Abstract: In a method and system to fabricate a compact optical device, a periodic group-delay device (PGDD) includes N optical input ports, N being a positive integer number, each port being configured to include one or more wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) channels; N corresponding optical output ports, each port being configured to include one or more WDM channels. The PGDD also includes a first slab waveguide region (FSWR) coupled to the N optical input ports, a second slab waveguide region (SSWR) coupled to the said N optical output ports, a first optical grating coupled to the FSWR, a second optical grating coupled to the SSWR, and; a third slab waveguide region (TSWR) coupled to at least one of the first and second optical gratings. The TSWR is configured to provide a configurable amount of dispersion to the N optical output ports. Optical signals carried by each WDM channel are processed concurrently and independently.

Abstract: In a method and system to fabricate a compact optical device, a periodic group-delay device (PGDD) includes N optical input ports, N being a positive integer number, each port being configured to include one or more wavelength-division- multiplexing (WDM) channels; N corresponding optical output ports, each port being configured to include one or more WDM channels. The PGDD also includes a first slab waveguide region (FSWR) coupled to the N optical input ports, a second slab waveguide region (SSWR) coupled to the said N optical output ports, a first optical grating coupled to the FSWR, a second optical grating coupled to the SSWR, and; a third slab waveguide region (TSWR) coupled to at least one of the first and second optical gratings. The TSWR is configured to provide a configurable amount of dispersion to the N optical output ports. Optical signals carried by each WDM channel are processed concurrently and independently.

Abstract: According to methods and apparatus described herein, multimode laser source capable of emitting a diffraction-limited beam of various shapes (including single-lobe shape) can be realized. An optical apparatus for generating a such diffraction-limited beam comprises a spatial phase modulator for spatially modulating a spectrally dispersed optical signal emitted from a semiconductor laser into a combined-mode optical signal, wherein the lateral modes of the optical signal from the laser are combined into a diffraction-limited beam. Also, a coupling optical system is provided for wavelength-demultiplexing the multimode optical signal before the multimode optical signal is spatially modulated by the spatial phase modulator, and also for wavelength-multiplexing the combined-mode optical signal.

Abstract: According to methods and apparatus described herein, multimode laser source capable of emitting a diffraction-limited beam of various shapes (including single-lobe shape) can be realized. An optical apparatus for generating a such diffraction-limited beam comprises a spatial phase modulator for spatially modulating a spectrally dispersed optical signal emitted from a semiconductor laser into a combined-mode optical signal, wherein the lateral modes of the optical signal from the laser are combined into a diffraction-limited beam. Also, a coupling optical system is provided for wavelength-demultiplexing the multimode optical signal before the multimode optical signal is spatially modulated by the spatial phase modulator, and also for wavelength-multiplexing the combined-mode optical signal.