Abstract: In accordance with a method of forming a waveguide in a polymer film disposed on a substrate, a plurality of regions on a polymer film are selectively exposed to a first dosage of radiation. The polymer film is formed from a material having a refractive index that decreases by exposure to the radiation and subsequent heating. At least one region of the polymer film that was not previously exposed to the radiation is selectively exposing to a second dosage of radiation. The second dosage of radiation is less than the first dosage of radiation. The polymer film is heated to complete curing of the polymer film.

Abstract: A method for establishing optical coupling between spatially separated first and second planar waveguides includes arranging an optical interconnect on the first planar waveguide. The optical interconnect has first and second end portions and an intermediate portion. Each of the end portions has an inverse taper. The second planar waveguide is arranged on the optical interconnect so that the second planar waveguide overlaps with one of the inverse tapered end portions but not the other inverse tapered end portion to thereby enable an adiabatic transition of an optical signal from the first planar waveguide to the second planar waveguide via the optical interconnect. The first and second planar waveguides have different refractive indices at an operating wavelength and the optical interconnect have a higher refractive index at the operating wavelength than the refractive indices of a core of the first planar waveguide and a core of the second planar waveguide.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical connection to at least one planar optical waveguide integrated on a planar integrated circuit (PIC) uses a machine vision system or the like to detect one or more positions at which one or more optical connections are to be made to at least one planar optical waveguide located on the PIC. A spatial light modulator (SLM) is used as a programmable photolithographic mask through which the optical connections are written in a volume of photosensitive material using a photolithographic process. The SLM is programmed to expose the photosensitive material to an illumination pattern that defines the optical connections. The programming is based at least in part on the positions that have been detected by the vision system. The optical connections are printed by exposing the photosensitive material to illumination that is modulated by the pattern with which the SLM is programmed.

Abstract: A flexible polymer waveguide array structure serves as a stitch or jumper on an optical printed circuit board (OPCB). The flexible polymer waveguide array structure can be attached to the OPCB so that it can provide a chip-to-OPCB optical connection. The waveguide(s) in the flexible polymer waveguide array structure may be prefabricated before the flexible polymer waveguide array structure is attached to the OPCB. Alternatively, the waveguides may be fabricated after the flexible polymer waveguide array structure has been attached to the OPCB. The waveguide(s) may be subsequently formed using a printing process such as photolithography. As a consequence of forming the waveguide(s) after attachment of the flexible polymer waveguide array to the OPCB, the precision in the lateral alignment that is required when placing the flexible polymer waveguide array structure on the OPCB is generally significantly less than is required when the waveguide(s) are prefabricated.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical interconnect between first and second photonic chips located on an optical printed circuit board (OPCB) includes applying a coupling agent to a bonding surface of a flexible, freestanding polymer waveguide array film having at least one polymer waveguide disposed therein. The waveguide array film is placed onto the first and second photonic chips so that the waveguide array film extends over a gap and/or a step between the first and second photonic chips to thereby form a bonding interface between the bonding surface of the waveguide array film and the first and second photonic chips. The coupling agent is selected such that optical coupling between the first and second photonic chips arises simultaneously with formation of the bonding interface.

Abstract: In accordance with a method of forming a waveguide in a polymer film disposed on a substrate, a plurality of regions on a polymer film are selectively exposed to a first dosage of radiation. The polymer film is formed from a material having a refractive index that decreases by exposure to the radiation and subsequent heating. At least one region of the polymer film that was not previously exposed to the radiation is selectively exposing to a second dosage of radiation. The second dosage of radiation is less than the first dosage of radiation. The polymer film is heated to complete curing of the polymer film.

Abstract: An optical arrangement includes an optical printed circuit board (OPCB) having at least a first optical waveguide having a first end located on the OPCB. The optical arrangement also includes at least one photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mounted to the OPCB. The PIC includes a second optical waveguide. The first waveguide has a second end located on a portion of the second waveguide to optically couple light between the PIC and the first waveguide. The portion of the second waveguide on which the second end of the first waveguide is located has an inverse taper. The inverse tapered portion is defined by a plurality of segments. The segments of the inverse tapered portion each have a length and a taper rate that causes each segment to make an equal contribution to any radiation losses in the mode transformation of light being coupled between the first and second waveguides.

Abstract: A flexible polymer waveguide array structure serves as a stitch or jumper on an optical printed circuit board (OPCB). The flexible polymer waveguide array structure can be attached to the OPCB so that it can provide a chip-to-OPCB optical connection. The waveguide(s) in the flexible polymer waveguide array structure may be prefabricated before the flexible polymer waveguide array structure is attached to the OPCB. Alternatively, the waveguides may be fabricated after the flexible polymer waveguide array structure has been attached to the OPCB. The waveguide(s) may be subsequently formed using a printing process such as photolithography. As a consequence of forming the waveguide(s) after attachment of the flexible polymer waveguide array to the OPCB, the precision in the lateral alignment that is required when placing the flexible polymer waveguide array structure on the OPCB is generally significantly less than is required when the waveguide(s) are prefabricated.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical connection to at least one planar optical waveguide integrated on a planar integrated circuit (PIC) uses a machine vision system or the like to detect one or more positions at which one or more optical connections are to be made to at least one planar optical waveguide located on the PIC. A spatial light modulator (SLM) is used as a programmable photolithographic mask through which the optical connections are written in a volume of photosensitive material using a photolithographic process. The SLM is programmed to expose the photosensitive material to an illumination pattern that defines the optical connections. The programming is based at least in part on the positions that have been detected by the vision system. The optical connections are printed by exposing the photosensitive material to illumination that is modulated by the pattern with which the SLM is programmed.

