Abstract: Photonic devices, photonic integrated circuits, optical elements, and techniques of making and using the same are described. A photonic device includes an input region adapted to receive an optical signal including a multiplexed channel characterized by a distinct wavelength, a dispersive region optically coupled with the input region to receive the optical signal, the dispersive region including a plurality of sub-regions defined by an inhomogeneous arrangement of a first material and a second material, and a plurality of output regions optically coupled with the input region via the dispersive region. The plurality of sub-regions can include an input channel section, one or more coupler sections, and one or more branching sections. The plurality of sub-regions together can configure the photonic device to demultiplex the optical signal and to isolate the multiplexed channel at a first output region of the plurality of output regions.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures for aberration correction of optical phased arrays that employ a corrective optical path difference (OPD) in the near-field of an OPA to correct or cancel out aberrations in emitted beams of the OPA including those reaching far-field distances by generating a spatially-varying OPD across the aperture of the OPA that is substantially equal and opposite to an equivalent OPD of the aberration(s).

Abstract: An energy conversion and transmission system includes a thermal energy converter configured to convert thermal blackbody radiation energy to thermal infrared (IR) energy and to output a thermal IR energy stream. The system further includes a transmission device configured to receive the thermal IR energy stream from the thermal energy converter at a first location and output the thermal IR energy stream at a second location. The transmission device supplies the thermal IR energy stream to a thermal IR energy destination at the second location.

Abstract: A method for robust state manipulation in quantum information processing comprises evanescently coupling a first waveguide to a second waveguide, the first and second waveguide having different geometries respectively; and providing waveguide geometries such that their coupling is detuned, the detuning being a function of the geometries, the detuned coupling thereby providing reliable population transfer between the first and second waveguides that is robust to fabrication and other errors. The method may be used to provide a quantum optical coupler.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is provided comprising: first and second optical waveguides disposed in a substrate such that light reflected by a beam splitting optical element of the first waveguide passes between beam splitting elements of the second waveguide.

Abstract: Structures including an edge coupler and methods of fabricating a structure including an edge coupler. The structure includes an edge coupler having a longitudinal axis, a first ring resonator, and a second ring resonator. The first ring resonator has a first center point that is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the edge coupler by a first perpendicular distance. The second ring resonator has a second center point that is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the edge coupler by a second perpendicular distance.

Abstract: A photonic switch includes a first waveguide including a first region extending between a first coupler section and a second coupler section and a second region extending between the second coupler section and a third coupler section. The photonic switch also includes a second waveguide including a first portion extending between the first coupler section and the second coupler section, the first portion including at least two first compensation sections each having a different waveguide width, and a second portion extending between the second coupler section and the third coupler section, the second portion including at least two second compensation sections each having a different waveguide width. The photonic switch further includes at least one variable phase-shifter disposed in at least one of the first waveguide or the second waveguide.

Abstract: An integrated receiver chip comprising: a first end and a second end; at least one optical input port disposed at the first end; a polarization manipulation device optically connected to one of the at least one optical input port, the polarization manipulation device being adapted to split an optical signal into a first and a second optical signals; a first and a second dispersion compensators each optically connected to the polarization manipulation device, the first and the second dispersion compensators each being adapted to selectively induce a dispersion on an optical signal propagating through the dispersion compensator; and a first and a second photodetectors optically connected to the first and the second dispersion compensators, respectively.

Abstract: A laser for a distributed fiber sensing system may have a frequency discriminator integrated with the laser. The laser may be an external cavity laser, with at least a portion of the laser cavity on a planar lightwave circuit, which also includes the frequency discriminator.

Abstract: A broadband radiation source device configured for generating a broadband output radiation upon receiving pump radiation, the device including: a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) including at least one structurally varied portion having at least one structural parameter of the HC-PCF varied with respect to one or more main portions of the HC-PCF, wherein the at least one structurally varied portion includes at least a structurally varied portion located downstream of a position along the length of the HC-PCF where the pump radiation will be spectrally expanded by a modulation instability dominated nonlinear optical process, and wherein the at least one structurally varied portion is configured and located such that the broadband output radiation includes wavelengths in the ultraviolet region.

