A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.

A method of forming a metallized mirror coating on a light diffusing optical fiber (110) includes contacting an end face (118) of a second end (114) of a light diffusing optical fiber (110) with a metallized mirror precursor. The light diffusing optical fiber (110) includes a first end (112) opposite the second end (114), a core (120), a polymer cladding (122) surrounding the core (120) and coplanar with the core at the end face (118) of the second end (114), an outer surface (128), and a plurality of scattering structures (125) positioned within the core (120), the polymer cladding (122), or both, that are configured to scatter guided light toward the outer surface (128) of the light diffusing optical fiber (110). The method also includes heating the metallized mirror precursor such that the metallized mirror precursor bonds to the core (120) and the polymer cladding (122) at the end face (118) of the second end (114) thereby forming a metallized mirror coating on the end face (118) of the second end (114).

A shroud includes a first end portion configured to slidably receive a bulkhead adapter and a second end portion configured to slidably receive an optical fiber connector. The first end portion includes an inner surface having ribs configured to engage the bulkhead adapter in an interference fit relationship, the second end portion includes an inner surface having ribs configured to engage the optical fiber connector in an interference fit relationship, and the shroud permits the optical fiber connector to be coupled directly with the bulkhead adapter in a push/pull engagement/disengagement relationship.

A tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter includes a nanosecond laser configured to emit laser pulses and an optic fiber. The optic fiber includes a tip configured to guide the laser pulses. The tip has a coating including a diffusion layer and a thermal expansion layer, wherein the diffusion layer includes epoxy and zinc oxide nanoparticles configured to diffuse the light while restricting localized heating. The thermal expansion layer includes carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) configured to convert the laser pulses to generate ultrasound. The frequency of the ultrasound is tuned with a thickness of the diffusion layer and a CNT concentration of the expansion layer.

A photonic integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the photonic integrated circuit includes: a waveguide; and a waveguide facet, a first end of the waveguide being at the waveguide facet, a first angle being an angle between: the waveguide at the first end of the waveguide and the normal to the waveguide facet, the first angle being at least 5 degrees, a first section of the waveguide having a first end at the waveguide facet and a second end, the first section having: a curvature of less than 0.01/mm at the first end of the first section, a curvature of less than 0.01/mm at the second end of the first section, and a curvature of at least 0.1/mm at a point between the first end and the second end.

A semiconductor device includes a first insulating film, a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide. The first insulating film has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first optical waveguide is formed on the first surface of the first insulating film. The second optical waveguide is formed on the second surface of the first insulating film. The second optical waveguide, in plan view, overlaps with an end portion of the first optical waveguide without overlapping with another end portion of the first optical waveguide.

A first optical waveguide is formed on a semiconductor substrate in such a way that the first optical waveguide is surrounded by clad layers. An outside portion of the first optical waveguide is formed as a terminator, which includes a taper portion and a bending structure portion. The taper portion has a width, which is gradually reduced in a direction to a forward end of the first optical waveguide. The taper portion coverts a light confinement condition from a strong condition to a weak condition in the direction to the forward end of the first optical waveguide. The bending structure portion has an arc shape extending from an outside end of the taper portion on a plane parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate.

An optical device may comprise an optical element holder that holds an optical element in an internal portion of the optical element holder, wherein the optical element holder includes a protruding feature with a contact portion that holds the optical element in the internal portion of the optical element holder. The optical device may additionally comprise the optical element, wherein an edge of the optical element includes a chamfered portion that contacts the contact portion of the protruding feature of the optical element holder to allow the protruding feature of the optical element holder to hold the optical element in the internal portion of the optical element holder.

A near-field probe (and associated method) compatible with near-infrared electromagnetic radiation and high temperature applications above 300° C. (or 500° C. in some applications) includes an optical waveguide and a photonic thermal emitting structure comprising a near-field thermally emissive material coupled to or part of the optical waveguide. The photonic thermal emitting structure is structured and configured to emit near-field energy responsive to at least one environmental parameter of interest, and the near-field probe is structured and configured to enable extraction of the near-field energy to a far-field by coupling the near-field energy into one or more guided modes of the optical waveguide.

A light-emitting row-type connection line assembly, which includes two connectors, a plurality of light-emitting lines, a plurality of connection lines and a plurality of light sources to make the plurality of light-emitting lines emit light. Each of the two connectors is provided with a plurality of ports for connecting the plurality of connection lines, and the plurality of ports are arranged spaced apart and in multiple rows. Each of the two connectors is provided with a light-emitting portion. The light-emitting portion is provided with a plurality of slots for connecting the plurality of light-emitting lines. The number of the plurality of slots is the same with that of ports in each row. A spacing between adjacent two slots is the same with that between adjacent two ports. The plurality of light-emitting lines are covered by a coating layer to form a light-emitting line row.