Abstract: An optical amplifier on a silicon platform includes a first doped device layer and a second doped device layer. A gain medium is positioned between the first and second doped device layers. The gain medium comprises extrinsic gain materials so as to substantially confine in the gain medium a light signal and allow the optical amplifier to be electrically or optically pumped.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optically emitting material producing spontaneous emission and an optical waveguide coupled to the optically emitting material. The spontaneous emission from the optically emitting material is emitted into at least one optical mode of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide coupled to the optically emitting material does not provide optical gain, and the presence of the optical waveguide causes the spontaneous emission rate to be substantially more rapid than in the absence of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide causes the more rapid spontaneous emission rate over a broad range of frequencies.

Abstract: An optical amplifier on a silicon platform includes a first doped device layer and a second doped device layer. A gain medium is positioned between the first and second doped device layers. The gain medium comprises extrinsic gain materials so as to substantially confine in the gain medium a light signal and allow the optical amplifier to be electrically or optically pumped.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating an optical waveguide device including the steps of forming a mask over a waveguide core material layer so as to leave a portion of the layer exposed, and exposing the structure to an oxidizing environment to form an oxide layer on the waveguide core material layer at least in the exposed portion thereby defining the lateral dimension of the waveguide core. The resulting waveguide core has extremely smooth surfaces for low optical losses.

Abstract: An optical amplifier on a silicon platform includes a first doped device layer and a second doped device layer. A gain medium is positioned between the first and second doped device layers. The gain medium comprises extrinsic gain materials so as to substantially confine in the gain medium a light signal and allow the optical amplifier to be electrically or optically pumped.

Abstract: An improved interferometric modulator permits the reduction in size of optical transmitters. In one embodiment, the optical modulator includes amplifiers or attentuators as phase modulators. In another embodiment, two outputs from a combiner are fed to the modulator, thus avoiding the requirement for an input splitter in the modulator. Light passing through the modulator may be both phase-shifted and amplified or attenuated by optical regulator sections located in the modulator. In another embodiment, the transmitter is included as a multiple-wavelength optical communications source, where individual current sources are provided to actuate a number of light sources feeding into the combiner, a processor controls the operation of each light source, and a modulator driver receives a data input signal to be encoded on the output of the source. By combining a number of modulators, a gray scale modulator may be fabricated for producing a gray scale output, rather than a conventional binary level output.

Abstract: An improved interferometric modulator permits the reduction in size of optical transmitters. In one embodiment, the optical modulator includes amplifiers or attentuators as phase modulators. In another embodiment, two outputs from a combiner are fed to the modulator, thus avoiding the requirement for an input splitter in the modulator. Light passing through the modulator may be both phase-shifted and amplified or attenuated by optical regulator sections located in the modulator. In another embodiment, the transmitter is included as a multiple-wavelength optical communications source, where individual current sources are provided to actuate a number of light sources feeding into the combiner, a processor controls the operation of each light source, and a modulator driver receives a data input signal to be encoded on the output of the source. By combining a number of modulators, a gray scale modulator may be fabricated for producing a gray scale output, rather than a conventional binary level output.

Abstract: A stabilized single-longitudinal-mode laser where stabilization is performed through a pair of Bragg reflector mirrors slightly displaced in wavelength to either side of the longitudinal mode selected for operation. Transmitted signals through each Bragg reflector are detected and used in an electrical servo loop to control the relative positions of the longitudinal mode selected for operation and the peak wavelengths of the two Bragg reflector mirrors.

Abstract: A fiber laser or fiber amplifier uses resonant pumping of the gain medium by providing a pump resonator that establishes a resonator cavity at the pump wavelength which includes the pumped gain medium. The pump resonator may be of a distributed feedback (DFB) or a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) type construction, and may be combined with signal reflection apparatus of either DFB or DBR type construction that provides oscillation of the desired laser output wavelength. If used without a signal reflection apparatus, the invention may be operated as a resonant pumped fiber amplifier. A resonant pumped laser may use a wavelength stabilized pump source to maximize pumping efficiency, the stabilization being provided by optical feedback.

Abstract: A fiber laser or fiber amplifier uses resonant pumping of the gain medium by providing a pump resonator that establishes a resonator cavity at the pump wavelength which includes the pumped gain medium. The pump resonator may be of a distributed feedback (DFB) or a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) type construction, and may be combined with signal reflection apparatus of either DFB or DBR type construction that provides oscillation of the desired laser output wavelength. If used without a signal reflection apparatus, the invention may be operated as a resonant pumped fiber amplifier. Multiple resonators may also be pumped by a single pump source by locating each in a different branch of a multiple branch directional coupler. If the resonators are constructed to couple their outputs away from the coupler, a plurality of different laser outputs each having a different wavelength and equal output powers is provided.

Abstract: A method and device for obtaining a desired phase of optical characteristic of a Fabry-Perot (FP) etalon using multiple optical detectors which, while passively aligned at various positions relative to an incident light beam, detect different phases of light signal emerging from the FP etalon. An FP etalon and optical detector array constructed in accordance with the present invention may be used as a frequency discriminator in an optical system where the FP etalon optical characteristic is required to have a particular phase.