Abstract: A wavelength multiplexing system is presented comprising at least one basic functional unit extending between input and output light ports. The basic functional unit comprises at least one multi-core fiber. The multi-core fiber comprises N cores configured for supporting transmission of N wavelength channels ?1, . . . , ?n, wherein each of said at least one multi-core fibers is configured to apply a predetermined encoding pattern to the wavelength channels enabling linear mixing between them while propagating through multiple cores of said multi-core fiber. The encoding pattern may be configured to affect light propagation paths in the cores by inducing a predetermined dispersion pattern causing linear interaction and mixing between the channels; or may be configured to affect spectral encoding of the channels being transmitted through the cores by applying different weights to the channels.

Abstract: A device may include a frame, an optical connector coupled to an external surface of the frame, and an optical fiber comprising a bent section positioned external to an interior of the frame and connected to the optical connector.

Abstract: Multi-fiber interface apparatuses providing a double reflection expanded beam arrangement include one or more substrates being configured to mountably receive a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), a fiber array coupling member mounted to a substrate, optical elements associated with the substrate and/or the fiber array coupling member, and one or more additional features. An additional feature according to certain implementations includes one or more passive substrate alignment features for aligning substrates to promote optical coupling between optical fibers and the PIC. In certain implementations configured for interfacing with printed circuit boards (PCBs), an additional feature includes a recess defined in an optically transmissive substrate in which a PIC is mounted, or includes a recess defined in a PCB into which the PIC is mounted. Various embodiments provide relaxed fiber alignment tolerances with simplified fabrication and system integration capabilities.

Abstract: An Optical Dispersion Compensator (ODC) is disclosed, the ODC being suitable for managing chromatic dispersion of an optical signal for transmission over an optical fiber. The ODC comprises a first ODC unit (202) arranged on a first optical bus (206), a second ODC unit (204) arranged on a second optical bus (208), parallel to the first optical bus (206), and a switching element (210) interconnecting the first and second optical buses (206, 208) between the first and second ODC units (202, 204). The first and second ODC units (202, 204) are operable to provide a delay to the optical signal that varies with frequency. The switching element (210) is configured, in a first state, to switch an optical signal received on one of the first or second optical buses (206, 208) to the other of the first or second optical buses (208, 206) and, in a second state, to maintain an optical signal received on one of the first or second optical buses (206, 208) on the optical bus on which it was received (206, 208).

Abstract: An optical fiber filter includes a fiber core, inner cladding, and outer cladding. A refractive index of the fiber core, a refractive index of the inner cladding, and a refractive index of the outer cladding progressively decrease in sequence. The fiber core is configured to transmit at least two mutually different first optical signal modes, the inner cladding is configured to transmit at least two mutually different second optical signal modes, and at least one fiber grating is etched on the fiber core. At least part of optical power of a target first optical signal mode is coupled to only a target second optical signal mode at the fiber grating. The target first optical signal mode is one of the at least two first optical signal modes, and the target second optical signal mode is one of the at least two second optical signal modes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) structure including: a first primary waveguide, which has a first main body and a first end portion that is tapered; at least one supplemental waveguide positioned laterally adjacent to and extending beyond the first end portion of the first primary waveguide; and a second primary waveguide, which has a second main body and a second end portion that at least partially underlays/overlays the first end portion of the first primary waveguide and the supplemental waveguide(s). The arrangement the end portions of the primary waveguides and the supplemental waveguide(s) allows for mode matching conditions to be met at multiple locations at the interface between the primary waveguides, thereby creating multiple signal paths between the primary waveguides and effectively reducing the light signal power density in any one path to prevent or at least minimize any power-induced damage.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrashort signal detection adds an optical weighting element upstream of a detector within a direct detection receiver. The optical weighting element is configured to generate an optical pulse that closely matches at least one ultrashort pulse within the input signal so that portions of the input signal that are nonoverlapping with the at least one ultrashort pulse are rejected.

