Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure describe an apparatus for III/V-Si taper coupling, including a III/V-Si taper coupler with one end to receive a laser beam where the one end has at least one surface at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to a direction of the laser beam, and where the at least one surface forms one or more tips at the one end of the III/V-Si taper coupler. The one end is positioned so that the one or more tips are outside the laser beam to reduce reflection of laser beam away from the one end of the III/V-Si taper coupler.

Abstract: There is disclosed in one example a fiberoptic communication circuit for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) communication, including: an incoming waveguide to receive an incoming WDM laser pulse; an intermediate slab including a demultiplexer circuit to isolate n discrete modes from the incoming WDM laser pulse; n outgoing waveguides to receive the n discrete modes, the outgoing waveguides including fully-etched rib-to-channel waveguides; and an array of n photodetectors to detect the n discrete modes.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure describe an apparatus for III/V-Si taper coupling, including a III/V-Si taper coupler with one end to receive a laser beam where the one end has at least one surface at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to a direction of the laser beam, and where the at least one surface forms one or more tips at the one end of the III/V-Si taper coupler. The one end is positioned so that the one or more tips are outside the laser beam to reduce reflection of laser beam away from the one end of the III/V-Si taper coupler.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward techniques and configurations for an optical device having a multiplexer and/or demultiplexer with an input and/or output optical waveguide including one or more waveguide segments tapered according to a non-linear function such as a curve. In embodiments, the one or more waveguide segments is tapered according to, e.g., a quadratic function, a parabolic function, or an exponential function. In accordance with some embodiments, the tapered segment assists in spatially dispersing the propagating light along a substantially uniform phase wavefront at a mirror that includes an echelle grating surface that is shaped to receive/reflect the light at the substantially uniform phase wavefront. In embodiments, the one or more waveguide segments is tapered according to a curve to receive a portion of light from the substantially uniform phase wavefront at the echelle grating surface. Additional embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments may relate to a silicon photonic chip, and particularly a back absorber within the silicon photonic chip. The back absorber may include a substrate material with a slab portion that includes a doped portion of the substrate material. The back absorber may be positioned at the backside of a laser that is configured to project light along a waveguide of the silicon photonic chip. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward an optical apparatus that includes a semiconductor layer to propagate light from at least one light source. The optical apparatus may further include a curved echelle grating with a plurality of grating teeth, the echelle grating at an outer side of the semiconductor layer. The curved echelle grating may include a plurality of grating teeth, and a grating tooth of the plurality of grating teeth may have a grating facet and a shadow facet. A shadow facet may have an angle of grating greater than 0 degrees with respect to a normal of a curve of the curved echelle grating. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward an optical apparatus that includes a semiconductor layer to propagate light from at least one light source. The optical apparatus may further include a curved echelle grating with a plurality of grating teeth, the echelle grating at an outer side of the semiconductor layer. The curved echelle grating may include a plurality of grating teeth, and a grating tooth of the plurality of grating teeth may have a grating facet and a shadow facet. A shadow facet may have an angle of grating greater than 0 degrees with respect to a normal of a curve of the curved echelle grating. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward techniques and configurations for an optical device having a semiconductor layer to propagate light and a mirror disposed inside the semiconductor layer and having echelle grating reflective surface to substantially totally internally reflect the propagating light inputted by one or more input waveguides, to be received by one or more output waveguides. The waveguides may be disposed in the semiconductor layer under a determined angle relative to the mirror reflective surface. The determined angle may be equal to or greater than a total internal reflection angle corresponding to the interface, to provide substantially total internal reflection of light by the mirror. The mirror may be formed by an interface of the semiconductor layer comprising the mirror reflective surface and another medium filling the mirror, such as a dielectric. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward techniques and configurations for an optical device having a semiconductor layer to propagate light and a mirror disposed inside the semiconductor layer and having echelle grating reflective surface to substantially totally internally reflect the propagating light inputted by one or more input waveguides, to be received by one or more output waveguides. The waveguides may be disposed in the semiconductor layer under a determined angle relative to the mirror reflective surface. The determined angle may be equal to or greater than a total internal reflection angle corresponding to the interface, to provide substantially total internal reflection of light by the mirror. The mirror may be formed by an interface of the semiconductor layer comprising the mirror reflective surface and another medium filling the mirror, such as a dielectric. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward techniques and configurations for an optical device having a semiconductor layer to propagate light and a mirror disposed inside the semiconductor layer and having echelle grating reflective surface to substantially totally internally reflect the propagating light inputted by one or more input waveguides, to be received by one or more output waveguides. The waveguides may be disposed in the semiconductor layer under a determined angle relative to the mirror reflective surface. The determined angle may be equal to or greater than a total internal reflection angle corresponding to the interface, to provide substantially total internal reflection of light by the mirror. The mirror may be formed by an interface of the semiconductor layer comprising the mirror reflective surface and another medium filling the mirror, such as a dielectric. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward techniques and configurations for an optical device having a semiconductor layer to propagate light and a mirror disposed inside the semiconductor layer and having echelle grating reflective surface to substantially totally internally reflect the propagating light inputted by one or more input waveguides, to be received by one or more output waveguides. The waveguides may be disposed in the semiconductor layer under a determined angle relative to the mirror reflective surface. The determined angle may be equal to or greater than a total internal reflection angle corresponding to the interface, to provide substantially total internal reflection of light by the mirror. The mirror may be formed by an interface of the semiconductor layer comprising the mirror reflective surface and another medium filling the mirror, such as a dielectric. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A method of making a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) waveguide capable of being integrated with a surface-mounted component is presented. The method entails etching a silicon substrate to form a slanted wall, forming a nonreflective waveguide portion on the silicon substrate, and depositing a reflective layer on the slanted wall. Light travels through the nonreflective waveguide portion in substantially a first direction, and the light from the nonreflective waveguide portion strikes the reflective layer to be redirected in a second direction. The second direction may be the direction toward the surface-mounted component. A PLC waveguide device made with the above method is also presented.

