Abstract: Integrated photonic devices rely on single-mode waveguides, as inter-mode coupling prevents multimode waveguides from being efficiently bent for on-chip schemes. Using transformation optics, Gabrielli et al. overcome this limitation and show a multimode waveguide bend with minimal inter-mode coupling.

Abstract: Transformation optics represents a new paradigm for designing light-manipulating devices, such as cloaks and field concentrators, through the engineering of electromagnetic space using materials with spatially variable parameters. Here we analyse liquid flowing in an optofluidic waveguide as a new type of controllable transformation optics medium. We show that a laminar liquid flow in an optofluidic channel exhibits spatially variable dielectric properties that support novel wave-focussing and interference phenomena, which are distinctively different from the discrete diffraction observed in solid waveguide arrays. Our work provides new insight into the unique optical properties of optofluidic waveguides and their potential applications.

Abstract: We studied the propagation of spin waves in a Ni81Fe19 micro-waveguide comprising a smooth, S-shaped bend using Brillouin light scattering microscopy. A direct current flowing through a gold wire underneath the Ni81Fe19 provides a local magnetic field, which maintains a transverse magnetization around the bend of the waveguide. It is demonstrated that spin-wave propagation inside the bend can be realized in contrast to the case of an externally applied magnetic field, which generates strong inhomogeneities in the internal effective field distribution, preventing any spin-wave propagation across the bend.

Abstract: Graphene has attracted a high level of research interest because of its outstanding electronic transport properties and optical properties. Based on the Kubo formalism and the Maxwell equations, it’s demonstrated that the optical conductivity of graphene can be controlled through the applied voltage. And we find that the graphene-oxide-silicon (GOS) based waveguide can be made into either the electro-absorptive or electron-refractive modulators. Using graphene as the active medium, we present a new electro-refractive Mach-Zender interferometer based on the GOS structure. This new GOS-based electron-refractive modulation mechanism can enable novel architectures for on-chip optical communications.

Abstract: An optical device may include a substrate; an arrayed waveguide grating provided on the substrate and having first and second slabs; multiple first waveguides extending from the first slab, the multiple first waveguides may supply respective first optical signals to the first slab; multiple second waveguides extending from the second slab, the multiple second waveguides may supply respective second optical signals to the second slab; a third waveguide extending from the second slab, the third waveguide outputting a third optical signal from the second slab, the third optical signal including the first optical signals; a fourth waveguide extending from the first slab, the fourth waveguide may output a fourth optical signal from the first slab, the fourth optical signal including the second optical signals; and a first scattering device optically coupled to a portion of an edge of the first slab between the multiple first waveguides and the fourth waveguide.

Abstract: We present a planar waveguide model and a mechanism based on standing wave resonances to interpret the unity absorptions of ultrathin planar metamaterial absorbers. The analytical model predicts that the available absorption peaks of the absorber are corresponding to the fundamental mode and only its odd harmonic modes of the standing wave. The model is in good agreement with numerical simulation and can explain the main features observed in typical ultrathin planar metamaterial absorbers. Based on this model, ultrathin planar metamaterial absorbers with multi-band absorptions at desired frequencies can be easily designed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling light phase difference in interferometric waveguides at near field transducers by selectively heating the light source are provided. One such system for controlling light phase at the NFT of an interferometric waveguide includes a laser, a heater configured to heat the laser, a splitter configured to receive light from the laser and to split the light into a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm converging at a junction about opposite the splitter, and the NFT proximate the junction and configured to receive the light, where the first waveguide arm is longer than the second waveguide arm by a preselected distance, and where the heater is configured to generate and maintain a preselected phase difference in the light arriving at the NFT via the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing media absorption efficiency using interferometric waveguides in information storage devices are described. One such system for an interferometric waveguide assembly includes a light source, a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, a splitter configured to receive light from the light source and to split the light into the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm, and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to receive the light from the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm, where the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm converge to form a preselected angle at a junction about opposite the splitter, and where the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm are configured to induce a preselected phase difference in the light arriving at the NFT.

