Beam splitting and combining micro-optical device

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention relates to a beam splitting and combining micro-optical device. In some implementations, an optical device includes a plurality of optically bonded optical elements forming a single monolithic optical component, where the plurality of optically bonded optical elements includes: a set of splitter surfaces configured to optically split a first input beam into a plurality of first output beams; and a set of optical combiner surfaces configured to optically combine the plurality of second input beams into one or more second output beams, where a set of optical paths coupling a set of inputs and a set of outputs is formed by a single monolithic optical component without an intermediate air interface, the set of inputs is configured to receive the first input beam and the plurality of second input beams, and the set of outputs is configured to output the plurality of first output beams and the one or more second output beams.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 600,249, filed on November 17, 2023, titled "MICRO-OPTICS FOR BEAMSPLITTING AND COMBINING". The disclosure of the prior application is considered part of this patent application and is incorporated herein by reference. Field of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to optical devices and beam splitting and combining micro-optical devices. Background Art

[0004] An optical system can include at least one optical element. For example, an optical system can include a beam splitter configured to divide a beam into multiple parts. In such a case, the beam splitter can direct portions of the beam into a first optical path and a second optical path. Another optical system can include a beam combiner configured to combine multiple beams into a single beam. In such a case, the beam combiner can direct a first beam and a second beam as a single beam along a single optical path. A beam splitter and a beam combiner can be implemented using a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) or a Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC). A PIC can include electro-optic components that include a microchip having a set of photonic components. A PLC can include electro-optic components that include a set of waveguides disposed on a substrate. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In some implementations, an optical device includes a plurality of optically bonded optical elements forming a single monolithic optical component, where the plurality of optically bonded optical elements include: a set of beam splitter surfaces configured to optically split a first input beam into a plurality of first output beams; and a set of optical combiner surfaces configured to optically combine a plurality of second input beams into one or more second output beams, where a set of optical paths coupling a set of inputs and a set of outputs is formed by the single monolithic optical component without an intervening air interface, the set of inputs being for receiving the first input beam and the plurality of second input beams, and the set of outputs being for outputting the plurality of first output beams and the one or more second output beams.

[0006] In some implementations, the optical device includes a plurality of optically bonded optical elements, including: a first set of optical elements for optically splitting a first one or more beams, where the first set of optical elements includes at least one splitting surface and at least one reflecting surface; a second set of optical elements for optically combining a second one or more beams; a set of inputs; and a set of outputs, where the set of inputs is coupled to the set of outputs via the first set of optical elements and the second set of optical elements.

[0007] In some implementations, an optical device includes a plurality of optically coupled optical elements forming a single monolithic optical component, where the plurality of optically coupled optical elements include: a set of beam splitter surfaces configured to optically split a first input beam into a plurality of first output beams, where the set of beam splitter surfaces are formed on a first subset of optically coupled optical elements of the plurality of optically coupled optical elements, and where the set of beam splitter surfaces includes at least one splitting surface and at least one first reflective surface; and a set of optical combiner surfaces configured to optically combine a second input beam and a third input beam into a single second output beam, where the set of optical combiner surfaces are formed on a second subset of optically coupled optical elements of the plurality of optically coupled optical elements, and where the set of optical combiner surfaces includes at least one polarization multiplexing surface and at least one second reflective surface, where the plurality of optically coupled optical elements includes a set of inputs and a set of outputs, and where a set of optical paths coupling the set of inputs and the set of outputs is formed by the single monolithic optical component without an intervening air interface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a diagram of an optical path of an example optical device associated with beam splitting and beam combining micro-optical devices.

[0009] Figures 2A to 2C is a diagram of an example optical device associated with beam splitting and beam combining micro-optical devices.

[0010] Figure 3 is a diagram of an example optical system associated with beam splitting and beam combining micro-optical devices.

