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Planar lightwave circuit interferometer
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<p>An <a href="/facts/Interferometry/X3E1SsQT">interferometer</a> is an <a href="/facts/Optics/p0vq4S1T">optical</a> <a href="/facts/Measurement/rsLLbn1s">measuring</a> device using the principle of <a href="/facts/Light/jeofpMn4">light</a> waves <a href="/facts/Interference_(wave_propagation)/lI5f78I4">canceling</a> and <a href="/facts/Interference_(wave_propagation)/lI5f78I4">reinforcing</a> each other. Interferometers are typically used to <a href="/facts/Accuracy_and_precision/JQ47xXDq">accurately</a> <a href="/facts/Measurement/rsLLbn1s">measure</a> <a href="/facts/Distance/hbXlaEFk">distances</a>. Planar lightwave <a href="/facts/Electronic_circuit/IRfQ6Cc2">circuits</a> are either optical <a href="/facts/Integrated_circuit/fjn6vg7C">integrated circuits</a> (ICs) or optical <a href="/facts/Printed_circuit_board/muSR2p43">circuit boards</a> made using the same manufacturing techniques as their <a href="/facts/Electronics/E4JhgISq">electronic</a> counterparts, using optical <a href="/facts/Waveguide/tJS9Y0GH">waveguides</a> to route <a href="/facts/Photon/mFNhAEzA">photons</a> the same way that metal traces are used to route <a href="/facts/Electron/L0KBo5cW">electrons</a> in electronic ICs and circuit boards. A planar lightwave circuit interferometer (PLCI) is a planar lightwave circuit configured as an interferometer. PLCIs can take on any form which is rigidly printable, e.g. <a href="/facts/Mach%25E2%2580%2593Zehnder_interferometer/gP0B1j0w">Mach-Zehnder</a>, <a href="/facts/Michelson_interferometer/wCIPH6gL">Michelson</a>, <a href="/facts/Young%2527s_Interferometer/BTsD8RCC">Young's interferometer</a>, etc. PLCIs are often found in products that are mass-produced, such as <a href="/facts/Multiplexing/YE7hK8cw">multiplexers/demultiplexers</a> used in communications technology. </p>