Integrated target waveguide devices and optical analytical systems comprising such devices are provided. The target devices include an optical coupler that is optically coupled to an integrated waveguide and that is configured to receive optical input from an optical source through free space, particularly through a low numerical aperture interface. The devices and systems are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. The devices provide for the efficient and reliable coupling of optical excitation energy from an optical source to the optical reactions. Optical signals emitted from the reactions can thus be measured with high sensitivity and discrimination. The devices and systems are well suited for miniaturization and high throughput.

Integrated target waveguide devices and optical analytical systems comprising such devices are provided. The target devices include an optical coupler that is optically coupled to an integrated waveguide and that is configured to receive optical input from an optical source through free space, particularly through a low numerical aperture interface. The devices and systems are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. The devices provide for the efficient and reliable coupling of optical excitation energy from an optical source to the optical reactions. Optical signals emitted from the reactions can thus be measured with high sensitivity and discrimination. The devices and systems are well suited for miniaturization and high throughput.

The invention relates to a method for concentrating light by coupling light into a thin film waveguide (2, 4) arranged on a substrate (1), in particular via at least one of its parallel surfaces, the method further comprising the step of exciting in the thin-film-waveguide (2, 4) at least one lateral guided mode (5) having at least one node (6), preferably exactly one node (6), by interaction, in particular scattering, diffraction or surface plasmon excitation of the incident light with a nanopatterned discontinuous excitation layer (3) of material, in particular metal, preferably silver, the nanopatterned discontinuous excitation layer (3) being arranged in the thin-film-waveguide (2,4) at the position of the at least one node (6) of the guided lateral mode (5). The invention furthermore relates to alight concentrator comprising a thin film waveguide (2, 4) deposited on a substrate (1), the thin film waveguide (2, 4) having at least two parallel surfaces, light being coupable into the thin film waveguide (2, 4) via at least one of these surfaces, wherein the thin film waveguide (2, 4) is established as a collecting thin film waveguide (2, 3, 4) for collecting light by arranging a nanopatterned discontnuous excitation layer (3) of material, in particular of metal and preferably of silver at a position corresponding to the node position (6) of a guided mode (5) to be excited in the collecting thin film waveguide (2, 3, 4). The invention also relates to a method of fabricating such a light concentrator.

The invention relates to a method for concentrating light by coupling light into a thin film waveguide (2, 4) arranged on a substrate (1), in particular via at least one of its parallel surfaces, the method further comprising the step of exciting in the thin-film-waveguide (2, 4) at least one lateral guided mode (5) having at least one node (6), preferably exactly one node (6), by interaction, in particular scattering, diffraction or surface plasmon excitation of the incident light with a nanopatterned discontinuous excitation layer (3) of material, in particular metal, preferably silver, the nanopatterned discontinuous excitation layer (3) being arranged in the thin-film-waveguide (2,4) at the position of the at least one node (6) of the guided lateral mode (5). The invention furthermore relates to alight concentrator comprising a thin film waveguide (2, 4) deposited on a substrate (1), the thin film waveguide (2, 4) having at least two parallel surfaces, light being coupable into the thin film waveguide (2, 4) via at least one of these surfaces, wherein the thin film waveguide (2, 4) is established as a collecting thin film waveguide (2, 3, 4) for collecting light by arranging a nanopatterned discontnuous excitation layer (3) of material, in particular of metal and preferably of silver at a position corresponding to the node position (6) of a guided mode (5) to be excited in the collecting thin film waveguide (2, 3, 4). The invention also relates to a method of fabricating such a light concentrator.

Resonant-cavity infrared photodetector (RCID) devices that include a thin absorber layer contained entirely within the resonant cavity. In some embodiments, the absorber is a single type-II InAsGaSb interface situated between an AlSb/InAs superlattice n-type region and a p-type AlSb/GaSb region. In other embodiments, the absorber region comprises quantum wells formed on an upper surface of the n-type region. In other embodiments, the absorber region comprises a W-structured quantum well situated between two barrier layers, the W-structured quantum well comprising a hole quantum well sandwiched between two electron quantum wells. In other embodiments, the RCID includes a thin absorber region and an nBn or pBp active core within a resonant cavity. In some embodiments, the RCID is configured to absorb incident light propagating in the direction of the epitaxial growth of the RCID structure, while in other embodiments, it absorbs light propagating in the epitaxial plane of the structure.

Resonant-cavity infrared photodetector (RCID) devices that include a thin absorber layer contained entirely within the resonant cavity. In some embodiments, the absorber is a single type-II InAsGaSb interface situated between an AlSb/InAs superlattice n-type region and a p-type AlSb/GaSb region. In other embodiments, the absorber region comprises quantum wells formed on an upper surface of the n-type region. In other embodiments, the absorber region comprises a W-structured quantum well situated between two barrier layers, the W-structured quantum well comprising a hole quantum well sandwiched between two electron quantum wells. In other embodiments, the RCID includes a thin absorber region and an nBn or pBp active core within a resonant cavity. In some embodiments, the RCID is configured to absorb incident light propagating in the direction of the epitaxial growth of the RCID structure, while in other embodiments, it absorbs light propagating in the epitaxial plane of the structure.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a slot assisted grating based transverse magnetic (TM) pass polarizer and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a waveguide strip composed of a first type of material and having openings along its length which are positioned to reflect/scatter a propagating electromagnetic waves; and grating fin structures on one or both sides of the waveguide strip which are positioned and structured to reflect/scatter the propagating electromagnetic waves.

An input-coupler of an optical waveguide includes one or more Bragg polarization gratings for coupling light corresponding to the image in two different directions into the optical waveguide. The input-coupler splits the FOV of the image coupled into the optical waveguide into first and second portions by diffracting a portion of the light corresponding to the image in a first direction toward a first intermediate component, and diffracting a portion of the light corresponding to the image in a second direction toward a second intermediate component. An output-coupler of the waveguide combines the light corresponding to the first and second portions of the FOV, and couples the light corresponding to the combined first and second portions of the FOV out of the optical waveguide so that the light corresponding to the image and the combined first and second portions of the FOV is output from the optical waveguide. The input-coupler splitting the light to two or more intermediate components provides an increased FOV.

An input-coupler of an optical waveguide includes one or more Bragg polarization gratings for coupling light corresponding to the image in two different directions into the optical waveguide. The input-coupler splits the FOV of the image coupled into the optical waveguide into first and second portions by diffracting a portion of the light corresponding to the image in a first direction toward a first intermediate component, and diffracting a portion of the light corresponding to the image in a second direction toward a second intermediate component. An output-coupler of the waveguide combines the light corresponding to the first and second portions of the FOV, and couples the light corresponding to the combined first and second portions of the FOV out of the optical waveguide so that the light corresponding to the image and the combined first and second portions of the FOV is output from the optical waveguide. The input-coupler splitting the light to two or more intermediate components provides an increased FOV.

Free-space coupler devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a free-space coupler device comprises a waveguide structure including a waveguide grating, and an out-of-plane coupler separated from and in optical communication with the waveguide grating. The waveguide grating and the out-of-plane coupler are separated by a distance that will yield an optical resonance at a desired operating frequency or wavelength of an optical signal, thereby maximizing a diffraction power of the optical signal at the out-of-plane coupler while minimizing a reflection power of the optical signal at the out-of-plane coupler.