Abstract: An optical system can include an aligned fiber in optical communication with an optical medium. The optical system can also include a micro-mirror separated from an end of the aligned fiber by a first distance. The micro-mirror is positioned and shaped to transform light transmitted between the end of the aligned fiber and a target region of an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The micro-mirror is separated from the target region by a second distance the micro-mirror transforms an aspect ratio of a beam profile of the light.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling polarization in a fiber amplifier is disclosed. A polarization dither waveform is applied to a polarization controller so that dithering does not trigger PI-HOMI (Polarization-Induced High Order Mode Instability). The dither waveform may have a period that is much less than the thermal diffusion time across the fiber amplifier core. The dither waveform may also have a slew rate (defined in degrees/second on the Poincaré sphere) that is much slower than the thermal diffusion time across the fiber amplifier core.