Abstract: Structures including an edge coupler and methods of fabricating a structure including an edge coupler. The structure includes a first waveguide core having a first inverse taper, a second waveguide core having a second inverse taper, and a third waveguide core having a third inverse taper that is laterally positioned between the first inverse taper and the second inverse taper. The structure further includes a fourth waveguide core having a fourth inverse taper that is positioned to overlap with the first inverse taper, and a fifth waveguide core having a fifth inverse taper that is positioned to overlap with the second inverse taper.

Abstract: A method for phase compensation in an optical communication network includes (1) modifying a modulated signal according to one or more correction factors to generate a compensated signal, to compensate for phase rotation, (2) modulating a magnitude of an optical signal in response to a magnitude of the compensated signal, and (3) modulating a phase of the optical signal, after modulating the magnitude of the optical signal, in response to a phase of the compensated signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of making a lensed connector in which a glass ferrule has holes within the body of the glass ferrule, and the glass ferrule is subsequently processed to form lens structures along the ferrule.

Abstract: A system comprises a waveguide apparatus comprising a plurality of input waveguides, a multimode waveguide, and a guided-wave transition coupling the plurality of input waveguides to the multimode waveguide. The system further comprises at least one light source configured to excite in turn each of a plurality of the input waveguides, or each of a plurality of combinations of the input waveguides, thereby generating a plurality of different light patterns in turn at an output of the waveguide apparatus. The waveguide apparatus is configured to direct each of the plurality of different light patterns to a target region. The system further comprises at least one detector configured to detect light transmitted, reflected or emitted from the target region in response to each of the different light patterns, and to output signals representing the detected light.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide etch-variation tolerant optical coupling components and processes for making the same. An etch-variation tolerant geometry is determined for at least one waveguide of an optical coupling component (e.g., a directional coupler). The geometry is optimized such that each fabricated instance of an optical component design with the etch-variation tolerant geometry has substantially the same coupling ratio at any etch depth between a shallow etch depth and a deep etch depth.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the output of an optical system. The apparatus comprises first and second fibre optic sections, a reflective coating, and a detector. The first fibre optic section has a first cladding and a first core, and is configured to receive light from the optical system at one end and has at the other end a first angled, polished face. The second fibre optic section has a second cladding and a second core, and has at one end a second angled, polished face. The first and second fibre optic sections are arranged such that the first and second angled, polished faces are substantially parallel and adjacent and the first and second cores are substantially aligned. The reflective coating is applied to the first or second angled, polished face, and is configured to reflect a portion of light transmitted through the first core. The detector is arranged to receive the reflected light.

Abstract: A method (100) of encoding communications traffic bits onto an optical carrier signal in a pulse amplitude modulation, PAM, format. The method comprises: receiving (102) bits to be transmitted; receiving (104) an optical carrier signal comprising optical pulses having an amplitude and respective phases; performing (106) PAM of the optical pulses to encode at least one respective bit in one of a pre-set plurality of amplitudes of a said optical pulse; and performing (108) phase modulation of the optical pulses to encode at least one further respective bit in a phase difference between a said optical pulse and a consecutive optical pulse.

Abstract: Examples of diffractive devices comprise a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layer comprising a plurality of chiral structures, wherein each chiral structure comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules that extend in a layer depth direction by at least a helical pitch and are successively rotated in a first rotation direction. Arrangements of the liquid crystal molecules of the chiral structures vary periodically in a lateral direction perpendicular to the layer depth direction to provide a diffraction grating. The diffractive devices can be configured to reflect light having a particular wavelength range and sense of circular polarization. The diffractive devices can be used in waveguides and imaging systems in augmented or virtual reality systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calculating the frequency of the light.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe optical phased array structures and devices in which hyperbolic phase envelopes are employed to create focusing and diverging emissions in one and two dimensions. Tuning the phase fronts moves focal point spot in depth and across the array. Grating emitters are also used to emit light upward (out of plane). Adjusting the period of the gratings along the light propagation direction results in focusing the light emitted from the gratings. Changes in the operating wavelengths employed moves the focal spot along the emitters.