[0011] Figure 4 is a diagram of an example optical system associated with beam splitting and beam combining micro-optical devices. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

[0013] An optical system may include multiple optical elements to perform multiple optical functions within the optical system. For example, the optical system may include one or more beam splitters, one or more optical combiners, one or more polarization-dependent reflectors (e.g., which may perform a multiplexing function as one or more polarization multiplexers), or one or more reflectors, among other examples. In a transmitter-receiver optical subassembly (TROSA), micro-optical devices may be used to perform the functions of the TROSA. For example, a set of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) or planar optical wave circuits (PLCs) may be used to perform splitting and combining to sample a beam and / or splitting and combining to control the direction of different polarization states of the beam. The PIC or PLC may be associated with one or more optical lenses to adjust the size of the beam propagating in free space and to couple the beam into the waveguide mode of the PIC or PLC. However, incorporating a set of lenses into the optical system may result in overuse of the available space, preventing miniaturization of the optical system. Additionally, using a PIC or PLC may result in propagation losses along the length of the PIC or PLC, which may lead to poor performance of the optical system.

[0014] Alternatively, some optical systems may use multiple discrete free-space optical devices to perform multiple functions. For example, the optical system may include a first optical element that performs a first optical function (e.g., combining) and a second optical element that performs a second optical function (e.g., reflecting). However, as the number of optical functions to be performed increases, multiple discrete free-space optical devices may not fit within the available package. Additionally or alternatively, the level of alignment tolerance achievable using multiple free-space optical devices, such as pick-and-place machines, may not meet the alignment standards of the optical system. This may result in poor optical coupling, which may lead to poor optical performance (e.g., excessive noise, power degradation, or crosstalk). Additionally, using multiple discrete free-space optical devices may result in a high level of insertion loss associated with each air-glass interface of each free-space optical device.

[0015] Some implementations described herein provide a multifunctional micro-optical device. For example, an optical device can include a plurality of optically coupled optical elements forming a single monolithic optical component. The plurality of optically coupled optical elements can include a patterned surface that performs a plurality of optical functions, such as optical beam splitting and optical beam combining. For example, a single monolithic optical component can split an input beam and combine a plurality of output beams. By integrating the plurality of optically coupled optical elements, the optical device avoids insertion losses by minimizing the air-glass interfaces for each optical element. Additionally or alternatively, procedures for optically coupling the optical elements (such as other examples like cutting, etching, or patterning procedures) can achieve a higher level of alignment tolerance than when positioning discrete optical devices in free space, thereby improving the optical performance of the optical device relative to free space optical systems. Additionally or alternatively, by using a plurality of optically coupled optical elements, the optical device can reduce propagation losses relative to using a PIC or PLC and can eliminate the need for lenses to couple beams in or out for splitting or combining. This may enable improved miniaturization relative to PICs, PLCs, and free space optical devices. Additionally or alternatively, by using a plurality of optically coupled optical elements, the optical device can achieve a reduced amount of loss and improved polarization performance.

[0016] Figure 1 is a diagram of the optical path of an example optical device 100 associated with a beam splitting and combining micro-optical device. As Figure 1 shown, the example optical device 100 includes a set of optical paths traversed by a set of light beams 110. In some implementations, the set of light beams 110 can include linearly polarized coherent light from a light source (such as a laser emitter). In some implementations, the set of light beams 110 can have a relatively high degree of polarization alignment. For example, each light beam 110 can have a polarization that is aligned within a tolerance of 5% or 1% of each other.

[0017] As Figure 1Further shown, a beam 110-1 is guided along an optical path from an input 120-1 to a splitting surface 140-1. The beam 110-1 is split into a first portion that is guided towards an output 130-1 and a second portion that is guided towards a splitting surface 140-2. The second portion of the beam 110-1 is split by the splitting surface 140-2 into a first sub-portion that is guided to an output 130-2 and a second sub-portion that is guided to a reflecting surface 150-1, which reflects the second sub-portion towards an output 130-3 using total internal reflection. In some implementations, the splitting surface 140 may have a configured splitting ratio. For example, the splitting surface 140-1 may split the beam 110-1 such that 25% of the light is reflected and 75% of the light is passed through. Similarly, the splitting surface 140-2 may split the second portion of the beam 110-1 such that 66.6% of the second portion is reflected and 33.3% of the second portion is passed through.

[0018] The first optical path may include the beam 110-1 guided from the input 120-1 to the output 130-1 via the splitting surface 140-1. The second optical path may include the beam 110-1 guided from the input 120-1 to the output 130-2 via the splitting surface 140-1 and the splitting surface 140-2. The third optical path may include the beam 110-1 guided from the input 120-1 to the output 130-3 via the splitting surface 140-1, the splitting surface 140-2, and the reflecting surface 150-1. In this case, the beam 110-1 is received as a single input beam at a single input of the optical device 100 and is split into three output beams at three outputs of the optical device 100.

