Wavelength-tunable optical ring resonators

Patent · 10 November 2009

OSTI ID:971341

Watts, Michael R ^[1]; Trotter, Douglas C ^[1]; Young, Ralph W ^[1]; Nielson, Gregory N ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM

Optical ring resonator devices are disclosed that can be used for optical filtering, modulation or switching, or for use as photodetectors or sensors. These devices can be formed as microdisk ring resonators, or as open-ring resonators with an optical waveguide having a width that varies adiabatically. Electrical and mechanical connections to the open-ring resonators are made near a maximum width of the optical waveguide to minimize losses and thereby provide a high resonator Q. The ring resonators can be tuned using an integral electrical heater, or an integral semiconductor junction.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albaquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): 7,616,850
• Application Number: 12/100,004
• OSTI ID: 971341
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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