Provided is an optical circuit element, and more particularly, is an optical circuit element that splits one optical signal into two polarization signals, or couples two polarization signals into one optical signal. The optical circuit element includes a plurality of input couplers to which an optical signal is input, a plurality of output couplers from which an optical signal is output, a first path and a second path configured to connect the input couplers and the second couplers to each other, and at least one wave plate.

An optical device may include a waveguide-based Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer associated with performing polarization multiplexing or demultiplexing. The waveguide-based MZ interferomenter may include a first MZ arm, a second MZ arm, and a set of stress-balancing trenches. A portion of the first MZ arm may be between at least two stress-reducing trenches of a plurality of stress-reducing trenches. The plurality of stress-reducing trenches may be in a cladding layer on a substrate. The set of stress-balancing trenches may be on an opposite side of the second MZ arm from the plurality of stress-reducing trenches. The set of stress-balancing trenches may be in the cladding layer on the substrate.

Methods and systems for a polarization immune wavelength division multiplexing demultiplexer are disclosed and may include, in an optoelectronic transceiver having an input coupler, a demultiplexer, and an amplitude scrambler: receiving input optical signals via the input coupler, communicating the input optical signals to the amplitude scrambler via waveguides, configuring the average optical power in each of the waveguides utilizing the amplitude scrambler, and demultiplexing the optical signals utilizing the demultiplexer. The amplitude scrambler may include phase modulators and a coupling section. The phase modulators may include sections of P-N junctions in the two waveguides. The demultiplexer may include a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer. The demultiplexed signals may be received utilizing photodetectors. The input coupler may include a polarization splitting grating coupler. The average optical power may be configured above which demultiplexer control circuitry is able to control the demultiplexer to process incoming optical signals.

Described are various configurations of integrated wavelength lockers including asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (AMZIs) and associated detectors. Various embodiments provide improved wavelength-locking accuracy by using an active tuning element in the AMZI to achieve an operational position with high locking sensitivity, a coherent receiver to reduce the frequency-dependence of the locking sensitivity, and/or a temperature sensor and/or strain gauge to computationally correct for the effect of temperature or strain changes.

Described are various configurations of integrated wavelength lockers including asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (AMZIs) and associated detectors. Various embodiments provide improved wavelength-locking accuracy by using an active tuning element in the AMZI to achieve an operational position with high locking sensitivity, a coherent receiver to reduce the frequency-dependence of the locking sensitivity, and/or a temperature sensor and/or strain gauge to computationally correct for the effect of temperature or strain changes.

A phase controller for controlling the phase of a light signal in a surface waveguide and a method for its fabrication are disclosed. The phase controller controls the phase of the light signal by inducing stress in the waveguide structure, thereby controlling the refractive indices of at least some of its constituent layers. The phase controller includes a phase-control element formed on topographic features of the top cladding of the waveguide, where these features (1) provide a shape to the phase-control element that matches the shape of the mode field of the light signal and (2) give rise to stress-concentration points that focus and direct induced stress into specific regions of the waveguide structure, thereby providing highly efficient phase control. As a result, the phase controller can operate at a lower voltage, lower power, and/or over a shorter interaction length than integrated-optic phase controllers of the prior art.

A silicon photonics module may include a waveguide for receiving and transmitting an optical beam. The silicon photonics module may include a tap connected to the waveguide to allow measurement of an optical power of the optical beam. The silicon photonics module may include one or more splitters connected to the waveguide to tap a portion of the optical beam from the waveguide and to split the portion of the optical beam into a first part and a second part. The silicon photonics module may include a first Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) to filter the first part to allow measurement of an optical power of the filtered first part. The silicon photonics module may include a second MZI to filter the second part to allow measurement of an optical power of the filtered second part.

Described are various configurations of integrated wavelength lockers including asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (AMZIs) and associated detectors. Various embodiments provide improved wavelength-locking accuracy by using an active tuning element in the AMZI to achieve an operational position with high locking sensitivity, a coherent receiver to reduce the frequency-dependence of the locking sensitivity, and/or a temperature sensor and/or strain gauge to computationally correct for the effect of temperature or strain changes.

Described are various configurations of integrated wavelength lockers including asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (AMZIs) and associated detectors. Various embodiments provide improved wavelength-locking accuracy by using an active tuning element in the AMZI to achieve an operational position with high locking sensitivity, a coherent receiver to reduce the frequency-dependence of the locking sensitivity, and/or a temperature sensor and/or strain gauge to computationally correct for the effect of temperature or strain changes.

A phase controller for controlling the phase of a light signal in a surface waveguide and a method for its fabrication are disclosed. The phase controller controls the phase of the light signal by inducing stress in the waveguide structure, thereby controlling the refractive indices of at least some of its constituent layers. The phase controller includes a phase-control element formed on topographic features of the top cladding of the waveguide, where these features (1) provide a shape to the phase-control element that matches the shape of the mode field of the light signal and (2) give rise to stress-concentration points that focus and direct induced stress into specific regions of the waveguide structure, thereby providing highly efficient phase control. As a result, the phase controller can operate at a lower voltage, lower power, and/or over a shorter interaction length than integrated-optic phase controllers of the prior art.