Abstract: We study metamaterials with an anisotropic permittivity tensor in which one component is near zero. We find that such an anisotropic metamaterial can be used to control wave propagation and construct almost perfect bending waveguides with a high transmission rate (>95%). This interesting effect originates in the power flow redistribution by the surface waves on the input and output interfaces, which smoothly matches with the propagating modes inside the metamaterial waveguide. We also find that waves in such anisotropic epsilon-near-zero materials can be reflected by small-sized perfect magnetic conductor defects. Numerical calculations have been performed to confirm the above effects.

Abstract: We study metamaterials with an anisotropic effective permittivity tensor in which one component is near zero. We find that such an anisotropic metamaterial can be used to control wave propagation and construct almost perfect bending waveguides with a high transmission rate (>95%). This interesting effect originates in the power flow redistribution by the surface waves on the input and output interfaces, which smoothly matches with the propagating modes inside the metamaterial waveguide. We also find that waves in such anisotropic epsilon-near-zero materials can be reflected by small-sized perfect magnetic conductor defects. Numerical calculations have been performed to confirm the above effects.

Abstract: Improved pump-probe testing methods and apparatuses for measuring the performance of a plasmon element at wafer level are provided In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a light source configured to output a first light beam on a grating located at a first end of a waveguide, the waveguide being configured to couple energy of the first light beam to the plasmon element located at a second end of the waveguide, and an optical probe assembly positioned above a top surface of the wafer The optical probe assembly is configured to direct a second light beam on an area of the wafer including the plasmon element and detect a portion of the second light beam reflected from the area

Abstract: Helically corrugated waveguide has been used in various applications such as gyro-backward wave oscillators, gyro-traveling wave amplifier and microwave pulse compressor. A fast prediction of the dispersion characteristic of the operating eigenwave is very important when designing a helically corrugated waveguide. In this paper, multi-mode coupling wave equations were developed based on the perturbation method. This method was then used to analyze a five-fold helically corrugated waveguide used for X-band microwave compression. The calculated result from this analysis was found to be in excellent agreement with the results from numerical simulation using CST Microwave Studio and vector network analyzer measurements.

Abstract: We report on the investigation of spin-wave propagation in a micro-structured Co2Mn0.6Fe0.4Si (CMFS) Heusler waveguide. The reduced magnetic losses of this compound compared to the commonly used Ni81Fe19 allow for the observation of spin-wave propagation over distances as high as 75 μm via Brillouin light scattering (BLS) microscopy. In the linear regime, a maximum decay length of 16.7 μm of the spin-wave amplitude was found. The coherence length of the observed spin-wave modes was estimated to be at least 16 μm via phase-resolved BLS techniques.

Abstract: We demonstrate coupling from tapered optical fibers to 450 nm by 250 nm silicon strip waveguides using compact cantilever couplers. The couplers consist of silicon inverse width tapers embedded within silicon dioxide cantilevers. Finite difference time domain simulations are used to design the length of the silicon inverse width taper to as short as 6.5 μm for a cantilever width of 2 μm. Modeling of various strip waveguide taper profiles shows reduced coupling losses for a quadratic taper profile. Infrared measurements of fabricated devices demonstrate average coupling losses of 0.62 dB per connection for the quasi-TE mode and 0.50 dB per connection for the quasi-TM mode across the optical telecommunications C band. In the wavelength range from 1477 nm to 1580 nm, coupling losses for both polarizations are less than 1 dB per connection. The compact, broadband, and low-loss coupling scheme enables direct access to photonic integrated circuits on an entire chip surface without the need for dicing or cleaving the chip.

Abstract: This paper describes frequency scanning slot arrays operating from 130 to 180 GHz. The arrays are micro-fabricated using the PolyStrata sequential copper deposition process. Measured reflection coefficient and radiation patterns agree with HFSS full-wave simulations. The voltage standing wave ratio is less than 1.75:1 over the entire frequency range, and the measured scanning is 1.04°/ GHz from 130 to 150 GHz and 32.5° over the full frequency range. The measured gain is 15.5 dBi for a 10-element array at 150 GHz and 18.9 dBi for a 20-element array at 150 GHz with about 3 dB of variation over the scan range.