[0019] As Figure 1Further shown, the light beam 110-2 is guided along the optical path from the input 120-2 to the reflection surface 150-2 and is reflected towards the polarization multiplexing surface 170. Similarly, the light beam 110-3 is guided along the optical path from the input 120-3 to the half-wave plate (HWP) 160 and the polarization multiplexing surface 170. At the HWP 160, the light beam 110-3 is rotated from the first polarization orientation to the second polarization orientation. For example, the light beam 110-3 can be rotated such that the second polarization orientation of the light beam 110-3 is orthogonal to the third polarization orientation of the light beam 110-2. In other words, the light beams 110-2 and 110-3 can enter the inputs 120-2 and 120-3 respectively with the same polarization orientation, but the light beam 110-3 can be rotated by the HWP 160 to be orthogonal to the light beam 110-2. At the polarization multiplexing surface 170, the light beam 110-2 is multiplexed with the light beam 110-3 (e.g., in orthogonal polarization orientations) and is guided towards the reflection surface 150-3. The reflection surface 150-3 can guide the multiplexed light beams 110-2 and 110-3 to the output 130-4. The fourth optical path can include the light beam 110-2 guided from the input 120-2 via the reflection surface 150-2, the polarization multiplexing surface 170, and the reflection surface 150-3 to the output 130-4. The fifth optical path can include the light beam 110-3 guided from the input 120-3 via the HWP 160, the polarization multiplexing surface 170, and the reflection surface 150-3 to the output 130-4. As Figure 1 shown, five optical paths are provided as an example (e.g., three optical inputs are optically coupled to 4 optical outputs). Other numbers or arrangements of optical paths, optical inputs, and / or optical outputs are contemplated.

[0020] As indicated above, Figure 1 is provided as an example. Other examples may be different from those regarding Figure 1 described. Figure 1 The number and arrangement of the elements shown are provided as an example.

[0021] Figures 2A to 2C is a diagram of an example optical device 200 associated with beam splitting and combining micro-optical devices. As Figures 2A to 2C shown, the optical device 200 includes a set of optical elements 210-1 to 210-9. Figure 2A A top view of a set of optical elements 210 is shown. Figure 2B A three-dimensional projection view of a set of optical elements 210 is shown. Figure 2C An exploded view of a set of optical elements 210 is shown.

[0022] As Figure 2AAs further shown, a set of optical elements 210 are optically coupled to form an optical device 200. For example, each optical element 210 is optically coupled to at least one other optical element 210 to form a set of optical paths for a light beam 110. The optical coupling can include a glass-to-glass bonding process that forms a single discrete optical element from multiple discrete optical elements. In other words, by coupling two optical elements 210 having the same refractive index (or similar refractive indices), a light beam can pass through the interface of the two optical elements 210 without experiencing the level of insertion loss associated with guiding from a first optical element to an air interface (e.g., free-space propagation) to a second optical element (e.g., glass-to-air-to-glass propagation). In some implementations, each optical element 210 is a glass prism. For example, each optical element 210 can be a glass prism fabricated or cut from a glass die, and some optical elements 210 may have surfaces that are patterned, etched, or otherwise manipulated to achieve an optical function. Additionally or alternatively, the size or orientation of the optical element 210 (e.g., relative to other optical elements 210 or a set of optical paths) can be selected to achieve an optical function. As an example, the optical element 210 can include surfaces that perform optical functions such as an anti-reflection (AR) function, a polarization rotation function, a reflection function, a multiplexing function, a splitting function, or a combining function, among other examples.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the optical element 210-1 can receive an input of the light beam 110-1 at a surface A, which may have an AR coating to prevent back reflection of the light beam 110-2. In some implementations, the light beam 110 (such as the light beam 110-1) can be incident at a specific angle of incidence. For example, the light beam 110-1 can be incident at a 1-degree angle of incidence (e.g., off-normal) to reduce back reflection from the AR-coated surface propagating coaxially in the opposite direction along the light beam 110-1.

