Abstract:
A photonic waveguide for conducting light having first and second wavelengths, the waveguide comprising superposed first and second strips of light conducting semiconductor materials having first and second refractive indexes, wherein the second wavelength is shorter than the first wavelength and the second refractive index is higher than the first refractive index, wherein the width and height of the first strip of light conducting semiconductor material are such that the first strip of light conducting semiconductor material is adapted to confine an optical mode of the first wavelength and the width and height of the second strip of light conducting semiconductor material are such that the second strip of light conducting semiconductor material is adapted to confine an optical mode of the second wavelength but is too narrow to confine an optical mode of the first wavelength.
Abstract:
A laser or light emitter for operation at a cryogenic temperature includes a single quantum well layer, an n-type barrier layer directly on a first surface of the single quantum well layer, and a p-type barrier layer directly on a second surface of the single quantum well layer opposite the first surface of the single quantum well layer. The single quantum well layer is between the p-type barrier layer and the n-type barrier layer and the compositions of the n-type barrier layer and the p-type barrier layer are graded.
Abstract:
A radio frequency (RF) link includes a link transmitter that includes a data modulator for modulating a data waveform together with an RF carrier, a photonic encoder coupled to the data modulator, and a transmitter antenna for transmitting an RF signal, wherein the RF signal comprises an output of the photonic encoder, and a link receiver including a receiver antenna for receiving the RF signal, a first laser source, a photonic limiter coupled to the first laser source and to the receiving antenna, a photonic decoder coupled to the photonic limiter, a photo-receiver coupled to the photonic decoder, and a demodulator coupled to the photo-receiver for demodulating an output of the photo-receiver with the RF carrier to form a data output.
Abstract:
An infrared photo-detector with multiple discrete regions of a first absorber material. These regions may have geometric shapes with sloped sidewalls. The detector also may include a second absorber region comprising a second absorber material that absorbs light of a shorter wavelength than the light absorbed by the multiple discrete absorber regions of the first absorber material. The geometric shapes may extend only through the first absorber material. Alternatively, the geometric shapes may extend partially into the second absorber region. The detector has a metal reflector coupled to the multiple discrete absorber regions. The detector also has a substrate containing the discrete absorber regions and the second absorber region. The substrate can further include geometric shaped features etched into the substrate, with those features formed on the side of the substrate opposite the side containing the discrete absorber regions and the second absorber region.
Abstract:
An infrared photo-detector array and a method for manufacturing it are disclosed. The infrared photo-detector array contains a collector layer, a first absorber layer that absorbs incident light of a first wavelength band and generates first electrons and first holes, a second absorber layer that absorbs incident light of a second wavelength band and generates second electrons and second holes, and wherein the wavelengths of the incident light in the first wavelength band are shorter than the wavelengths of the incident light in the second wavelength band, and wherein the second absorber layer is laterally contiguous across at least two photo-detectors. The method disclosed teaches how to manufacture the infrared photo-detector array.
Abstract:
An photonic RF circulator is described that provides greater than 40 db of isolation between a Received RF signal and a Transmitted RF signal in a simultaneous transmit and receive device. The photonic RF circulator uses light modulated in an optical waveguide grating where the Received RF signal co-propagates with the light and the Transmitted RF signal counter-propagates with the light. Variations described within provide for broadening the bandwidth of the T/R isolation and rejection of various noise sources.
Abstract:
An optical transmitter includes a superconducting driver circuit including at least one Josephson junction, the superconducting driver circuit having a voltage output and having a connection to a circuit ground, a first bias circuit coupled to the voltage output of the superconducting driver circuit, a second bias circuit, wherein the second bias circuit establishes a positive bias voltage relative to the circuit ground, and an electro-optic device having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the electro-optic device is coupled to the voltage output of the superconducting driver circuit, and wherein the second end of the electro-optic device is coupled to the second bias circuit.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for a multi-band position sensor and a multi-band optical detector are disclosed. This system comprises a dual-axis, lateral-effect position sensor for locating spots of light that has energy in two wavelength bands. This sensor senses the time-varying intensities of the light in each of the two wavelength bands. This sensor also provides the location of the spot of light on the light-detecting plane of the sensor. Examples are provided for light of two mid-wave infrared (MWIR) wavelength bands or of a short-wave infrared (SWIR) and a MWIR band. This sensor approach, could be applied to detect light of other wavelength bands, such as a combination of a MWIR and a long-wave infrared (LWIR) band. This concept is extended to an array of detectors for multi-band optical detection and multi-source location and tracking. Monolithic chip level fabrication of the multi-band detectors is also discussed.
Abstract:
An electro-optic modulation structure comprises a first electrode and a second electrode and a first electro-optic strip; wherein the first electrode has a slab portion and a first ridge protruding from the slab portion of the first electrode, and the second electrode has a slab portion and a first ridge protruding from the slab portion of the second electrode, the first protruding ridge of the first electrode and the first protruding ridge of the second electrode being disposed on opposite sides of the first electro-optic strip and both protruding ridges abut the first electro-optic strip.
Abstract:
A radio frequency (RF) link includes a link transmitter that includes a data modulator for modulating a data waveform together with an RF carrier, a photonic encoder coupled to the data modulator, and a transmitter antenna for transmitting an RF signal, wherein the RF signal comprises an output of the photonic encoder, and a link receiver including a receiver antenna for receiving the RF signal, a first laser source, a photonic limiter coupled to the first laser source and to the receiving antenna, a photonic decoder coupled to the photonic limiter, a photo-receiver coupled to the photonic decoder, and a demodulator coupled to the photo-receiver for demodulating an output of the photo-receiver with the RF carrier to form a data output.