Abstract: Structures for a photonics chip that include an integrated semiconductor laser and methods of forming such structures. The structure comprises a waveguide core, a multi-layer quantum-well stack, and an optical coupler on a portion of the waveguide core. The optical coupler, which comprises a semiconductor material, is disposed between the portion of the waveguide core and the multi-layer quantum-well stack.

Abstract: Structures for a photonics chip that include a photodetector and methods of forming such structures. The structure comprises a photodetector that is disposed on a substrate and that includes a light-absorbing layer. The light-absorbing layer includes a sidewall and a notch in the sidewall. The structure further comprises a waveguide core including a section adjacent to the notch in the sidewall of the light-absorbing layer.

Abstract: Structures for an optical coupler and methods of forming an optical coupler. The structure comprises a first waveguide core including a first tapered section, a second waveguide core including a second tapered section overlapped with the first tapered section, and an active layer including a third tapered section overlapped with the second tapered section. The first waveguide core comprises a first passive material, the second waveguide core comprises a second passive material, and the active layer comprises an active material.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a photonic structure with at least one tapered coupler positioned laterally adjacent and along the length of a sidewall of a layer, such as a light absorption layer (LAL), of a photodetector to facilitate mode matching. Some embodiments include a vertically oriented photodetector, which is on an insulator layer and has an LAL stacked between bottom and top semiconductor layers, and a coupler, which is on the insulator layer positioned laterally adjacent to the photodetector and has stacked cores with one of the cores being at the same level as the LAL. Other embodiments include a horizontally oriented photodetector, which is on an insulator layer and has an LAL on a recessed section of a bottom semiconductor layer between side sections, and coupler(s), which is/are above side section(s) of the bottom semiconductor layer and, thus, positioned laterally adjacent to one or both sides of the LAL.

Abstract: Structures and methods implement an enlarged multilayer nitride waveguide. The structure may include an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate. A first enlarged multilayer nitride waveguide is positioned in the ILD layer in a region of the substrate. A second multilayer nitride waveguide may also be provided in the ILD layer. A lower cladding layer defines a lower surface of the nitride waveguide(s). The lower cladding layer has a lower refractive index than the nitride waveguide(s). Additional lower refractive index cladding layers can be provided on the upper surface and/or sidewalls of the nitride waveguide(s). The enlarged nitride waveguide may be implemented with other conventional silicon and nitride waveguides.

Abstract: Structures for an optical component, such as an optical reflector or an Echelle grating, and methods of forming such structures. The structure comprises a first waveguide core positioned in a vertical direction over a semiconductor substrate. The first waveguide core includes a tapered section and a plurality of segments separated by a plurality of gaps. A second waveguide core, which is positioned in the vertical direction relative to the first waveguide core, includes a portion positioned adjacent to the first waveguide core.

Abstract: Structures for an optical coupler and methods of forming a structure for an optical coupler. The structure comprises a stacked waveguide core including a first waveguide core and a second waveguide core. The first waveguide core includes a first tapered section, and the second waveguide core includes a second tapered section positioned to overlap with the first tapered section. The structure further comprises a third waveguide core including a third tapered section positioned adjacent to the first tapered section of the first waveguide core and the second tapered section of the second waveguide core.

Abstract: Structures for a photodetector or light absorber and methods of forming a structure for a photodetector or light absorber. The structure includes a pad, a waveguide core adjoined to the pad, and a light-absorbing layer on the pad. The waveguide core includes a first longitudinal axis, and the light-absorbing layer includes a second longitudinal axis and an end surface intersected by the second longitudinal axis. The end surface of the light-absorbing layer is positioned adjacent to the waveguide core. The first longitudinal axis of the first waveguide core is inclined relative to the second longitudinal axis of the light-absorbing layer and/or the end surface slanted relative to the second longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Structures including an electro-absorption modulator and methods of forming such structures. The structure comprises a waveguide core including a first tapered section, a second tapered section, and a longitudinal axis. The first tapered section and the second tapered section are aligned along the longitudinal axis. The structure further comprises a first waveguide taper overlapping the first tapered section of the waveguide core, a second waveguide taper overlapping the second tapered section of the waveguide core, and a multiple-layer structure on the waveguide core between the first waveguide taper and the second waveguide taper.