[0024] The light beam 110-1 can propagate to surface B at the interface between the optical element 210-1 and the optical element 210-2, which can split the light beam 110-1 into a first part that is reflected upward toward surface C (e.g., a reflective surface) and passes through surfaces D, E, and F, where the first part exits the optical device 100. In some implementations, surface F (or another output) can have an AR coating to reduce the insertion loss at the output. In some implementations, the optical element 210-8 (and surface F) is provided in the optical device 200 to improve manufacturability and meet the beam parallelism tolerance. Similarly, the optical element 210-6 can be a glass plate with an AR coating provided to improve manufacturability and meet the beam parallelism tolerance. The surface B at the interface of the optical element 210-1 can allow the second part of the light beam 110-1 to pass toward surfaces G and H, which splits the light beam 110-1 into a first sub-part that propagates to surface I and a second sub-part that propagates to surfaces J and K. The first sub-part and the second sub-part of the light beam 110-1 exit the optical device 100 at surfaces I and K, respectively.

[0025] As Figure 2A As further shown, the light beam 110-2 propagates through surfaces K and L, is reflected by surface M, is multiplexed by surface N, is reflected from surface O, and exits the optical device 200 at surface P. Surface M can include a high reflectivity coating or a total internal reflection coating or structure to reflect the light beam 110-2. Surface N can include a polarization-dependent coating that allows p-polarized light (e.g., the light beam 110-2) to pass through and reflects s-polarized light (e.g., the light beam 110-3, described below). Surface O can include a total internal reflection coating or structure to reflect the light beam 110-2 (and the light beam 110-3, described below). In some implementations, each optical path of each light beam 110 can be associated with traversing two AR coatings (e.g., a first AR coating when entering the optical device 200 and a second AR coating when exiting the optical device 200). Additionally or alternatively, the optical path can be split, resulting in traversing two or more AR coatings (e.g., a first AR coating when entering the optical device 200 and multiple second AR coatings when exiting the optical device 200). Additionally or alternatively, the optical device 200 can be directly connected to one or more other components of the optical system (e.g., a direct input connection and / or a direct output connection), which can eliminate the need for one or more AR coatings.

[0026] As Figure 2AFurther shown, the light beam 110-3 propagates through surface Q, is polarization-rotated by HWP surface R, passes through surface S, is multiplexed by surface N, is reflected from surface O, and exits the optical device 200 at surface P. In some implementations, the HWP surface R is included in the optical element 210-7, which can be a multi-part optical element. For example, the optical element 210-7 can include a first section shown on the left, which is a glass plate with an AR coating to reduce back reflection, improve manufacturability, and meet beam parallelism tolerances. Additionally, the optical element 210-7 can include a second section shown on the right, which is an HWP for rotating the beam.

[0027] Other examples such as surfaces A to P represent interfaces between or within the optical elements 210. For example, surface B is a reflector surface at the glass-to-glass interface between the optical elements 210-1 and 210-2. The glass-to-glass interface can be associated with the optical bonding of the optical elements 210-1 and 210-2, which can be made of common materials (or made of materials with corresponding refractive indices within a threshold percentage of each other, such as a refractive index difference of less than 5% or less than 1%).

[0028] In some implementations, surfaces such as surfaces A to P are formed through manufacturing processes, which can include other examples such as beam splitter surfaces, optical combiner surfaces, optical reflector surfaces, or optical multiplexer surfaces (e.g., polarization-dependent reflectors configured for multiplexing). For example, the optical element 210 can undergo patterning processes, etching processes, deposition processes, thin-film manufacturing processes, or another type of process to produce surface treatments that perform optical functions. As a specific example, surface B can be a thin-film optical element surface formed on the optical element 210-2 to split a light beam into a first part that is reflected and a second part that is passed through.

[0029] As indicated above, Figures 2A to 2C is provided as an example. Other examples can be different from those regarding Figures 2A to 2C described.

[0030] Figure 3 is a diagram of an example optical system 300 associated with beam splitting and combining micro-optical devices. As Figure 3 shown, the optical system 300 includes an optical device 310, which can correspond to the optical device 200. As Figure 3Further shown, the optical system 300 may include a set of beam sources and / or beam targets. For example, the beam source 350 is aligned with the first input X and directs the beam towards the first output 1, the second output 2, and the third output 3 via the optical device 310. In this case, the first output 1 is aligned with the beam target 352, the second output 2 is aligned with the beam target 354, and the third output 3 is aligned with the beam target 356. Additionally or alternatively, the beam sources 360 and 362 are aligned with the second input Y and the third input Z respectively, and direct the respective beams towards the fourth output 4 that is aligned with the beam target 364 via the optical device 310.

