Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system for a vehicle, includes a laser source configured to output a beam, a transmitter, a receiver, one or more optics and a processor. The transmitter is configured to transmit a transmit signal that is generated based on the beam. The receiver is configured to receive a return signal reflected by an object in response to the transmit signal. The one or more optics are configured to generate a first signal and a second signal based on the return signal, wherein the first signal and the second signal have different polarizations. The processor is configured to determine a type of the object by processing a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first signal and a SNR value of the second signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (lidar) system for a vehicle may include an input optical path, a first optical path, a plurality of second optical paths, a first optical amplifier, and a plurality of second optical amplifiers. The input optical path may be configured to receive a beam from a laser source. The first optical path and the plurality of second optical paths may be respectively branched from the input optical path. The first optical amplifier may be coupled to the first optical path and configured to output a local oscillator (LO) signal. The plurality of second optical amplifiers may be respectively coupled to the plurality of second optical paths, one of the plurality of second optical amplifiers being selectively turned on to modulate the beam received through a second optical path and output a modulated optical signal of the beam.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (lidar) system for a vehicle may include an input optical path, a first optical path, a plurality of second optical paths, a first optical amplifier, and a plurality of second optical amplifiers. The input optical path may be configured to receive a beam from a laser source. The first optical path and the plurality of second optical paths may be respectively branched from the input optical path. The first optical amplifier may be coupled to the first optical path and configured to output a local oscillator (LO) signal. The plurality of second optical amplifiers may be respectively coupled to the plurality of second optical paths, one of the plurality of second optical amplifiers being selectively turned on to modulate the beam received through a second optical path and output a modulated optical signal of the beam.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (lidar) system for a vehicle may include an input optical path, a first optical path, a plurality of second optical paths, a first optical amplifier, and a plurality of second optical amplifiers. The input optical path may be configured to receive a beam from a laser source. The first optical path and the plurality of second optical paths may be respectively branched from the input optical path. The first optical amplifier may be coupled to the first optical path and configured to output a local oscillator (LO) signal. The plurality of second optical amplifiers may be respectively coupled to the plurality of second optical paths, one of the plurality of second optical amplifiers being selectively turned on to modulate the beam received through a second optical path and output a modulated optical signal of the beam.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle control system includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to cause a transmitter to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source. The one or more processors are configured to cause a receiver to receive a return signal reflected by an object. The one or more processors are configured to cause one or more optics to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization. The one or more processors are configured to calculate a value of reflectivity based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first polarized signal and an SNR value of the second polarized signal. The one or more processors are configured to operate a vehicle based on the value of reflectivity.

