Abstract: An integrated optomechanical disk vibratory gyroscope device includes a mechanical oscillator having a substantially circular structure. The substantially circular structure is supported by a pillar, and mechanically isolated from a surrounding structure by a gap or slot. One or more actuators are coupled to the mechanical oscillator across the gap or slot. Each of the one or more actuators is configured to excite the mechanical oscillator in a driving mode. One or more optomechanical cavities are disposed substantially in a plane defined by the mechanical oscillator. At least one component of the one or more optomechanical cavities is disposed on or in the substantially circular structure. Each of the at least one or more optomechanical cavities configured to measure a displacement of the mechanical oscillator in a sensing mode. A method of manufacture is also described.

Abstract: An integrated optomechanical disk vibratory gyroscope device includes a mechanical oscillator having a substantially circular structure. The substantially circular structure is supported by a pillar, and mechanically isolated from a surrounding structure by a gap or slot. One or more actuators are coupled to the mechanical oscillator across the gap or slot. Each of the one or more actuators is configured to excite the mechanical oscillator in a driving mode. One or more optomechanical cavities are disposed substantially in a plane defined by the mechanical oscillator. At least one component of the one or more optomechanical cavities is disposed on or in the substantially circular structure. Each of the at least one or more optomechanical cavities configured to measure a displacement of the mechanical oscillator in a sensing mode. A method of manufacture is also described.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a photodetector including a first contact layer, a second contact layer, an active region, and a photonic crystal resonant cavity is disclosed. The photonic crystal resonant cavity can operate as a resonant structure to enhance the response of the photodetector at one or more wavelengths. In various embodiments, the photodetectors including a photonic crystal resonant cavity can, for example, demonstrate increased responsivity and quantum efficiency, lower the operating temperature, and/or be used to form a hyperspectral detector.

Abstract: A multi-layer laterally-confined dispersion-engineered optical waveguide may include one multi-layer reflector stack for guiding an optical mode along a surface thereof, or may include two multi-layer reflector stacks with a core therebetween for guiding an optical mode along the core. Dispersive properties of such multi-layer waveguides enable modal-index-matching between low-index optical fibers and/or waveguides and high-index integrated optical components and efficient transfer of optical signal power therebetween. Integrated optical devices incorporating such multi-layer waveguides may therefore exhibit low (<3 dB) insertion losses. Incorporation of an active layer (electro-optic, electro-absorptive, non-linear-optical) into such waveguides enables active control of optical loss and/or modal index with relatively low-voltage/low-intensity control signals. Integrated optical devices incorporating such waveguides may therefore exhibit relatively low drive signal requirements.

Abstract: A resonant optical modulator comprises a transmission fiber-optic waveguide, a circumferential-mode optical resonator transverse-coupled thereto, a modulator optical component transverse-coupled to the circumferential-mode resonator, and a modulator control component. A control signal applied to the modulator optical component through the modulator control component alters the round-trip optical loss of the circumferential-mode resonator, thereby altering the transmission of a resonant optical signal through the transmission fiber-optic waveguide. The modulator optical element may comprise an open waveguide or a closed waveguide (i.e., resonator). The resonator round-trip optical loss may be altered by altering the optical absorption/scattering of the modulator optical component, by altering the amount of optical power transfer between the resonator and the modulator optical component, or by altering an optical resonance frequency of a resonant modulator optical component.

Abstract: A multi-layer laterally-confined dispersion-engineered optical waveguide may include one multi-layer reflector stack for guiding an optical mode along a surface thereof, or may include two multi-layer reflector stacks with a core therebetween for guiding an optical mode along the core. Dispersive properties of such multi-layer waveguides enable modal-index-matching between low-index optical fibers and/or waveguides and high-index integrated optical components and efficient transfer of optical signal power therebetween. Integrated optical devices incorporating such multi-layer waveguides may therefore exhibit low (<3 dB) insertion losses. Incorporation of an active layer (electro-optic, electro-absorptive, non-linear-optical) into such waveguides enables active control of optical loss and/or modal index with relatively low-voltage/low-intensity control signals. Integrated optical devices incorporating such waveguides may therefore exhibit relatively low drive signal requirements.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a multi-layer laterally-confined dispersion-engineered optical waveguide which may include one multi-layer reflector stack for guiding an optical mode along a surface thereof, or may include two multi-layer reflector stacks with a core therebetween for guiding an optical mode along the core. Dispersive properties of such multi-layer waveguides enable modal-index-matching between low-index optical fibers and/or waveguides and high-index integrated optical components and efficient transfer of optical signal power therebetween. Integrated optical devices incorporating such multi-layer waveguides may therefore exhibit low (<3 dB) insertion losses. Incorporation of an active layer (electro-optic, electro-absorptive, non-linear-optical) into such waveguides enables active control of optical loss and/or modal index with relatively low-voltage/low-intensity control signals.

