Arrays of integrated analytical devices and their methods for production are provided. The arrays 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 integrated devices allow the highly sensitive discrimination of optical signals using features such as spectra, amplitude, and time resolution, or combinations thereof. The arrays and methods of the invention make use of silicon chip fabrication and manufacturing techniques developed for the electronics industry and highly suited for miniaturization and high throughput.

A system and method for detecting an analyte includes a waveguide configured to receive a narrow-band laser signal; and a sorbent material covering an analyte detection region of the waveguide, wherein the sorbent material is configured to sorb the analyte and bring the analyte to an evanescent field of the waveguide, and wherein Raman scattering is produced by an interaction of the evanescent field and the analyte sorbed in the sorbent material along the analyte detection region of the waveguide, and the waveguide is further configured to collect the Raman scattering along the analyte detection region of the waveguide, wherein the collected Raman scattering indicates a type of the analyte.

A system and method for detecting an analyte includes a waveguide configured to receive a narrow-band laser signal; and a sorbent material covering an analyte detection region of the waveguide, wherein the sorbent material is configured to sorb the analyte and bring the analyte to an evanescent field of the waveguide, and wherein Raman scattering is produced by an interaction of the evanescent field and the analyte sorbed in the sorbent material along the analyte detection region of the waveguide, and the waveguide is further configured to collect the Raman scattering along the analyte detection region of the waveguide, wherein the collected Raman scattering indicates a type of the analyte.

There is described a method of manufacturing a reflector unit on a photonic chip. The method generally has a step of providing a substrate having a top surface with a region of interest, the region of interest being covered with a bulge of a removable material; monolithically integrating a layer of metallic material over a portion of the top surface adjacent to the bulge and over a portion of the bulge, the layer of metallic material forming a base monolithically integrated to the top surface and a pocket monolithically integrated over the bulge in a manner leaving a portion of the bulge uncovered; and removing the bulge of the removable material to form a reflector unit for reflecting light incoming from the region of interest or towards the region of interest.

A photonic interconnect apparatus includes tunable light devices, multiplexers to multiplex optical signals produced by the tunable light devices onto optical paths, and a cyclic arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) to receive the optical signals over the optical paths, and to direct a given optical signal of the received optical signals to a selected output of a plurality of outputs of the cyclic AWG based on a wavelength of the given optical signal. A respective demultiplexer directs the given optical signal to a selected output of a plurality of outputs of the respective demultiplexer according to which coarse wavelength band the wavelength of the given optical signal is part of.

A photonic interconnect apparatus includes tunable light devices, multiplexers to multiplex optical signals produced by the tunable light devices onto optical paths, and a cyclic arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) to receive the optical signals over the optical paths, and to direct a given optical signal of the received optical signals to a selected output of a plurality of outputs of the cyclic AWG based on a wavelength of the given optical signal. A respective demultiplexer directs the given optical signal to a selected output of a plurality of outputs of the respective demultiplexer according to which coarse wavelength band the wavelength of the given optical signal is part of.

A mode-matched waveguide Y-junction with balanced or unbalanced splitting comprises an input waveguide, expanding from an input end to an output end, for expanding the input beam of light along a longitudinal axis; first and second output waveguides extending from the output end of the input waveguide separated by a gap. Ideally, each of the first and second output waveguides includes an initial section capable of supporting a fundamental super mode, and having an inner wall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a mode splitting section extending from the initial section at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis.

A mode-matched waveguide Y-junction with balanced or unbalanced splitting comprises an input waveguide, expanding from an input end to an output end, for expanding the input beam of light along a longitudinal axis; first and second output waveguides extending from the output end of the input waveguide separated by a gap. Ideally, each of the first and second output waveguides includes an initial section capable of supporting a fundamental super mode, and having an inner wall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a mode splitting section extending from the initial section at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis.

A spot-size converter having a waveguiding structure. The first part of the waveguiding structure receives light from or transmits light to a first waveguide in a first propagation mode. The first part of the waveguiding structure has a longitudinally varying effective refractive index that decreases away from the first waveguide. The second part of the waveguiding structure transmits light to or receives light from a second waveguide in a second propagation mode. The second part of the waveguiding structure has a number of high-index elements arranged in a single plane, extending along a longitudinal waveguiding axis and at least partially overlapping the first part of the waveguiding structure. The first propagation mode of the first waveguide progressively transforms into the second propagation mode of the second waveguide along the longitudinal waveguiding axis through an overlap region between the first part and the second part of the waveguiding structure.

A spot-size converter having a waveguiding structure. The first part of the waveguiding structure receives light from or transmits light to a first waveguide in a first propagation mode. The first part of the waveguiding structure has a longitudinally varying effective refractive index that decreases away from the first waveguide. The second part of the waveguiding structure transmits light to or receives light from a second waveguide in a second propagation mode. The second part of the waveguiding structure has a number of high-index elements arranged in a single plane, extending along a longitudinal waveguiding axis and at least partially overlapping the first part of the waveguiding structure. The first propagation mode of the first waveguide progressively transforms into the second propagation mode of the second waveguide along the longitudinal waveguiding axis through an overlap region between the first part and the second part of the waveguiding structure.