Abstract: An optical phased array device, and method of fabricating an optical phased array device, where the optical phased array device has a plurality of self-aligned waveguides having an on-chip edge coupler at which a single mode optical fiber is coupled to each of the plurality of self-aligned waveguides; and/or has a fiber coupling interface and a plurality of waveguide layers sharing a common edge at the fiber coupling interface, wherein the fiber coupling interface is configured to couple a single mode optical fiber to each of the plurality of waveguide layers at the common edge. The method includes fabricating an optical phased array according to a layer thickness for one or more waveguide layers, wherein the layer thickness is determined based on mode matching data derived from a mode profile at an input coupling interface.

Abstract: An optical phased array, device incorporating the same, and method for fabricating the same. The method, describable as a method for fabricating a three-dimensional (3D) optical phased array (OPA), includes: simultaneously etching multiple waveguide-cladding layers to form a plurality of waveguide paths, each of which terminates at a common edge; and/or generating a waveguide-cladding stack having a plurality of waveguide layers and a plurality of cladding layers, and simultaneously etching multiple layers of a waveguide-cladding stack to form a plurality of waveguide paths, each of which terminates at a common edge. The optical phased array has a plurality of self-aligned waveguide layers.

Abstract: An optical phased array device and method for manufacturing an optical phased array for the optical phased array device. The method includes: forming a base layer of a waveguide array on a base substrate, determining a waveguide pattern defining a plurality of waveguide paths, and fabricating a pattern layer of the waveguide array on top of the base layer of the waveguide array according to the determined waveguide pattern. The plurality of waveguide paths branch from a common path and terminate at a plurality of edge emitters, where the plurality of edge emitters are spaced apart from one another along a first axis that extends in the first dimension along an edge of the optical phased array. The spacing of multiple ones of the plurality of emitters along the first axis is aperiodic.

Abstract: A method for making a waveguide comprises (a) providing a waveguide structure comprising a substrate (22), a lower cladding (20) layer on the substrate, and a core layer (24) comprising silicon nitride, amorphous silicon, or amorphous silicon-germanium alloy on the lower cladding layer; (b) patterning the core layer; and (c) annealing (28) the waveguide structure.

Abstract: A stack of semiconductor layers forms a re-emitting semiconductor construction (RSC). The stack includes an active region that converts light at a first wavelength to light at a second wavelength, the active region including at least one potential well. The stack also includes an inactive region extending from an outer surface of the stack to the active region. Depressions are formed in the stack that extend from the outer surface into the inactive region. An average depression depth is at least 50% of a thickness of the inactive region or at least 50% of a nearest potential well distance. The depressions may have at least a 40% packing density in plan view. The depressions may also have a substantial portion of their projected surface area associated with obliquely inclined surfaces.

Abstract: A stack of semiconductor layers (310) forms a re-emitting semiconductor construction (RSC). The stack (310) includes an active region (316) that converts light at a first wavelength to light at a second wavelength, the active region (316) including at least one potential well. The stack (310) also includes an inactive region (318) extending from an outer surface of the stack to the active region. Depressions (326) are formed in the stack (310) that extend from the outer surface into the inactive region (318). An average depression depth is at least 50% of a thickness of the inactive region. Alternatively, the average depression depth is at least 50% of a nearest potential well distance. Still other alternative characterizations of the depressions (326) are also disclosed. The depressions (326) may have at least a 40% packing density in plan view. The depressions (326) may also have a substantial portion of their projected surface area associated with obliquely inclined surfaces.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light source (102), an optical microresonator (118) that supports at least a first optical guided mode (128) propagating along a first direction and at least a second optical guided mode (164) propagating along a second direction different from the first direction, and a detector (110,114). At least the first optical guided mode is excited by the emitted broadband light without the second optical guided mode being excited by the emitted broadband light. In some embodiments The detector receives and wavelength-averages light from the at least a second optical guided mode of the optical microresonator. In some embodiments, at least one of the light source, the microresonator and the detector is tunable.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for detecting the presence of a perturbation of a microresonator including the step of exciting at least first and second resonant guided optical modes of a microresonator with a light source that is in optical communication with the microresonator. The method further includes inducing a first frequency shift in the first resonant guided optical mode and a second frequency shift in the second resonant guided optical mode, wherein the second frequency shift can be zero. Another step of the method is comparing the first frequency shift and the second frequency shift.