Abstract: Elongated cylindrical structures like rods, pipes, cable strands or fibers, support the propagation of mechanical waves at ultrasonic frequencies along their axes. This waveguide behaviour is used in a number of scientific and engineering applications: the Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of the structural health of civil engineering elements for safety purposes (Rose, 2000), in linear displacement sensors (Seco et al., 2009) for high accuracy absolute linear position estimation, in the evaluation of material properties of metal wires, optical fibers or composites (Nayfeh & Nagy, 1996), and as fluid sensors in pipes transporting liquids (Ma et al., 2007). These applications demand exact quantitative models of the processes of wave generation, propagation and reception of the ultrasonic signals in the waveguides.

Abstract: A dielectric pipe waveguide is successfully demonstrated as a terahertz refractive index sensor for powder and liquid-vapor sensing. Without additional engineered structures, a simple pipe waveguide can act as a terahertz resonator based on anti-resonant reflecting guidance, forming multiple resonant transmission-dips. Loading various powders in the ring-cladding or inserting different vapors into the hollow core of the pipe waveguide leads to a significant shift of resonant frequency, and the spectral shift is related to the refractive-index change. The proven detection limit of molecular density could be reduced to 1.6nano-mole/mm3 and the highest sensitivity is demonstrated at around 22.2GHz/refractive-index-unit (RIU), which is comparable to the best THz molecular sensor [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 171113 (2009)].

Abstract: We propose a new strip/slot hybrid waveguide with double slots, which exhibits a flat and low dispersion over a 1098-nm bandwidth with four zero-dispersion wavelengths. Dispersion of dual-slot silicon waveguide is mainly determined by mode transition from a strip mode to a slot mode rather than by material dispersion. Dispersion tailoring is investigated by tuning different structural parameters of waveguides. Moreover, nonlinear coefficient of dual-slot silicon waveguide and phase-matching condition in FWM are both explored in detail. The dual-slot waveguide can be used to generate supercontinuum with bandwidth extending up to 1630 nm pumped by femtosecond pulses. This waveguide will have a great potential for ultrabroadband signal processing applications from near-infrared region to mid-infrared region.

Abstract: We report near-infrared (IR) to mid-IR (up to 3.4 μm wavelength) multimode waveguiding in deep buried channel waveguides fabricated inside rare-earth ion-doped ceramic YAG for the first time to our knowledge. Waveguide laser operation at around 2 μm wavelength with multi- or single-transverse modes is also preliminarily demonstrated from these waveguides.

Abstract: We present an experimental observation of Klein tunneling of light waves in lattices of evanescently coupled waveguides with a superimposed potential step. The incident wave packet mass which is a characteristic feature of Klein tunneling is generated by a minigap in the band structure of the lattice. We studied different masses and measured the tunneling rates across the potential step.

Abstract: We demonstrate high quality factor and high confinement in a silicon ring resonator fabricated by a thermal oxidation process. We fabricated a 50 μm bending radius racetrack resonator, with a 5 μm coupling region. We achieved an intrinsic quality factor of 760,000 for the fundamental TM mode, which corresponds to a propagation loss of 0.9 dB/cm. Both the fundamental TE and TM modes are highly confined in the waveguide, with effective indices of 3.0 for the TE mode and 2.9 for the TM mode.

Abstract: Silicon photonic devices consisting of nanowire waveguides are a promising technology for on-chip integration in future optical telecommunication and interconnection systems based on silicon-large scale integration fabrication. However, the accommodation of variable optical components on a chip remains challenging due to the small size of microchips. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of a microelectromechanical silicon nanowire waveguide switch with a gap-variable coupler. Due to its capacitive operation, the proposed waveguide switch consumed negligible power relative to switches that use a thermo-optical effect and carrier injection. The proposed switch was characterized using analyses based on coupled-mode theory for rectangular waveguides, as well as a simulation using the finite difference time domain method. A 2×2 single switch with an improved configuration and a 2×6 multiple switch composed of the 2×2 switches was designed and fabricated by a combination of electron beam lithography, fast-atom beam etching and hydrofluoric acid vapor sacrificial etching. The properties of the switches were measured and evaluated at a wavelength of 1.55 µm. A new miniature silicon optical switch requires far less electrical power than schemes employing thermo-optic effects or carrier injection. The device, developed by Yuta Akihama and Kazuhiro Hane from Tohoku University in Japan, relies on optical coupling between two arms in a 2×2 silicon waveguide coupler. By allowing one of the arms to move and connecting it to an electrostatic comb-drive actuator, an electrical voltage can be used to vary the gap between the waveguide arms and thus control the amount of coupling. The result is an efficient switch that operates at the wavelength of 1.55 µm and has a footprint of 100 µm×100 µm. As well as demonstrating a single 2×2 switch, the researchers also cascaded several devices together to construct a 2×6 switch.

