Low loss multistate photonic memories

A photonic memory optical device comprising:

• a linear optical waveguide having an input that receives a light signal, and an output;
• a programmable layer comprising a plurality of nonvolatile photonic memory elements that each selectively at least partially obstructs the light signal, as the light passes from the input to the output, wherein the light signal at the output corresponds to information stored at said programmable layer;
• a phase change material having an amorphous state and a crystalline state, and
• a capping layer covering said phase change material for passivation.

A photonic memory optical device comprising:

• a linear optical waveguide having an input that receives a light signal, and an output;
• a programmable layer comprising a plurality of nonvolatile photonic memory elements that each selectively at least partially obstructs the light signal, as the light signal passes from the input to the output, wherein the light signal at the output corresponds to information stored at said programmable layer;
• and
• an optical detector that receives the light signal at the output of said waveguide to read the information out of the programmable layer.

A photonic memory optical device comprising:

• a linear optical waveguide having an input that receives a light signal, and an output;
• a programmable layer comprising a plurality of nonvolatile photonic memory elements that each selectively at least partially obstructs the light signal, as the light signal passes from the input to the output, wherein the light signal at the output corresponds to information stored at said programmable layer;
• and
• a phase change material having an amorphous state and a crystalline state, wherein an optical mode of a READ signal is either photonic, or, plasmonic, or hybrid thereof, whereas for the plasmonic and hybrid modes a metallic-like material is placed in proximity to the phase change material for optical mode modification.

A photonic memory optical device comprising:

• a linear optical waveguide having an input that receives a light signal, and an output;
• a programmable layer comprising a plurality of nonvolatile photonic memory elements that each selectively at least partially obstructs the light signal, as the light signal passes from the input to the output, wherein the light signal at the output corresponds to information stored at said programmable layer;
• and
• a phase change material having an amorphous state and a crystalline state, wherein the phase change material, and the photonic memory, is RESET by applying thermal or optical energy.

A photonic memory device comprising:

• a linear waveguide having an input that receives an input light signal, and an output;
• a ring waveguide arranged to receive the input light signal from said linear waveguide;
• one or more nonvolatile photonic elements positioned at said ring waveguide to selectively at least partially obstruct the input light signal in said ring waveguide and provide the selectively obstructed light signal to the output of said linear waveguide;
• and
• a heating element that selectively places said one or more nonvolatile photonic elements into either an amorphous state and a crystalline state.

A photonic memory device forming a Mach Zehnder Interferometer, comprising:

• a waveguide having an input portion that receives an input light signal, an output portion, and an intermediate portion between the input portion and the output portion, said intermediate portion having a first waveguide arm that receives the input light signal a second waveguide arm that receives the input light signal;
• one or more first nonvolatile photonic elements positioned at said first waveguide arm to selectively at least partially obstruct the input light signal in said first waveguide arm and provide a first arm optical signal output;
• one or more second nonvolatile photonic elements positioned at said second waveguide arm to selectively at least partially obstruct the input light signal in said second waveguide arm and provide a second arm optical signal output;
• and
• wherein said first arm optical signal output and said second arm optical signal output are combined at the output portion.