Abstract: An optical sensing system and method of using it includes a light source and a first bus waveguide having an input port that is in optical communication with the light source. The system further includes a microresonator configured so that the light source excites at least first and second resonant guided optical modes of the microresonator. The microresonator includes a first location on a surface of a core of the microresonator where a field intensity of the first mode is greater than a field intensity of the second mode. The microresonator core has a first cladding at the first location. The microresonator also has a second location on a surface of the core of the microresonator where a field intensity of the first mode is less than or equal to a field intensity of the second mode, the microresonator core having a second cladding at the second location. The first cladding is different than the second cladding.

Abstract: An optical sensing system and method are disclosed. The optical sensing system includes one or more bus waveguides. A first bus waveguide includes an input port that is in optical communication with a light source. The system further includes a microresonator optically coupled to the bus waveguides and an optical scattering center configured for alteration of a strength of optical coupling between the optical scattering center and the microresonator. In addition, the system includes a detector in optical communication one of the bus waveguides or the microresonator.

Abstract: An optical microresonator system and a sensor are disclosed. The optical microresonator system includes an optical waveguide and an optical microresonator that is directly optically coupled to the optical waveguide. The optical microresonator further includes an optical microcavity that is core coupled to the optical microresonator but not to the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A method for making a waveguide comprises (a) providing a waveguide structure comprising a substrate (22), a lower cladding (20) layer on the substrate, and a core layer (24) comprising silicon nitride, amorphous silicon, or amorphous silicon-germanium alloy on the lower cladding layer; (b) patterning the core layer; and (c) annealing (28) the waveguide structure.

Abstract: An optical device and a sensor system incorporating same are disclosed. The optical device includes a microresonator that has a core with input and output ports. The output port is different than the input port. The optical device further includes first and second optical waveguides. Each optical waveguide has a core with input and output faces. The output face of the core of the first optical waveguide physically contacts the input port of the core of the microresonator. The input face of the core of the second optical waveguide physically contacts the output port of the core of the microresonator.

Abstract: An optical device and a sensor system incorporating same are disclosed. The optical device includes a microresonator that has a core with input and output ports. The output port is different than the input port. The optical device further includes first and second optical waveguides. Each optical waveguide has a core with input and output faces. The output face of the core of the first optical waveguide physically contacts the input port of the core of the microresonator. The input face of the core of the second optical waveguide physically contacts the output port of the core of the microresonator.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for detecting the presence of a perturbation of a microresonator including the step of exciting at least first and second resonant guided optical modes of a microresonator with a light source that is in optical communication with the microresonator. The method further includes inducing a first frequency shift in the first resonant guided optical mode and a second frequency shift in the second resonant guided optical mode, wherein the second frequency shift can be zero. Another step of the method is comparing the first frequency shift and the second frequency shift.

Abstract: An optical sensing system and method of using it includes a light source and a first bus waveguide having an input port that is in optical communication with the light source. The system further includes a microresonator configured so that the light source excites at least first and second resonant guided optical modes of the microresonator. The microresonator includes a first location on a surface of a core of the microresonator where a field intensity of the first mode is greater than a field intensity of the second mode. The microresonator core has a first cladding at the first location. The microresonator also has a second location on a surface of the core of the microresonator where a field intensity of the first mode is less than or equal to a field intensity of the second mode, the microresonator core having a second cladding at the second location. The first cladding is different than the second cladding.

Abstract: An optical sensing system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of detecting a scattering center includes the step of providing an optical sensing system including a light source, one or more bus waveguides where a first bus waveguide has an input port that is in optical communication with the light source, a microresonator optically coupled to the one or more bus waveguides, and a scattering center which is capable of optically coupling to the microresonator. The method further includes the steps of exciting at least a first resonant guided optical mode of the microresonator with the light source, altering a strength of optical coupling between the scattering center and the microresonator to induce a change in optical scattering between the first mode and at least a second guided optical mode of the microresonator, and detecting a change in transfer of energy from the first mode to the second mode.

Abstract: An optical microresonator system and a sensor system incorporating same are disclosed. The optical microresonator system includes an optical waveguide and an optical microcavity that is optically coupled to the optical waveguide. The microcavity is capable of supporting primarily one or more resonant modes. The optical microresonator system further includes an optical microresonator that is optically coupled to the microcavity and is capable of supporting a resonant mode.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a photoactive region that receives light. A photonic crystal is coupled to the photoactive region, wherein the photonic crystal comprises a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) for trapping the light.

Abstract: An optical sensing system and method are disclosed. The optical sensing system includes one or more bus waveguides. A first bus waveguide includes an input port that is in optical communication with a light source. The system further includes a microresonator optically coupled to the bus waveguides and an optical scattering center configured for alteration of a strength of optical coupling between the optical scattering center and the microresonator. In addition, the system includes a detector in optical communication one of the bus waveguides or the microresonator.