Abstract: We demonstrate ultra-sensitive chemical sensing in the mid-infrared spectral regime with a combination of quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) with GaAs/Al02Ga08As strip waveguides fabricated via metal–organic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) and reactive ion etching (RIE) using evanescent field absorption spectroscopy These strip waveguides have been designed with a width of 200 μm, thereby facilitating 2-D confinement and mode-matched propagation of mid-infrared radiation emitted from a distributed feedback (DFB) QCL at a wavelength of 103 μm Acetic anhydride was detected with a limit of detection (LOD) of 18 pL (194 ng) deposited at the waveguide surface by overlapping of the vibrational absorption of the methyl group with the emission frequency of the QCL The obtained results indicate a remarkable enhancement in sensitivity by three orders of magnitude compared to previously reported multimode planar silver halide waveguides Further reduction of the waveguide strip width to 50 μm resulted in an additional sensitivity enhancement yielding a calculated LOD of 005 pL for the exemplary analyte acetic anhydride, which is among the most sensitive evanescent field absorption measurements with a miniaturized mid-infrared sensor system reported to date

Abstract: The authors present a new design of high resolution and wide dynamic range photonic crystal pressure sensor. This sensor is based on two-dimensional photonic crystal with square array of silicon rods surrounded by air. The sensor consists of a photonic crystal waveguide which is coupled to a photonic crystal nanocavity. The waveguide is configured by removing one row of Si rods and nanocavity is formed by modifying the radius of one Si rod. The sensor is designed for 1300 nm–1400 nm wavelengths. Simulation results show that resonant wavelength of nanocavity is linearly shifted to larger wavelengths by increasing the pressure. The designed sensor has a linear behavior between 0.1 GPa to 10 GPa of applied pressure and 8 nm/GPa of pressure sensitivity.

Abstract: Tunable plasmon resonant cavity arrays in paired parallel nanowire waveguides are presented. Resonances can be observed when the waveguide length is an odd multiple of quarter plasmon wavelengths, consistent with boundary conditions of node and antinode at the ends. Two nanowire waveguides can satisfy the dispersion relation of a planar metal-dielectric-metal waveguide of equivalent width equal to the square field average weighted gap. Confinement factors of over 10 3 are possible due to plasmon focusing in the inter-wire space.

Abstract: A novel backward wave oscillator was proposed by utilizing a concise sine waveguide slow-wave structure combined with sheet electron beam to operate at terahertz frequency band. First, the design method was described, and the dispersion curve and interaction impedance of the sine waveguide were calculated, then the device oscillation frequency and operating voltage were determined. Next, the circuit transmission losses were learned over the tunable frequency range. Finally, the particle-in-cell simulation method was applied to predict its signal generation performance. The investigation results show that, the backward wave oscillator can produce over 1.9 -W peak power output at the central operating frequency of 1-THz under 27-kV operating voltage and 5-mA beam current. And the interaction efficiency at 1-THz is more than 1.4% with a circuit length of 7.2-mm. It, therefore, will be considered as a promising watt-class terahertz radiation source.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube reinforced polymer foams filling a metallic honeycomb were processed and characterized for the production of hybrid materials with high electromagnetic absorption potential. Electromagnetic modeling and experimental characterization of the hybrids proved that the honeycomb, acting as a hexagonal waveguide, improves the absorption properties in the gigahertz range above the cutoff frequency. The electromagnetic absorption can be tuned by changing the hybrid material properties. The required levels of electrical conductivity are attained owing to the dispersion of low amounts (1-2 wt%) of carbon nanotubes inside the polymer matrix. The combination of the foam and honeycomb architecture contributes to decrease the real part of the relative effective permittivity Re{er,eff }. Varying the cell shape of the honeycomb changes the frequency range for high absorption. An analytical model for the absorption has been developed, showing good agreement with the experimental results.