[0031] In some implementations, the beam sources 350, 360, 362 may correspond to optical transmitters. For example, one or more vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), edge emitting lasers (EELs), laser diodes, or other types of optical transmitters may be included in the optical system to transmit light beams. In this case, the optical device 310 may perform splitting and / or combining of beams from multiple optical transmitters. Additionally or alternatively, the beam sources 350, 360, 362 may correspond to other optical devices, such as other nodes in a communication system. In this case, the optical device 310 may perform optical splitting and / or optical combining to add, drop, or modify beams from a multi-node optical communication system.

[0032] As indicated above, Figure 3 is provided as an example. Other examples may be different from those regarding Figure 3 described. Figure 3 The number and arrangement of the devices shown are provided as examples.

[0033] Figure 4 is a diagram of an example optical system 400 associated with beam splitting and combining micro-optical devices. As Figure 3 shown, the optical system 400 includes an optical device 410, which may correspond to the optical device 200. As Figure 4 further shown, the optical system 400 may include a set of beam sources and / or beam targets. For example, the beam source 450 is aligned with the first input X and directs the beam towards the first output 1 that is aligned with the beam target 452, the second output 2 that is aligned with the beam target 454, and the third output 3 that is aligned with the beam target 456 via the optical device 410. Additionally or alternatively, the beam sources 460 and 462 are aligned with the second input Y and the third input Z respectively, and direct the respective beams towards the fourth output 4 that is aligned with the beam target 464 via the optical device 410. The optical system 400 includes an alternative configuration where the output 4 is in a vertical position above the optical device 410 instead of Figure 3At a horizontal position to the right of the optical device 310 of the optical system 300 shown. In this case, the beam 110-1 directed towards output 3 intersects the combined beams 110-2 and 110-3 directed towards output 4 in free space rather than within an optical element, as occurs, for example, within the optical device 310.

[0034] As indicated above, Figure 4 is provided as an example. Other examples may be different from those regarding Figure 4 described. Figure 4 The number and arrangement of the devices shown are provided as examples.

[0035] The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive of implementations or to limit implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure, or may be acquired from the practice of implementations. Additionally, any implementations described herein may be combined, unless the foregoing disclosure expressly provides a reason why one or more implementations may not be combined.

[0036] Even if specific combinations of features are recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim combined with every other claim in a group of claims. As used herein, the phrase "at least one of" a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including a single member. As an example, "at least one of the following: a, b, or c" is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiple identical items.

[0037] When a component (e.g., a laser emitter or one or more laser emitters) among one or more components is described or claimed (within a single claim or across multiple claims) as performing multiple operations or being configured to perform multiple operations, such language is intended to broadly cover a variety of architectures and environments. For example, unless otherwise explicitly claimed (e.g., via the use of "first component" and "second component" or other language that differentiates components in the claims), such language is intended to cover a single component that performs or is configured to perform all of the operations, a group of components that jointly perform or are configured to perform all of the operations, a first component that performs or is configured to perform a first operation and a second component that performs or is configured to perform a second operation, or any combination of components that perform or are configured to perform these operations. For example, when a claim is in the form "one or more components are configured to: perform X; perform Y; and perform Z", the claim should be interpreted to mean "one or more components are configured to perform X; one or more (possibly different) components are configured to perform Y; and one or more (also possibly different) components are configured to perform Z".