Abstract: A multi-layer laterally-confined dispersion-engineered optical waveguide may include one multi-layer reflector stack for guiding an optical mode along a surface thereof, or may include two multi-layer reflector stacks with a core therebetween for guiding an optical mode along the core. Dispersive properties of such multi-layer waveguides enable modal-index-matching between low-index optical fibers and/or waveguides and high-index integrated optical components and efficient transfer of optical signal power therebetween. Integrated optical devices incorporating such multi-layer waveguides may therefore exhibit low (<3 dB) insertion losses. Incorporation of an active layer (electro-optic, electro-absorptive, non-linear-optical) into such waveguides enables active control of optical loss and/or modal index with relatively low-voltage/low-intensity control signals. Integrated optical devices incorporating such waveguides may therefore exhibit relatively low drive signal requirements.

Abstract: An optical signal may be received into orthogonal linearly polarized modes of a transmission optical waveguide, the transmission waveguide including first and second transverse-coupling segments thereof. Optical signal polarized along one polarization direction may be substantially completely transferred from the transmission waveguide into a first transverse-coupled waveguide, the first transverse-coupled waveguide being optically transverse-coupled to the first transverse-coupling segment of the transmission waveguide. Optical signal polarized along the other polarization direction may be substantially completely transferred from the transmission waveguide into a second transverse-coupled waveguide, the second transverse-coupled waveguide being optically transverse-coupled to the second transverse-coupling segment of the transmission waveguide. The optical signals carried by the first and second transverse-coupled waveguides may be combined into a single waveguide.

Abstract: An alignment device includes an alignment member with one or more waveguide-alignment grooves, resonator alignment grooves, and/or an alignment groove for a second optical element such as a modulator. The various alignment grooves reliably establish and stably maintain evanescent optical coupling between the optical elements positioned therein. A method for assembling a resonant optical power control device may include: fabricating an alignment member with the alignment grooves; positioning and securing the optical elements in corresponding alignment grooves for optical coupling therebetween. Alignment grooves in the substrate and/or in one or more of the optical elements are fabricated at proper depths and positions and preferably with mating grooves and/or flanges to enable optical coupling without extensive active alignment procedures.

Abstract: Optical components may be aligned for transverse-optical coupling by: fabricating a first optical component on a substrate; fabricating an alignment member on the substrate suitably positioned relative to the first optical component; and assembling a second optical component onto the alignment member, thereby establishing transverse optical coupling between the optical components. The substrate may preferably be substantially planar. The alignment member may mechanically engage the second optical component so as to accurately establish and stably maintain transverse optical coupling. The first optical component and the alignment member may preferably be fabricated on the substrate using precision spatially selective materials processing techniques. Transverse optical coupling between two optical components may be stably maintained by substantially embedding transverse-coupled portions of the components in a substantially solid substantially transparent low-index medium.

Abstract: A resonant optical filter includes first and second transmission waveguides and a resonator (including one or more evanescently coupled resonator segments). The resonator supports at least one circumferential resonant mode and is evanescently coupled to the waveguides. An optical signal entering the filter through a waveguide and substantially resonant with the resonator is transferred to the other waveguide, while an optical signal entering the filter and substantially non-resonant with the resonator remains in the same waveguide. Multiple resonator segments may be formed on a common resonator fiber and positioned for enabling coupling between them, resulting in a tailored frequency filter function. The resonators may include alignment structure(s) (flanges, grooves, etc) for enabling passive positioning and/or supporting first and second transmission waveguides, such as optical fiber tapers.

