integrated optics


integrated optics

[′in·tə‚grād·əd ′äp·tiks] (optics) A thin-film device containing tiny lenses, prisms, and switches to transmit very thin laser beams, and serving the same purposes as the manipulation of electrons in thin-film devices of integrated electronics.

integrated optics

Combining electrical and optical components on the same silicon-based substrates used in the fabrication of a semiconductor chip. Also called "silicon photonics," fiber-optic communications employs numerous integrated optics devices, including lasers, photodetectors, beam splitters, isolators, filters, prisms, modulators and switches. See optoelectronic and photonic.