A photonic heater is provided. The photonic heater includes a current source and a transfer circuit. The transfer circuit connected to the current source. The photonic heater further includes a heating element. The heating element is connected to the transfer circuit. The transfer circuit is operable to regulate an amount of current being transferred from the current court to the heating element.

An active metasurface includes a number of periodically-repeated unit cells arranged on a substrate, each of the unit cells including a high-index dielectric block; a heat source positioned to selectively modulate heat applied to the high-index dielectric block; and an insulating undercut region at an interface between the high-index dielectric block and the substrate.

A reconfigurable integrated optical microswitch device (1) comprises a base layer (100), an adhesive layer (102) made of non-conducting material, a first layer of driving electrodes (104) arranged above the non-conducting adhesive layer (102), a layer of electro-optical material (106) arranged on the first layer of driving electrodes (104), a plurality of waveguides (50) afforded in the layer of electro-optical material (106), and a second layer of driving electrodes (110), arranged above the layer of electro-optical material (106) and connected to the plurality of waveguides (50). The device further comprises a layer of dielectric insulating material (108) arranged between the layer of electro-optical material (106) and the second layer of driving electrodes (110).

A node device capable of optimal transfer in accordance with the traffic situation of a network irrespective of the optical signaling system is provided. The node device includes a first wavelength selective switch connected to an input-side optical fiber; a fast selective switch connected to the first wavelength selective switch for cut-through or selective switching to an OCS controller or an OFS/OPS controller; an optical coupler connected to a cut-through output of the fast selective switch, an output of the OCS controller, and an output of the OFS/OPS controller; a second wavelength selective switch connected to an output of the optical coupler; and a node controller that performs wavelength assignment control for the first and second wavelength selective switches, path/label switch control for the fast selective switch, and flow/packet switch control for the OFS/OPS controller.

A node device capable of optimal transfer in accordance with the traffic situation of a network irrespective of the optical signaling system is provided. The node device includes a first wavelength selective switch connected to an input-side optical fiber; a fast selective switch connected to the first wavelength selective switch for cut-through or selective switching to an OCS controller or an OFS/OPS controller; an optical coupler connected to a cut-through output of the fast selective switch, an output of the OCS controller, and an output of the OFS/OPS controller; a second wavelength selective switch connected to an output of the optical coupler; and a node controller that performs wavelength assignment control for the first and second wavelength selective switches, path/label switch control for the fast selective switch, and flow/packet switch control for the OFS/OPS controller.

Provided is an optical phased array including a light injector, a first splitter connected to the light injector, a first phase shifter connected to the first splitter, a plurality of waveguides connected to the first splitter, portions of the plurality of waveguides being connected to the first splitter via the first phase shifter, an antenna array connected to the plurality of waveguides, a single mode filter provided in each of the plurality of waveguides, and a first photodetector connected to the first splitter and configured to detect a portion of light radiated onto the antenna array.

An optical waveguide device includes a substrate on which an optical waveguide is formed, and an object that is disposed on the substrate. The optical waveguide includes a mode conversion/branching portion that converts a mode of a light wave propagating through the optical waveguide and branches the light wave, and the object is disposed to cover a part or the whole of the mode conversion/branching portion or not to cover the mode conversion/branching portion when the substrate is viewed in a plan view. In a case where the object is disposed to cover a part of the mode conversion/branching portion, the object is disposed not to consecutively cover a section over a length of a predetermined value or higher in an advancing direction of a light wave.

A LIDAR system includes a demultiplexer that separates an outgoing LIDAR signal into multiple LIDAR output signals that each carries a different channel and the different channels are each at a different wavelength. The system also includes a beam distributor that receives each of the LIDAR output signals. The beam distributor directs the received LIDAR output signals such that different LIDAR output signals travel away from the beam distributor in different directions.

An optical switch is configured by providing a planar lightwave circuit layer on a top surface of a Si substrate. The circuit layer forms, on the top surface of the substrate, an optical waveguide including an underclad layer, an optical waveguide core, and an overclad layer. The optical waveguide is provided to have a structure configuring a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A heater is provided at a position just above an arm of the core on the top surface of the clad layer, and power supply electric wires are electrically connected to both ends of the heater. In a local portion including an interface between the clad layer and the top surface of the substrate, trench structure portions as concave grooves are provided.

An optical switch is configured by providing a planar lightwave circuit layer on a top surface of a Si substrate. The circuit layer forms, on the top surface of the substrate, an optical waveguide including an underclad layer, an optical waveguide core, and an overclad layer. The optical waveguide is provided to have a structure configuring a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A heater is provided at a position just above an arm of the core on the top surface of the clad layer, and power supply electric wires are electrically connected to both ends of the heater. In a local portion including an interface between the clad layer and the top surface of the substrate, trench structure portions as concave grooves are provided.