Abstract: A device may include an input optical path, a first optical path, a plurality of second optical paths, a first optical amplifier, a plurality of second optical amplifiers, and a control circuit. The input optical path may receive, at one end thereof, a beam from a laser source. The first optical path and the second optical paths may be respectively branched from at the other end of the input optical path. The first optical amplifier may be coupled to the first optical path. The second optical amplifiers may be respectively coupled to the second optical paths. The control circuit may selectively turn on one of the second optical amplifiers to output a modulated optical signal of the beam. The control circuit may turn on the first optical amplifier, in synchronization with turning on any one of the second optical amplifiers, to output a local oscillator (LO) signal.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser, a transceiver, and one or more optics. The laser source is configured to generate a beam. The transceiver is configured to transmit the beam as a transmit signal through a transmission waveguide and to receive a return signal reflected by an object through a receiving waveguide. The one or more optics are external to the transceiver and configured to optically change a distance between the transmit signal and the return signal by displacing one of the transmit signal or the return signal.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle control system includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to cause a transmitter to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source. The one or more processors are configured to cause a receiver to receive a return signal reflected by an object. The one or more processors are configured to cause one or more optics to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization. The one or more processors are configured to calculate a value of reflectivity based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first polarized signal and an SNR value of the second polarized signal. The one or more processors are configured to operate a vehicle based on the value of reflectivity.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle control system includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to cause a transmitter to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source. The one or more processors are configured to cause a receiver to receive a return signal reflected by an object. The one or more processors are configured to cause one or more optics to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization. The one or more processors are configured to calculate a value of reflectivity based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first polarized signal and an SNR value of the second polarized signal. The one or more processors are configured to operate a vehicle based on the value of reflectivity.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes a laser, a transceiver, and one or more optics. The laser source is configured to generate a beam. The transceiver is configured to transmit the beam as a transmit signal through a transmission waveguide and to receive a return signal reflected by an object through a receiving waveguide. The one or more optics are external to the transceiver and configured to optically change a distance between the transmit signal and the return signal by displacing one of the transmit signal or the return signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transceiver and one or more optics. The transceiver is configured to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source in a transmission mode and to receive a return signal reflected by an object in a receive mode. The one or more optics are configured to spatially separate the transmission mode and the receive mode by optically changing a distance between the transmit signal and the return signal.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle control system includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to cause a transmitter to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source. The one or more processors are configured to cause a receiver to receive a return signal reflected by an object. The one or more processors are configured to cause one or more optics to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. The one or more processors are configured to operate a vehicle based on a ratio of reflectivity between the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transceiver and one or more optics. The transceiver is configured to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source in a transmission mode and to receive a return signal reflected by an object in a receive mode. The one or more optics are configured to spatially separate the transmission mode and the receive mode by optically changing a distance between the transmit signal and the return signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods for coupling semiconductor-based photonic devices to diamond. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic device is optically coupled with a diamond structure. The photonic device comprises a semiconductor material and is optically coupled with the diamond structure with an adhesive substance that adheres the photonic device to the diamond structure. A method for coupling the photonic device with the diamond structure is also provided. The method comprises: depositing a semiconductor material on the diamond structure; forming the photonic device in the semiconductor material so that the photonic device couples with the diamond structure; and adhering the photonic device to the diamond structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed optical-based quantum random number generators. In one embodiment, a quantum random number generator includes an input state generator that generates a first optical quantum system and a second optical quantum system in an entangled state, a detector that measures the state of the first optical quantum system and the state of the second optical quantum system, and a system control that evaluates a result obtained from measuring the state of the first optical quantum system and state of the second optical quantum system to determine whether or not to append a number associated with the result to the sequence of random numbers. The quantum random number generator also include state controllers, located between the input state generator and the detector, that are operationally controlled by the system control to maintain the entangled state, based on results obtained from previous measurements performed on the first and second optical quantum systems.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a nanometer slot waveguide comprises applying a spacer layer to a first waveguide structure, wherein the first waveguide structure includes a waveguide layer and a substrate layer and the waveguide layer has a refractive index greater than the substrate layer. A second waveguide structure is applied to the spacer layer, wherein the second waveguide structure includes a waveguide layer and a substrate layer, and the waveguide layer has a refractive index greater than the substrate layer. The substrate layer of the second waveguide structure is removed to create an intermediate waveguide structure and portions of the intermediate waveguide structure are removed to create a nanometer slot waveguide structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to integrated circuits having photonic interconnect layers and methods for fabricating the integrated circuits. In one embodiment of the present invention, an integrated circuit comprises an electronic device layer and one or more photonic interconnect layers. The electronic device layer includes one or more electronic devices, and the electronic device layer is attached to a surface of an intermediate layer. One of the photonic interconnect layers is attached to an opposing surface of the intermediate layer, and each of the photonic interconnect layers has at least one photonic device in communication with at least one of the electronic devices of the electronic device layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to compact systems for generating polarization-entangled photons. In one embodiment of the present invention, a non-degenerate, polarization-entangled photon source comprises a half-wave plate that outputs both a first pump beam and a second pump beam, and a first beam displacer that directs the first pump beam into a first transmission channel and the second pump beam into a second transmission channel. A down-conversion device converts the first pump beam into first signal and idler photons and converts the second pump beam into second signal and idler photons. A second beam displacer directs both the first signal and idler photons and the second signal and idler photons into a single transmission channel. A dichroic mirror directs the first and second signal photons to a first fiber optic coupler and the first and second idler photons to a second fiber optic coupler.

Abstract: A nanometer slot waveguide includes a nanometer slot waveguide structure with vertically stacked layers. The vertically stacked layers include a substrate, a first waveguide layer defining a first rail, a spacer layer defining a slot, and a second waveguide layer defining a second rail.

Abstract: A nanoparticle is able to emit single photons. A waveguide is coupled to the nanoparticle and able to receive the single photons. A backreflector is optically coupled to the waveguide and configured to reflect the single photons toward the waveguide.