Nanophotonic integrated circuit and fabrication thereof
First Claim
1. A nanophotonic integrated circuit comprising:
- an input section, an amplifier section and a multiplexing/demultiplexing unit arranged on a substrate;
the input section having a plurality of input waveguides, a coupler portion for coupling two of the plurality of input waveguides to the amplifier section, and a remaining input waveguides being connected to the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit,the amplifier section having a continuous folded waveguide connected at a first end to the coupler portion of the input waveguide and connected at a second end to the multipiexing/demultiplexing unit;
the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit having a plurality of input/output waveguides, a slab waveguide, an array waveguide, and a reflective mirror;
the plurality of input/output waveguides arranged for simultaneously inputting at least one signal to and outputting at least one signal for demultiplexing a multiplexed optical signal in to n different constituent wavelengths and for combining n input optical signals composed of n different constituent wavelengths in to a multiplexed signal;
the slab waveguide having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the plurality of input/output waveguides to focus the at least one input signal to the second end, and the second end coupled to the array waveguide, for focusing the at least one output signal to the input/output interface through the first end;
the array waveguide comprising a plurality of waveguides for coupling the one or more input signals, separating the one or more input signals into the n different constituent wavelengths and focusing the n different constituent wavelengths back on to the slab waveguide first end coupling to the input/output interface, the plurality of waveguides of the array waveguide being optically coupled at one end with the second end of the slab waveguide, andterminated at an opposing end of the array waveguide by the reflective mirror, each waveguide of said array waveguide having a predetermined path difference between successive waveguides, andthe reflective mirror disposed at the opposing end of the array waveguide for reflecting the one or more signals.
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Abstract
A class of nanophotonic integrated circuit (nPIC) has been disclosed that is a platform technology for fiberoptic communication and computing, that is fabricated from waveguides that are based on natural index contrast (NIC) principle. A multifunctional nPIC and its fabrication details have been described. The nPIC is also known as an “optical processor”. A novel nanomaterial “dendrimer” is highlighted as the key ingredient that enables the fabrication of the nPICs and its multifunctionality from the same basic process. Other nanomaterials such as spin-on glass, nano-silica sol, and a combination of any of these materials can also be used via the natural index contrast method. Several preferred embodiments of the nPIC are described.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A nanophotonic integrated circuit comprising:
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an input section, an amplifier section and a multiplexing/demultiplexing unit arranged on a substrate; the input section having a plurality of input waveguides, a coupler portion for coupling two of the plurality of input waveguides to the amplifier section, and a remaining input waveguides being connected to the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit, the amplifier section having a continuous folded waveguide connected at a first end to the coupler portion of the input waveguide and connected at a second end to the multipiexing/demultiplexing unit; the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit having a plurality of input/output waveguides, a slab waveguide, an array waveguide, and a reflective mirror; the plurality of input/output waveguides arranged for simultaneously inputting at least one signal to and outputting at least one signal for demultiplexing a multiplexed optical signal in to n different constituent wavelengths and for combining n input optical signals composed of n different constituent wavelengths in to a multiplexed signal; the slab waveguide having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the plurality of input/output waveguides to focus the at least one input signal to the second end, and the second end coupled to the array waveguide, for focusing the at least one output signal to the input/output interface through the first end; the array waveguide comprising a plurality of waveguides for coupling the one or more input signals, separating the one or more input signals into the n different constituent wavelengths and focusing the n different constituent wavelengths back on to the slab waveguide first end coupling to the input/output interface, the plurality of waveguides of the array waveguide being optically coupled at one end with the second end of the slab waveguide, and terminated at an opposing end of the array waveguide by the reflective mirror, each waveguide of said array waveguide having a predetermined path difference between successive waveguides, and the reflective mirror disposed at the opposing end of the array waveguide for reflecting the one or more signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A nanophotonic integrated circuit comprising:
an input section, an amplifier section and a splitter section arranged on a substrate;
the input section configured to connect an input signal to the amplifier section, the amplifier section being configured to amplify the input signal and transmit the amplified input signal into an input of the splitter section; and
the splitter section is coupled to a plurality of output channels configured to split the amplified input signal into a plurality of output signals of N branches, wherein the amplifier section is comprised of a dendrimer material.- View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for tuning the wavelength ranges for amplification in an optical circuit, comprising:
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doping a dendrimer material with at least one of a preselected rare-earth ion;
dissolving a salt of the preselected rare earth ion in a solution of the dendrimer and methanol; andamplifying light waves in a range which is characterized by the 1500-1600 nm range. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification