Tunable resonator-based devices for producing variable delays and narrow spectral linewidths
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- optically coupling a first optical resonator with a first resonance frequency to first and second optical waveguides, wherein the first optical resonator is tunable to change the first resonance frequency;
optically coupling a second optical resonator with a second resonance frequency to the first and second optical waveguides to cause an optical interference between optical signals that transmit through the first and second optical resonators via the first and second waveguides to produce a narrow spectral transmission peak centered at an average frequency of the first and the second resonance frequencies; and
tuning the first optical resonator to change a difference between the first and second resonance frequencies to change an optical delay of light in the transmission peak.
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Abstract
Devices with two or more coupled resonators to produce narrow spectral responses due to interference of signals that transmit through the resonators and techniques for operating such devices to achieve certain operating characteristics are described. The devices may be optical devices where optical resonators such as whispering gallery mode resonators may be used. In one implementation, at least one of the coupled optical resonators is a tunable resonator and is tuned to change its resonance frequency to tune the spectral response of the device. The described devices and techniques may be applied in optical filters, optical delays, optical waveform generators, and other applications.
83 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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optically coupling a first optical resonator with a first resonance frequency to first and second optical waveguides, wherein the first optical resonator is tunable to change the first resonance frequency;
optically coupling a second optical resonator with a second resonance frequency to the first and second optical waveguides to cause an optical interference between optical signals that transmit through the first and second optical resonators via the first and second waveguides to produce a narrow spectral transmission peak centered at an average frequency of the first and the second resonance frequencies; and
tuning the first optical resonator to change a difference between the first and second resonance frequencies to change an optical delay of light in the transmission peak. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device, comprising:
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a first optical resonator with a first resonance frequency that is tunable to change the first resonance frequency;
a first optical waveguide optically coupled to the first optical resonator;
a second optical waveguide optically coupled to the first optical resonator;
a second optical resonator with a second resonance frequency and optically coupled to the first and second optical waveguides, respectively, to cause an optical interference between optical signals that transmit through the first and second optical resonators via the first and second waveguides to produce a narrow spectral transmission peak centered at an average frequency of the first and the second resonance frequencies; and
a tuning mechanism to tune the first optical resonator to change a difference between the first and second resonance frequencies to change an optical delay of light in the transmission peak. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A device, comprising:
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a first resonator in resonance with electromagnetic radiation at a first resonance frequency that is tunable to change the first resonance frequency;
a first waveguide coupled to the first optical resonator to exchange electromagnetic radiation;
a second waveguide coupled to the first resonator to exchange electromagnetic radiation;
a second resonator in resonance with electromagnetic radiation with a second resonance frequency and coupled to the first and second waveguides, respectively, to cause an electromagnetic interference between electromagnetic signals that transmit through the first and second resonators via the first and second waveguides to produce a narrow spectral transmission peak centered at an average frequency of the first and the second resonance frequencies; and
a tuning mechanism to tune the first resonator to change a difference between the first and second resonance frequencies to change a delay of electromagnetic radiation in the transmission peak. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A device, comprising:
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a first optical resonator with a first resonance frequency;
a first optical waveguide optically coupled to the first optical resonator;
a second optical waveguide optically coupled to the first optical resonator;
a second optical resonator with a second resonance frequency and optically coupled to the first and second optical waveguides, respectively, to cause an optical interference between optical signals that transmit through the first and second optical resonators via the first and second waveguides to produce a narrow spectral transmission peak centered at an average frequency of the first and the second resonance frequencies, wherein the first and second optical resonators are directly optically coupled to each other in addition to optical coupling with each other via optical coupling to the first and second waveguides. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A device, comprising first, second, third, and fourth optical resonators optically coupled to one another in a configuration that,
the first optical resonator is optically coupled to the second and third optical resonators, the second optical resonator is further optically coupled to the fourth optical resonator, the third optical resonator is further optically coupled to the fourth optical resonator, and the second and third optical resonators are not directly coupled to each other and are indirectly coupled via the first and fourth optical resonators.
Specification