a second output port. The waveguide layer also includes a mode converter coupled to the second output of a mode splitter, wherein the mode converter receives the second photon through a port and outputs the second photon in the first mode through the port.

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 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: A sensor system comprises a pulsed light source, and a passive sensor head chip in communication with the light source. The sensor head chip includes a first photonics substrate, a transmitting optical component on the first photonics substrate and configured to couple a pulse, transmitted through a first optical fiber from the light source, into a region of interest; and a receiving optical component on the first photonics substrate and configured to couple backscattered light, received from the region of interest, into a second optical fiber. A signal processing chip communicates with the sensor head chip and light source. The signal processing chip includes a second photonics substrate and comprises a passive optical filter array that receives the backscattered light from the second optical fiber. The filter array includes notch filters in communication with each other and operative for frequency selection; and optical detectors respectively coupled to the notch filters.

Abstract: A bichromatic grating coupler comprises a two-dimensional diffraction grating structure, including a first sub-grating having a first periodic structure and a second sub-grating having a second periodic structure. The first and second sub-gratings are superimposed with respect to each other in the diffraction grating structure. A first optical port is coupled to the diffraction grating structure along a first direction, and a second optical port is coupled to the diffraction grating structure along a second direction. The first optical port is configured to direct a first light beam having a first wavelength to the diffraction grating structure, such that the first light beam is diffracted in a first direction by the first sub-grating. The second optical port is configured to direct a second light beam having a second wavelength to the diffraction grating structure, such that the second light beam is diffracted in a second direction by the second sub-grating.

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: A SBS laser system comprises at least one pump laser that emits a pump beam, and an intensity modulator in communication with the pump laser. The intensity modulator modulates an intensity of the pump beam and transmits an intensity modulated beam. A resonator, in communication with the intensity modulator, is configured to receive the intensity modulated beam such that it travels in a first direction. When optical frequency of the intensity modulated beam matches resonance frequency of the resonator, a power density increases such that beyond a certain threshold power, the intensity modulated beam produces lasing of a first order Brillouin wave including a SBS wave having a SBS gain peak. The SBS wave travels in an opposite second direction in the resonator. A control unit eliminates or reduces the intensity modulation of the beam by minimizing the frequency gap between the SBS gain peak and an SBS resonance peak.

Abstract: To reduce or eliminate crosstalk between adjacent integrated optical waveguides, an embodiment of an integrated structure includes, between the optical waveguides, a metal isolation region configured to redirect a signal leaking from one waveguide away from the other waveguide, to absorb the leaking signal, or both to redirect and absorb respective portions of the leaking signal. For example, such an integrated structure includes a cladding, first and second optical cores, and a metal isolation region. The optical cores are disposed in the cladding, and the isolation region is disposed in the cladding between, and separate from, the cores. Including a metal isolation region between adjacent optical waveguides can reduce crosstalk between the waveguides more than coating the waveguides with a metal because the metal coating typically is not thick enough to redirect or absorb enough of a leakage signal to reduce crosstalk to a suitable level.

Abstract: A bichromatic grating coupler comprises a two-dimensional diffraction grating structure, including a first sub-grating having a first periodic structure and a second sub-grating having a second periodic structure. The first and second sub-gratings are superimposed with respect to each other in the diffraction grating structure. A first optical port is coupled to the diffraction grating structure along a first direction, and a second optical port is coupled to the diffraction grating structure along a second direction. The first optical port is configured to direct a first light beam having a first wavelength to the diffraction grating structure, such that the first light beam is diffracted in a first direction by the first sub-grating. The second optical port is configured to direct a second light beam having a second wavelength to the diffraction grating structure, such that the second light beam is diffracted in a second direction by the second sub-grating.

Abstract: Coupled resonators having two resonances are described. A first resonance occurs at the frequency of a pump signal. A second resonance occurs at the frequency of a first Stokes signal. The stop band of the coupled resonators suppresses the second Stokes signal and thus all other higher order Stokes signals. The coupled resonators can be used to more efficiently generate a first Stokes signal having a narrow line width signal.

Abstract: A ring-laser gyroscope which generates in an optical ring resonator and in response to a first pump beam, a first back-scattered beam propagating in a direction; generates in the optical ring resonator and in response to a second pumped beam, a second back-scattered beam propagating in an opposite direction; determines a first difference between the frequencies of the first and second back-scattered beams; reverses the directions of the first and second back-scattered beams; determines a second difference between the frequencies of the first and second back-scattered beams; determines a third difference between the first and second differences; and determines a rotation of the optical ring resonator in response to the third difference.