Abstract: A device includes a first and a second part, relatively rotatable, and data transmission structures for contactless transmission of data. The data transmission structures include a transmit and/or receive facility a coupling facility on the two parts. The transmit and/or receive facility extends over a small angle and the coupling facility extends over a complete circle. Data is transmitted between the facilities at a transmission frequency. The two parts include walls encompassing a tunnel interior space extending completely around the axis of rotation. The data transmission structures are arranged in the tunnel interior space. The walls are electrically conductive structures reflecting electromagnetic alternating fields in the transmission frequency range. An absorber structure is arranged at least on a part of the walls toward the tunnel interior space and the absorber structure absorbs electromagnetic alternating fields in the range of the transmission frequency.

Abstract: A method for chromatic dispersion pre-compensation in an optical communication network includes (1) distorting an original modulated signal according to an inverse of a transmission function of the optical communication network, to generate a compensated signal, (2) modulating a magnitude of an optical signal in response to a magnitude of the compensated signal, and (3) modulating a phase of the optical signal, after modulating the magnitude of the optical signal, in response to a phase of the compensated signal.

Abstract: An optical sensor system may include a light source. The optical sensor system may include a concentrator component proximate to the light source and configured to concentrate light from the light source with respect to a measurement target. The optical sensor system may include a collection component that includes an array of at least two components configured to receive light reflected or transmitted from the measurement target. The optical sensor system may include may a sensor. The optical sensor system may include a filter provided between the collection component and the sensor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a signal on an optical fiber includes a fiber optic connector having a housing couplable to a receptacle. An optical fiber that transmits a first optical signal has first fiber core at least partially surrounded by a cladding and has a first end terminating proximate the housing. The first optical signal is transmitted along the first fiber core. An optical tap has a first tap waveguide arranged and is configured to receive at least part of the first optical signal as a first tap signal. The first tap waveguide comprises an output port for the first tap signal for directing the tap signal to a detector unit. In other embodiments, a detector unit detects light from the optical signal that is propagating along the fiber cladding.

Abstract: Optical telecommunication receivers and transmitters are described comprising dispersive elements and adjustable beam steering elements that are combined to provide optical grid tracking to adjust with very low power consumption to variations in the optical grid due to various changes, such as temperature fluctuations, age or other environmental or design changes. Thus, high bandwidth transmitters or receivers can be provides with low power consumption and/or low cost designs.

Abstract: An approach for realizing low-power, high-port-count optical switching systems, such as OXCs, WXCs, and ROADMs is presented. Optical switching systems in accordance with the present disclosure include arrangements of frequency-filter blocks, each of which includes a cascaded arrangement of tunable couplers and tunable Mach-Zehnder Interferometers (MZIs) that provides a substantially flat-top broadband transfer function for the frequency-filter block. The tunability for these devices is achieved by operatively coupling a low-power-dissipation phase controller, such as a stress-optic phase controller or liquid-crystal-based phase controller with one arm of the device, thereby enabling control over the coupling coefficient of the device.

Abstract: A figure-8 laser is configured in which gain in the uni-directional loop can be removed while maintaining mode-locked operation with gain only in the bi-directional nonlinear amplifying loop. Simplified self-starting and control over pulse characteristics by controlling gain in the bi-directional loop is made possible.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a photonic crystal maser includes a dielectric body having an array of cavities ordered periodically to define a photonic crystal structure in the dielectric body. The dielectric body also includes a region in the array of cavities defining a defect in the photonic crystal structure. An elongated slot through the region extends from a slot opening in a surface of the dielectric body at least partially through the dielectric body. The elongated slot and the array of cavities define a waveguide of the dielectric body. The dielectric body additionally includes an input coupler aligned with an end of the elongated slot and configured to couple a reference radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation to the waveguide. The photonic crystal maser also includes a vapor or source of the vapor in the elongated slot and an optical window covering the elongated slot.