Abstract: Structures for a power splitter that include a multimode interference coupler and methods of forming such structures. The structure comprises a multimode interference coupler including a grating having a plurality of grating lines, an input waveguide core, and an output waveguide core. The grating lines are disposed between the input waveguide core and the output waveguide core. The structure further comprises a resistive heating element adjacent to the grating lines.

Abstract: Photonic structures including multiple input/output optical couplers and methods of forming such photonic structures. The photonic structure comprises a light source and a photonics chip including a semiconductor substrate. The photonic structure further comprises a first mirror disposed at a first height relative to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate and a second mirror disposed at a second height relative to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first mirror is configured to reflect first light from the light source to the photonics chip, and the second mirror is configured to reflect second light from the light source to the photonics chip. The first mirror is disposed between the second mirror and the light source, and the second height is different from the first height.

Abstract: Structures for a waveguide crossing and methods of fabricating a structure for a waveguide crossing. The structure comprises a first waveguide core and a second waveguide core each including a first section, a second section, and a first waveguide bend connecting the first section to the second section. The second section terminates the first waveguide core. The second section terminates the second waveguide core. The second waveguide bend has a side surface that is spaced from a side surface of the first waveguide bend by a gap. A third waveguide core is terminated by a section having an overlapping arrangement with the second section of the first waveguide core. A fourth waveguide core is terminated by a section having an overlapping arrangement with the second section of the second waveguide core.

Abstract: Photonics chip structures including a reflector and methods of forming such structures. The photonics chip structure comprises a first waveguide core, a second waveguide core adjacent to the first waveguide core, and a reflector including a plurality of metal contacts over a portion of the first waveguide core. The second waveguide core is configured to couple light to the first waveguide core, and the metal contacts are configured to reflect the light.

Abstract: Structures for a photonics chip that include a photonic component and methods of forming such structures. The structure may comprise a photodetector on a substrate and a waveguide core. The photodetector includes a light-absorbing layer having a longitudinal axis, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall adjoined to the first sidewall at an interior angle. The first sidewall is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis, and the second sidewall is oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis. The waveguide core includes a tapered section adjacent to the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the light-absorbing layer.

Abstract: Structures for an optical component, such as a polarization splitter rotator, and methods of forming such structures. The structure comprises a waveguide core positioned in a vertical direction over a substrate, and a metamaterial structure positioned in a lateral direction adjacent to the waveguide core. The metamaterial structure including a plurality of elements separated by a plurality of gaps and a dielectric material in the plurality of gaps.

Abstract: Structures for a waveguide crossing and methods of forming such structures. The structure comprises a first waveguide core including a first section, a second section, and a first longitudinal axis. The first section and the second section are aligned along the first longitudinal axis, the first section is terminated by a first end, the second section is terminated by a second end, and the first end of the first section is longitudinally spaced from the second end of the second section by a gap. The structure further comprises a second waveguide core having a second longitudinal axis angled relative to the first longitudinal axis. The second longitudinal axis of the second waveguide core crosses the first longitudinal axis of the first waveguide core within the gap.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a photonic chip security structure and methods of manufacture. The structure includes an optical component over a substrate material, and at least one vertical wall including a reflecting material within a dielectric stack of material and surrounding the optical component.

Abstract: A structure includes a polarization device such as a polarization splitter, a polarization combiner or a polarization splitter rotator including a waveguide having a light absorber at an end section with an at least hook shape, e.g., it can be hooked or spiral shape. The structure also includes another waveguide adjacent the stated waveguide. The hook or spiral shape acts as a light absorber that reduces undesired optical noise such as excessive light insertion loss and/or light scattering. The hook or spiral shape may also be used on supplemental waveguides used to further filter and/or refine an optical signal in one of the waveguides of the polarization device, e.g., downstream of an output section of the polarization splitter and/or rotator.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a multi-substrate coupling for photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Structures of the disclosure may include a first substrate having a first surface. The first surface includes a groove therein. A second substrate has a second surface coupled to the first surface. The second substrate includes a cavity substantially aligned with the groove of the first surface, and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) structure horizontally distal to the cavity.

Abstract: Plasmonic photonic structures that include a layer that exhibits an electric-field-induced Pockels effect and methods of forming such structures. The structure comprises a waveguide core on a substrate, a first layer that has an overlapping relationship with the first waveguide core, and a second layer that has an overlapping relationship with the first waveguide core and the first layer. The first layer comprises a metal, and the second layer comprising a material that exhibits an electric-field-induced Pockels effect.