Abstract: A method of making a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) waveguide capable of being integrated with a surface-mounted component is presented. The method entails etching a silicon substrate to form a slanted wall, forming a nonreflective waveguide portion on the silicon substrate, and depositing a reflective layer on the slanted wall. Light travels through the nonreflective waveguide portion in substantially a first direction, and the light from the nonreflective waveguide portion strikes the reflective layer to be redirected in a second direction. The second direction may be the direction toward the surface-mounted component. A PLC waveguide device made with the above method is also presented.

Abstract: A multiplexing AWG device capable of producing an ultra-wideband, low ripple, flat-top signal is presented. The AWG device includes an AWG unit and a two-section waveguide coupled to the AWG unit. The two-section waveguide has a first section and a second section. The first section produces a signal having a double-peak field profile and has a first input end and a first output end. The second section reduces the phase variation of the signal having the double-peak field profile exiting the first section. The second section has a second input end that is coupled to the first output end. For example, the first section may be a parabolic tapered waveguide and the second section may be a rectangular waveguide.

Abstract: The multiplexer includes multi-mode waveguides positioned on a base such that a plurality of the waveguides serve as input waveguides and one or more of the waveguides serve as an output waveguide. The waveguides intersect one another such that light signals traveling along a plurality of the input waveguides are combined onto an output waveguide. At least a portion of the input waveguides including a taper configured to taper the width of a light signal traveling along the input waveguide toward the output waveguide.

Abstract: A method of making a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) waveguide capable of being integrated with a surface-mounted component is presented. The method entails etching a silicon substrate to form a slanted wall, forming a nonreflective waveguide portion on the silicon substrate, and depositing a reflective layer on the slanted wall. Light travels through the nonreflective waveguide portion in substantially a first direction, and the light from the nonreflective waveguide portion strikes the reflective layer to be redirected in a second direction. The second direction may be the direction toward the surface-mounted component. A PLC waveguide device made with the above method is also presented.

Abstract: A method of making a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) waveguide capable of being integrated with a surface-mounted component is presented. The method entails etching a silicon substrate to form a slanted wall, forming a nonreflective waveguide portion on the silicon substrate, and depositing a reflective layer on the slanted wall. Light travels through the nonreflective waveguide portion in substantially a first direction, and the light from the nonreflective waveguide portion strikes the reflective layer to be redirected in a second direction. The second direction may be the direction toward the surface-mounted component. A PLC waveguide device made with the above method is also presented.

Abstract: A multiplexing AWG device capable of producing an ultra-wideband, low ripple, flat-top signal is presented. The AWG device includes an AWG unit and a two-section waveguide coupled to the AWG unit. The two-section waveguide has a first section and a second section. The first section produces a signal having a double-peak field profile and has a first input end and a first output end. The second section reduces the phase variation of the signal having the double-peak field profile exiting the first section. The second section has a second input end that is coupled to the first output end. For example, the first section may be a parabolic tapered waveguide and the second section may be a rectangular waveguide.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical component on a substrate structure includes forming a ridge in a light transmitting medium positioned on a base. The ridge includes a waveguide region configured to propagate light signals and a flange region extending across a longitudinal axis of the waveguide region. The method also includes removing at least a portion of the flange region so as to expose a facet aligned with the waveguide region such that light signals propagated along the waveguide region are transmitted through the facet.

Abstract: An input port of an add/drop node receives a plurality of optical channels. An add/drop port transmits a first drop channel of the plurality of channels when in a first channel mode and a second drop channel of the plurality of optical channels during a second channel mode. When the add/drop node is tuned from the first channel to the second channel, the output port transmits the plurality of channels spectrally located between the first channel and the second channel.