Abstract:
In one aspect, the present invention provides techniques and apparatus for optical characterization of photonic devices and/or circuits. By way of example, the techniques can be used to identify damaged devices in photonic integrated circuits. In some embodiments, thermal imaging is employed as a diagnositic tool for characterizing the devices/ciccuits under investigation. For example, in one embodiment, integrated cascaded semiconductor amplifiers can be characterized using amplied spontaneous emission from one amplifier as a thermal modulation input to another amplifier. A thermoreflectance image of the second amplifier can reveal flaws, if present. Further, in some embodiments, thermal imaging in conjunction with a total energy model can be employed to charaterize the elements of photonic circuits optically and/or to map the optical power distribution throughout the circuits.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, the present invention introduces integrated fluid injection and mixing devices to enable pH control in a miniature parallel integrated bioreactor array system. In another embodiment, the environmental conditions of the growth chamber is enabled through fluidic injections in a miniature parallel cell culture system. In still another embodiment, the present invention utilizes gas switches to control oxygen concentration within a miniature parallel integrated bioreactor array.
Abstract:
Optical read-out of a cryogenic device (such as a superconducting logic or detector element) can be performed with a forward-biased optical modulator that is directly coupled to the cryogenic device without any intervening electrical amplifier. Forward-biasing at cryogenic temperatures enables very high modulation efficiency (1,000-10,000 pm/V) of the optical modulator, and allows for optical modulation with millivolt driving signals and microwatt power dissipation in the cryogenic environment. Modulated optical signals can be coupled out of the cryostat via an optical fiber, reducing the thermal load on the cryostat. Using optical fiber instead of electrical wires can increase the communication bandwidth between the cryogenic environment and room- temperature environment to bandwidth densities as high as Tbps/mm2 using wavelength division multiplexing. Sensitive optical signals having higher robustness to noise and crosstalk, because of their immunity to electromagnetic interference, can be carried by the optical fiber.
Abstract:
Active devices such as pumps and mixers have been fabricated in plastic-PDMS hybrid devices. By utilizing functionalized bis-silane primers, bond strength between Polycarbonate or PMMA and PDMS improved in dry and aqueous environments. Plastic-primer-PDMS layers exposed to acid and base solutions at 70°C for 2 hours showed no signs of delamination at 30 psi for pH -1 to 15 and 60 psi for pH 0 to 15. A peristaltic pump fabricated in polycarbonate achieved consistent flow rates up to peristaltic cycle frequencies of 10 Hz in water, 1OM HCl, and 1OM NaOH solutions.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to systems and methods of digital signal processing and in particular to systems and methods for measurements of thermoreflectance signals, even when they are smaller than the code width of a digital detector used for detection. For example, in some embodiments, the number of measurements done is selected to be sufficiently large so as to obtain an uncertainty less than the code width of the detector. This allows for obtaining images having an enhanced temperature resolution. The invention is also directed to methods for predicting the uncertainty in measurement of the signal based on one or more noise variables associated with the detection process and the number of measurement iterations.
Abstract:
Semiconductor optical modulators are described that utilize bipolar junction transistor (BIT) structure within the optical modulator. The junctions within the BIT can be designed and biased to increase modulator efficiency and speed. An optical mode may be located in a selected region of the BIT structure to improve modulation efficiency. The BIT structure can be included in optical waveguides of interferometers and resonators to form optical modulators.
Abstract:
An integrated acousto-optic modulator operates with an extremely high extinction ratio (e.g., > 50 dB) thanks to two widely separated two-dimensional (2D) waveguides. These 2D waveguides are formed on or adjacent to a one-dimensional (ID) waveguide far enough apart (e.g., 10-100 pm apart) to prevent evanescent coupling between them. An acoustic transducer formed on the surface of the ID waveguide switches light from one 2D waveguide to the other 2D waveguide via the ID waveguide. The acoustic wave emitted by the acoustic transducer forms a traveling grating that overlaps with one 2D waveguide, diffracting light from that 2D waveguide into the ID waveguide, which guides the light to the other 2D waveguide. A lateral grating coupler diffracts this light from the ID waveguide into a mode guided by the other 2D waveguide. This acoustic modulator acts as a switch suitable for use in quantum and atomic systems.
Abstract:
Light-emitting diodes having radiative recombination regions with deep sub-micron dimensions are described. The LEDs can be fabricated from indirect bandgap semiconductors and operated under forward bias conditions to produce intense light output from the indirect bandgap material. The light output per unit emission area can be over 500 W cm-2, exceeding the performance of even high brightness gallium nitride LEDs.
Abstract:
Swept-source Raman spectroscopy uses a tunable laser and a fixed-wavelength detector instead of a spectrometer or interferometer to perform Raman spectroscopy with the throughput advantage of Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy without bulky optics or moving mirrors. Although the tunable laser can be larger and more costly than a fixed wavelength diode laser used in other Raman systems, it is possible to split and switch the laser light to multiple ports simultaneously and/or sequentially. Each site can be monitored by its own fixed-wavelength detector. This architecture can be scaled by cascading fiber switches and/or couplers between the tunable laser and measurement sites. By multiplexing measurements at different sites, it is possible to monitor many sites at once. Moreover, each site can be meters to kilometers from the tunable laser. This makes it possible to perform swept-source Raman spectroscopy at many points across a continuous flow manufacturing environment with a single laser.
Abstract:
In one aspect, the present invention provides techniques and apparatus for optical characterization of photonic devices and/or circuits. By way of example, the techniques can be used to identify damaged devices in photonic integrated circuits. In some embodiments, thermal imaging is employed as a diagnositic tool for characterizing the devices/ciccuits under investigation. For example, in one embodiment, integrated cascaded semiconductor amplifiers can be characterized using amplied spontaneous emission from one amplifier as a thermal modulation input to another amplifier. A thermoreflectance image of the second amplifier can reveal flaws, if present. Further, in some embodiments, thermal imaging in conjunction with a total energy model can be employed to charaterize the elements of photonic circuits optically and/or to map the optical power distribution throughout the circuits.