Abstract: A multi-layer laterally-confined dispersion-engineered optical waveguide may include one multi-layer reflector stack for guiding an optical mode along a surface thereof, or may include two multi-layer reflector stacks with a core therebetween for guiding an optical mode along the core. Dispersive properties of such multi-layer waveguides enable modal-index-matching between low-index optical fibers and/or waveguides and high-index integrated optical components and efficient transfer of optical signal power therebetween. Integrated optical devices incorporating such multi-layer waveguides may therefore exhibit low (<3 dB) insertion losses. Incorporation of an active layer (electro-optic, electro-absorptive, non-linear-optical) into such waveguides enables active control of optical loss and/or modal index with relatively low-voltage/low-intensity control signals. Integrated optical devices incorporating such waveguides may therefore exhibit relatively low drive signal requirements.

Abstract: Optical components may be aligned for transverse-optical coupling by: fabricating a first optical component on a substrate; fabricating an alignment member on the substrate suitably positioned relative to the first optical component; and assembling a second optical component onto the alignment member, thereby establishing transverse optical coupling between the optical components. The substrate may preferably be substantially planar. The alignment member may mechanically engage the second optical component so as to accurately establish and stably maintain transverse optical coupling. The first optical component and the alignment member may preferably be fabricated on the substrate using precision spatially selective materials processing techniques. Transverse optical coupling between two optical components may be stably maintained by substantially embedding transverse-coupled portions of the components in a substantially solid substantially transparent low-index medium.

Abstract: An optical signal may be received into orthogonal linearly polarized modes of a transmission optical waveguide, the transmission waveguide including first and second transverse-coupling segments thereof. Optical signal polarized along one polarization direction may be substantially completely transferred from the transmission waveguide into a first transverse-coupled waveguide, the first transverse-coupled waveguide being optically transverse-coupled to the first transverse-coupling segment of the transmission waveguide. Optical signal polarized along the other polarization direction may be substantially completely transferred from the transmission waveguide into a second transverse-coupled waveguide, the second transverse-coupled waveguide being optically transverse-coupled to the second transverse-coupling segment of the transmission waveguide. The optical signals carried by the first and second transverse-coupled waveguides may be combined into a single waveguide.

Abstract: A multi-layer laterally-confined dispersion-engineered optical waveguide may include one multi-layer reflector stack for guiding an optical mode along a surface thereof, or may include two multi-layer reflector stacks with a core therebetween for guiding an optical mode along the core. Dispersive properties of such multi-layer waveguides enable modal-index-matching between low-index optical fibers and/or waveguides and high-index integrated optical components and efficient transfer of optical signal power therebetween. Integrated optical devices incorporating such multi-layer waveguides may therefore exhibit low (<3 dB) insertion losses. Incorporation of an active layer (electro-optic, electro-absorptive, non-linear-optical) into such waveguides enables active control of optical loss and/or modal index with relatively low-voltage/low-intensity control signals. Integrated optical devices incorporating such waveguides may therefore exhibit relatively low drive signal requirements.

Abstract: A resonant optical modulator comprises a transmission fiber-optic waveguide, a circumferential-mode optical resonator transverse-coupled thereto, a modulator optical component transverse-coupled to the circumferential-mode resonator, and a modulator control component. A control signal applied to the modulator optical component through the modulator control component alters the round-trip optical loss of the circumferential-mode resonator, thereby altering the transmission of a resonant optical signal through the transmission fiber-optic waveguide. The modulator optical element may comprise an open waveguide or a closed waveguide (i.e., resonator). The resonator round-trip optical loss may be altered by altering the optical absorption/scattering of the modulator optical component, by altering the amount of optical power transfer between the resonator and the modulator optical component, or by altering an optical resonance frequency of a resonant modulator optical component.

Abstract: A resonant optical filter including a first and second transmission optical waveguides, and a resonator, which resonator may include one or more resonator segements evanescently optically coupled therebetween. The resonator supports a circumferential resonant optical mode and is evanescently coupled to each of the first and second transmission optical waveguides.

Abstract: The present invention applies to resonant optical power control device assemblies and methods relating thereto, and includes an alignment device preferably including one or more waveguide-alignment grooves, resonator alignment grooves, and alignment groves for a second optical element including a modulator. One embodiment includes a transmission optical waveguide, a circumferential-mode optical resonator; and a second optical element, optionally including one or more of an optical modulator or a second transmission optical waveguide, and optionally including a modulator optical control element. In this embodiment, the alignment grooves reliably establish and stably maintain evanescent optical coupling between the optical elements positioned in such grooves. A method for assembling a resonant optical power control devices is also disclosed.