One example includes an optical device system. The system includes a waveguide that includes a fixed waveguide portion to propagate an optical signal, a semiconductor membrane layer, and a tunable air gap that separates the fixed waveguide portion and the semiconductor membrane layer. The system also includes an optical tuning system to move the semiconductor membrane layer with respect to the fixed waveguide portion in response to a control signal to control a separation distance of the tunable air gap to tune a characteristic of the optical signal.

An optical filter device may include an optical fiber having a core and a cladding surrounding the core, the optical fiber having a tapered portion. The optical filter device may include an index selectable material surrounding the tapered portion and having an index of refraction being selectable based upon a physical characteristic. The optical filter device may include a device configured to change the index selectable material to select the index of refraction to selectively filter out a mode within the optical fiber.

This disclosure relates to counterfeit detection and deterrence using advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. Digital watermark can be used on consumer products, labels, logos, hang tags, stickers and other objects to provide counterfeit detection mechanisms.

An integrated circuit including an optical input, which can be coupled to an optical fiber, allowing an optical signal to be provided to the optical input via the optical fiber. The integrated circuit includes a controllable liquid crystal element, into which the optical signal can be coupled via the optical input. The integrated circuit is characterized by an optical waveguide arranged directly at the liquid crystal element, and a control device designed to activate the liquid crystal element to modulate its refractive index, thereby enabling at least partial coupling of the optical signal into the optical waveguide. The present disclosure also relates to a system and a method.

Provided is an optical mode switch that can effect a more compact optical switch. The optical mode switch (100) is provided with: a single input port (1); a single output port (2); two waveguides (10) provided in parallel between the input port (1) and the output port (2); and a refractive index altering means (8) that alters the refractive index of the waveguides. Any given mode light input to the input port (1) is output as any given mode light from the output port (2) in accordance with the refractive index altered by the refractive index altering means (8).

An integrated MEMS waveguide modulator, including: a static, non-suspended waveguide to guide light traveling through the waveguide; and a dielectric slab movable into and out of an evanescent field surrounding the waveguide using an actuation mechanism, wherein the dielectric slab is movable between a first position that is farthest away possible for the slab from the waveguide and a second position that is closest possible for the slab from the waveguide, wherein dispersion characteristic of the light is controlled by moving the dielectric slab from an unactuated mode that is at the first position to an actuated mode that is at the second position, and wherein the dielectric slab is layered to include non-uniform refractive index profile.

An optical interconnector (915) includes: a first vertical coupled cavity (100), a first optical waveguide (102), and a second optical waveguide (103). The first vertical coupled cavity (100) includes N identical micro-resonant cavities that are equidistantly stacked, where a center of each micro-resonant cavity is located on a first straight line that is perpendicular to a plane on which the micro-resonant cavity is located, the first optical waveguide (102) and a first micro-resonant cavity (11) are in a same plane, the second optical waveguide (103) and a second micro-resonant cavity (13) are in a same plane, the first optical waveguide (102) is an input optical waveguide, the second optical waveguide (103) is a first output optical waveguide, and an optical signal having a first resonant wavelength in the first optical waveguide (102) enters the second optical waveguide (103) through the first vertical coupled cavity (100).

A system for selectively adiabatically coupling electromagnetic waves from one waveguide to another waveguide is described. It comprises a first waveguide portion and a second waveguide portion having substantially different surface normal cross-sections. Portions thereof are positioned with respect to each other in a coupling region so that under first predetermined environmental conditions coupling of electromagnetic waves between the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion can occur and under second predetermined environmental conditions substantially no coupling of electromagnetic waves between the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion can occur. The system also comprises a fluid positioning means for selectively positioning at least a first fluid simultaneously overlaying both said first waveguide portion and said second waveguide portion in the coupling region thus selectively inducing first predetermined environmental conditions or second predetermined environmental conditions.

Embodiments herein describe using an actuator to tune a waveguide. In one embodiment, the tunable waveguide includes a gap between the waveguide and cladding. The actuator can compress the cladding to shrink this air, bringing the cladding closer to the waveguide. Doing so changes the effective refractive index of the waveguide. Alternatively or additionally, the actuator can increase the gap.

Techniques for creating an SiGe/Si electro-optomechanical quantum transducer, comprising an SiGe/Si optical ring resonator and capacitor, that can be associated with a qubit are presented. The optical resonator, comprising an SiGe optical waveguide and a strained silicon membrane, can be formed and disposed over a substrate. The strained silicon membrane can have a photoelastic coupling with the SiGe optical waveguide. A capacitor, comprising a superconducting material, can be formed in proximity to the optical resonator. The top plate of the capacitor can be associated with the strained silicon membrane. A recessed region can be formed in the back side of the substrate along a desired silicon plane, extending to form a hole in the top side of the substrate. A superconducting material can be applied along substrate surfaces defining the recessed region and hole. The superconducting material covering the hole can be the bottom plate of the capacitor.