A light detection and ranging apparatus (LIDAR) includes at least one waveguide including a first cladding layer having a first refractive index and a second cladding layer having multiple second refractive indexes to expand an optical mode of an optical beam propagating within the waveguide. The second refractive indexes include a gradient of refractive indexes and the first refractive index is less than the second refractive indexes.

Technologies pertaining to a chip with a refractive index gradient, including fabrication thereof, are generally described. The refractive index gradient may be formed by creating atomic scale inclusions throughout a thickness of the chip by inducing nanoporosity into the chip, dissociating and diffusing oxygen into the chip, or performing chemical vapor deposition. One or more integrated circuit (IC) components and optical transceiver devices may be provided by mounting, growing, or etching the IC components and optical transceiver devices at a surface of the chip. The optical transceiver devices may be configured to transmit and/or receive an optical communication signal to and/or from at least one IC component or other optical transceiver device via an optical communication path within the thickness of the chip. The optical communication path may include a direction and distance, within the thickness of the chip, based on the refractive index gradient and angle of incidence.

Devices and methods are provided for controlling the propagation of electromagnetic radiation on conductive surfaces via the presence of coupled subwavelength conductor-dielectric unit plasmonic resonators. In some embodiments, the dimensions of the unit plasmonic resonators are selected to produce modal overlap and coupling between surface plasmons of adjacent conductive surfaces. The properties of the unit plasmonic resonators may be spatially graded to produce the slowing down and/or trapping of electromagnetic waves. Methods are provided for calculating resonant modes of structures that involve intra-resonator plasmonic coupling. Various example implementations of such devices and structures are provided.

An optical coupling may involve orienting a waveguide and a lens such that light rays are focused on a surface. The lens may involve the use of a material having a variable refractive index to focus rays of light along first axis and a curved surface to focus the rays of light along a second axis.

Optical apparatus and methods of manufacture thereof An optical apparatus (20) for evanescently coupling an optical signal across an (interface (30) is described. The optical apparatus (20) comprises a first substrate (22) and a second substrate (24). The optical signal is evanescently coupled between a first waveguide (26) formed by laser inscription of the first substrate (22) and a second waveguide (28) of the second substrate (22). The first waveguide (26) comprises a curved section (34) configured to provide evanescent coupling of the optical signal between the first and second waveguides (26, 28) via the interface (30).

An optical waveguide is provided and includes: a core forming layer with a high refractive index; and a first clad layer with a low refractive index, bonded to a first main surface of the core forming layer. The core forming layer is provided in its plane direction with a core portion, lateral clad portions each having one side adjacent to a corresponding side of the core portion, and high refractive index portions each adjacent to the other side of a corresponding one of the lateral clad portions. The core portion is provided in its plane direction with a central region, and GI regions in each of which a refractive index continuously decreases from the central region toward an interface with the corresponding one of the lateral clad portions. The lateral clad portions each include a region having a constant refractive index.

According to the present invention, an optical waveguide includes a core layer having a first surface and a second surface having a front and back relationship with each other, the core layer including a core portion extending along a core axis and a side clad portion, a first cover layer provided on the first surface, the first cover layer having an adhesive surface on an opposite side of the core layer, and a second cover layer provided on the second surface, the second cover layer having an opposite surface on an opposite side of the core layer. The optical waveguide has a sheet shape and has a first recess portion that is open to the adhesive surface. When the adhesive surface is viewed in plan view, the first recess portion includes a first groove extending along a first axis that intersects with the core axis. The optical waveguide is used by being adhered to an adhesion target via an adhesive layer in contact with the adhesive surface.

A light detection and ranging apparatus (LIDAR) includes an optical source to generate an optical beam and one or more waveguides to steer the optical beam. The one or more waveguides include a first cladding layer having a first refractive index and a second cladding layer disposed below the first cladding layer, the second cladding layer having second refractive indexes including a range of different refractive indexes, wherein the range of different refractive indexes is greater than the first refractive index of the first cladding layer.

A light detection and ranging apparatus (LIDAR) includes an optical source to generate an optical beam and one or more waveguides to steer the optical beam. The one or more waveguides include a first cladding layer having a first refractive index and a second cladding layer disposed below the first cladding layer, the second cladding layer having second refractive indexes including a range of different refractive indexes, wherein the range of different refractive indexes is greater than the first refractive index of the first cladding layer.

A manufacturing system for fabricating optical waveguides includes a diffusion channel with a plurality of inlets at a first end and an outlet at a second end opposite to the first end and separated from the inlets by a channel length. Each of the plurality of inlets includes a central inlet flowing a first resin into the diffusion channel such that the first resin flows along the channel length of the diffusion channel toward the outlet, and an outer inlet flowing a second resin along a periphery of the first resin. The second resin may have an index of refraction different than the first resin. The diffusion may occur between portions of the first resin and portions of the second resin over the channel length to form a composite resin having a profile with a plurality of indices of refraction in at least one dimension.