[0038] Unless expressly so described, elements, acts, or instructions used herein should not be construed as critical or essential. Also, as used herein, the articles "a" and "an" are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with "one or more." Further, as used herein, the article "the" is intended to include one or more items referenced in conjunction with the article "the" and may be used interchangeably with "one or more." Additionally, as used herein, the term "set" is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, or a combination of related and unrelated items) and may be used interchangeably with "one or more." Where only one item is intended, the phrase "only one" or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms "has," "have," "having," etc. are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, unless expressly stated otherwise, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "at least partially based on." Also, as used herein, unless expressly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with "any" or "only one of..."), the term "or" when used in series is intended to be inclusive and may be used interchangeably with "and / or." Additionally, spatial relative terms (such as "below," "lower," "above," "upper," etc.) may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another (one or more) element or (one or more) feature illustrated in the figures. In addition to the orientation depicted in the figures, spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device, apparatus, and / or element during use or operation. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptors used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising: A plurality of optically bonded optical elements forming a single monolithic optical component, wherein the plurality of optically bonded optical elements comprises: a set of beam splitter surfaces configured to optically split the first input beam into a plurality of first output beams; and a set of optical combiner surfaces configured to optically combine the plurality of second input beams into one or more second output beams, A set of optical routes coupling a set of inputs and a set of outputs for receiving the first input beam and the plurality of second input beams and outputting the plurality of first output beams and the one or more second output beams are formed by the single monolithic optical component without an intermediate air interface. 2 . The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the set of optical paths comprises two or more optical paths, wherein each optical path in the set of optical paths comprises an input in the set of inputs and an output in the set of outputs.

3. The optical device of claim 1, wherein each optical path in the set of optical paths traverses two anti-reflective coatings.

4. The optical device of claim 1, wherein each optical path in the set of optical paths is associated with an angle of incidence that deviates from normal.

5. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optically bonded optical elements comprises at least one film.

6. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optically coupled optical elements comprises at least one interface to split a beam into a plurality of component beams.

7. The optical device of claim 6, wherein the at least one interface is a surface that passes a first portion of the beam and reflects a second portion of the beam.

8. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optically coupled optical elements are configured to split a single input beam into three output beams associated with three outputs.

9. An optical system comprising: An optical device, comprising a plurality of optical elements optically combined, wherein the plurality of optical elements optically combined comprises: a first set of optical elements for optically splitting the first one or more beams, wherein the first set of optical elements comprises at least one splitting surface and at least one reflecting surface; and a second set of optical elements to optically combine a second one or more beams, a set of inputs; and A set of outputs, Wherein the set of inputs is coupled to the set of outputs via the first set of optical elements and the second set of optical elements.

10. The optical system of claim 9, wherein the second set of optical elements comprises at least one polarization dependent reflective surface and at least one further reflective surface.

11. The optical system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of optically bonded optical elements comprises: a first optical element having a first refractive index, and A second optical element having a second refractive index is bonded to the first optical element, wherein the first refractive index is within a threshold percentage of the second refractive index.

12. The optical system of claim 11, wherein the threshold percentage is less than 5%.

13. The optical system of claim 11, wherein the threshold percentage is less than 1%.

14. The optical system of claim 11, wherein the first optical element and the second optical element are glass optical elements.

15. The optical system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of optically bonded optical elements comprises optical elements having a surface treatment.

16. The optical system of claim 15, wherein the surface treatment comprises at least one of: film, Surface coating, Patterned, or Etching.

17. An optical device comprising: A plurality of optically bonded optical elements forming a single monolithic optical component, wherein the plurality of optically bonded optical elements comprises: a set of beam splitter surfaces configured to optically split the first input beam into a plurality of first output beams, wherein the set of beam splitter surfaces is formed on a first subset of optically bonded optical elements of the plurality of optically bonded optical elements, wherein the set of beam splitter surfaces comprises at least one splitting surface and at least one first reflecting surface; and a set of optical combiner surfaces configured to optically combine the second input beam and the third input beam into a single second output beam, wherein the set of optical combiner surfaces is formed on a second subset of optically bonded optical elements in the plurality of optically bonded optical elements, wherein the set of optical combiner surfaces comprises at least one polarization multiplexing surface and at least one second reflective surface, wherein the plurality of optically coupled optical elements comprises a set of inputs and a set of outputs, and Wherein a set of optical paths coupling the set of inputs and the set of outputs are formed by the single monolithic optical component without an intermediate air interface.

18. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the set of beam splitter surfaces comprises optical element surfaces having functional patterning.

19. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the set of optical combiner surfaces comprises optical element surfaces having functional patterning.

20. The optical device of claim 17, wherein at least one optical element of the plurality of optically coupled optical elements comprises both a beamsplitter surface of the set of beamsplitter surfaces and an optical combiner surface of the set of optical combiner surfaces.

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