Abstract: Aspects described herein include an optical apparatus comprising an input port configured to receive an optical signal comprising a plurality of wavelengths, and a plurality of output ports. Each output port is configured to output a respective wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths. The optical apparatus further comprises a first plurality of two-mode Bragg gratings in a cascaded arrangement. Each grating of the first plurality of two-mode Bragg gratings is configured to reflect a respective wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths toward a respective output port of the plurality of output ports, and transmit any remaining wavelengths of the plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: A display waveguide configured for conveying image light to a viewer has a waveguide body whose refractive index varies in the thickness direction to include a high-index region between lower-index regions. Multi-layer and gradient index implementations are described. The waveguide transmits a portion of image light within the high-index region of the waveguide to provide a wider field of view.

Abstract: A wavelength demultiplexing device configured so as to spatially distributing the spectral contributions of an incident light beam, when in use, and which includes a linear waveguide and a planar waveguide, formed in a coplanar way and adapted to be optically coupled with one another along a coupling line, by evanescent coupling. Such a device may further include diffraction gratings located in the planar waveguide, to extract light out of the latter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a frequency swept source apparatus including a mode locking laser that outputs an input optical signal having first to n-th frequency components, a transmission delay controller that generates first to m-th sub-optical signals, each of which includes at least one component of the first to n-th frequency components, and outputs a delay optical signal obtained by sequentially delaying the first to m-th sub-optical signals. The transmission delay controller includes a demultiplexer that outputs the first to m-th sub-optical signals to first to m-th channels based on the input optical signal, respectively, a path delay unit that adjusts lengths of optical paths of the first to m-th channels so as to be different from one another, a refractive index controller that adjusts a refractive index of each of the first to m-th channels, and a multiplexer that combines the first to m-th sub-optical signals.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first semiconductor substrate, a reference laser configured to generate coherent light, a plurality of first optical components, a plurality of second optical components, one or more first controllers configured to apply phase control signals to said plurality of first optical components to apply a phase shift, and one or more second controllers configured to apply pulse control signals to said plurality of second optical components such that a light pulse is outputted during a period of time that coherent light is received. The relative phase between emitted light pulses from the plurality of second optical components is controlled by the relative phase shifts applied by the one or more first controllers.

Abstract: A parallel optical fiber angled coupling component, which is used for parallel coupling of optical signal between the optical fiber array and the laser array, comprises an optical fiber positioning substrate, a cover plate and a plurality of optical fibers. The end face of the optical fiber is polished into a bevel with an inclination of 42.5° or 47.5°, and the bevel of the optical fiber is coated with a metal reflective film. This invention has the following beneficial effects: The end face of the optical fiber is polished into a bevel with an inclination of 42.5° or 47.5° to reduce inter-modal dispersion and increase the transmission distance of the optical signal in the subsequent optical fiber; the bevel of the optical fiber is coated with a metal reflective film, so as to ensure high reflectivity even if the bevel of the optical fiber is covered with glue.

Abstract: A biological information measurement apparatus comprises: a light source which illuminates a measurement target with light; a light receiving portion which receives a light amount of reflected light of the light from the measurement target; and a selecting unit which, based on a light amount received by the light receiving portion at each of a plurality of wavelengths of the reflected light, selects a wavelength to be used to measure biological information from the plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: A link extender configured to extend a range of an optical transceiver module is provided. The link extender includes an array of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) configured to amplify an optical signal received from the optical transceiver module, a first plurality of variable optical attenuators (VOAs) configured to control a power output of the amplified optical signal output from the array of SOAs, and a plurality of dispersion compensation and filtering (DC&F) devices configured to compensate for chromatic dispersion of the optical signal.

Abstract: A wavelength converting material includes a luminous core and a first protective layer. The first protective layer covers the luminous core, in which the first protective layer includes silicon dioxide, and in silicon atoms of the silicon dioxide, the silicon atom of the zeroth configuration (Q0) does not connect with any siloxy group, and the silicon atom of the first configuration (Q1) connects with one siloxy group, and the silicon atom of the second configuration (Q2) connects with two siloxy groups, and the silicon atom of the third configuration (Q3) connects with three siloxy groups, and the silicon atom of the fourth configuration (Q4) connects with four siloxy groups, in which a total amount of the silicon atoms of the third configuration and the fourth configuration is greater than a total amount of the silicon atoms of the zeroth configuration, the first configuration and the second configuration.

