Editing Microphotonics (section)

{{more references|date=December 2007}}

'''Microphotonics''' is a branch of [[technology]] that deals with directing light on a microscopic scale and is used in [[optical telecommunication|optical networking]]. Particularly, it refers to the branch of technology that deals with wafer-level integrated devices and systems that emit, transmit, detect, and process light along with other forms of [[radiant energy]] with [[photon]] as the [[quantum]] unit.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Applied Microphotonics|last=Jamroz|first=Wes|last2=Kruzelecky|first2=Roman|last3=Haddad|first3=Emile|publisher=CRC Press|year=2006|isbn=9780849340260|location=Boca Raton, FL|pages=1}}</ref>

Microphotonics employs at least two different materials with a large differential [[index of refraction]] to squeeze the light down to a small size.  Generally speaking, virtually all of microphotonics relies on [[Fresnel reflection]] to guide the light.  If the photons reside mainly in the higher index material, the confinement is due to [[total internal reflection]].  If the confinement is due many distributed [[Fresnel reflection]]s, the device is termed a [[photonic crystal]].  There are many different types of geometries used in microphotonics including [[Waveguide (optics)|optical waveguides]], [[Optical microcavity|optical microcavities]], and [[Arrayed waveguide grating]]s.