Abstract: A mirror system including a primary mirror, and a secondary mirror with different coefficients of thermal expansion. A negative CTE strut can include a main body portion, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion disposed opposite one another about the main body portion and defining a strut length. The first and second coupling portions can each interface with an external structure. The negative CTE strut can include an offsetting extension member having a first end coupled to the main body portion and a second end coupled to the first coupling portion by an intermediate extension member. The first and second ends can define an offset length parallel to the strut length. When the negative CTE strut increases in temperature, the offset length can be configured to increase due to thermal expansion of the offsetting extension member sufficient to cause the strut length to decrease.

Abstract: An optical switch includes a bus waveguide and an optical antenna supported by a substrate, a first and second coupling waveguide, a first and second actuation electrode, and a first and second reaction electrode. The first coupling waveguide is disposed parallel with the substrate and aligned with the bus waveguide. The first reaction electrode is coupled with, and adjacent to, the first coupling waveguide. The second coupling waveguide is optically connected with the first coupling waveguide and suspended over and configured to optically couple with the optical antenna. The second reaction electrode is coupled with, and adjacent to, the second coupling waveguide. The first and second actuation electrodes are supported by the substrate and configured to control the position of the first and second coupling waveguide, respectively, relative to the bus waveguide and optical antenna, via the first and second reaction electrodes.

Abstract: An optical switch includes a bus waveguide supported by a substrate, a coupling waveguide suspended over the bus waveguide, a reaction electrode coupled with, and adjacent to, the coupling waveguide, an actuation electrode supported by the substrate and configured to control a position of the coupling waveguide relative to the bus waveguide via the reaction electrode, and an optical antenna coupled with the coupling waveguide and disposed at a fixed distance from the bus waveguide. When a voltage difference between the reaction electrode and the actuation electrode is less than a lower threshold, the coupling waveguide is positioned a first distance from the bus waveguide, when the voltage difference between the reaction electrode and the actuation electrode is greater than an upper threshold, the coupling waveguide is positioned a second distance from the bus waveguide, and the second distance is less than the first distance.

Abstract: An optical circuit includes: a multicast-and-select (MCS) switch and multiple optical selective devices coupled to output ports of the MCS switch. The selective devices may select a single optical channel by blocking some of wavelengths of light passing therethrough and passing at least one other wavelength. The selective devices may be wave blockers or tunable optical filters. The optical circuit further includes an optical amplifying array, wherein each amplifier has an input port optically coupled to one of the selective devices. At least some of the amplifiers have pump light ports for receiving at least a portion of the pump light from one or more laser pumps or from another of the optical amplifiers, wherein the pumps are capable of providing pump light sufficient to fully saturate all of the rare earth doped optical fibers in the array.

Abstract: An improved waveguide is disclosed. The waveguide utilizes a luminescent material disposed within or around its perimeter to introduce additional light into the waveguide. For example, the waveguide may include a plurality of planar layers having different refractive indexes. A luminescent material may be disposed along the outer edge of these layers. When light from within the waveguide strikes the luminescent material, it emits light, thereby adding to the light in the waveguide. Not only does the luminescent material introduce more light into the waveguide, it also introduces more light sources, thereby making it more difficult to introduce a probe without blocking at least a portion of the light destined for the image sensor. The luminescent material may be a phosphor.

Abstract: Examples of diffractive devices comprise a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layer comprising a plurality of chiral structures, wherein each chiral structure comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules that extend in a layer depth direction by at least a helical pitch and are successively rotated in a first rotation direction. Arrangements of the liquid crystal molecules of the chiral structures vary periodically in a lateral direction perpendicular to the layer depth direction to provide a diffraction grating. The diffractive devices can be configured to reflect light having a particular wavelength range and sense of circular polarization. The diffractive devices can be used in waveguides and imaging systems in augmented or virtual reality systems.