Description of Business	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business Business Overview EMCORE Corporation and its subsidiaries (referred to herein as the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “EMCORE”) offers a broad portfolio of compound semiconductor-based products for the fiber optics market. We were established in 1984 as a New Jersey corporation and we have one reporting segment: Fiber Optics. EMCORE's Fiber Optics business provides optical components, subsystems and systems for high-speed telecommunications, Cable Television (CATV), Wireless and Fiber-To-The-Premises (FTTP) networks, as well as products for satellite communications, video transport and specialty photonics technologies for defense and homeland security applications. EMCORE's Solar Photovoltaics business, which was sold in December 2014, provided products for space power applications including high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells, Covered Interconnect Cells (CICs) and complete satellite solar panels. In addition to organic growth and development of our existing Fiber Optics market, we intend to pursue other strategies to enhance shareholder value, which may include acquisitions, investments in joint ventures, partnerships, and other strategic alternatives, such as dispositions, reorganizations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions. Accordingly, the Strategy Committee of the Board and our management may from time to time be engaged in evaluating potential strategic opportunities and may enter into definitive agreements with respect to, such transactions or other strategic alternatives. Basis of Presentation On September 17, 2014, EMCORE entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Photovoltaics Agreement”) with SolAero Technologies Corporation ("SolAero") (formerly known as Photon Acquisition Corporation) pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell the Photovoltaics Business ("Photovoltaics Asset Sale") for $150.0 million in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment pursuant to the Photovoltaics Agreement. On December 10, 2014, EMCORE completed the Photovoltaics Asset Sale. On October 22, 2014, EMCORE entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Digital Products Agreement") with NeoPhotonics Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("NeoPhotonics") pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell certain assets, and transfer certain liabilities of the Company's telecommunications business (collectively, the "Digital Products Business" and, the sale of the Digital Products Business, the "Digital Products Assets Sale") to NeoPhotonics for an aggregate purchase price of $17.5 million, subject to certain adjustments, consisting of $1.5 million in cash at closing and a promissory note in the principal amount of $16.0 million (the "Promissory Note"). On January 2, 2015, EMCORE and NeoPhotonics entered into Amendment No. 1 (the "APA Amendment") to the Digital Products Agreement dated October 22, 2014. Among other things, the APA Amendment revised the nature and timing of the financial deliverable requirements of the Company to NeoPhotonics under the original Digital Products Agreement. The assets sold pursuant to the Digital Products Agreement included certain fixed assets, inventory and intellectual property for the ITLA, micro-ITLA, T-TOSA and T-XFP product lines within the Company’s telecommunications business. On January 2, 2015, EMCORE completed the sale of the Digital Products Business. These Asset Sales are reported as discontinued operations, which require retrospective restatement of prior periods to classify the results of operations as discontinued operations. We have also reclassified the assets and liabilities that were sold within the descriptions "assets of discontinued operations" and "liabilities of discontinued operations" within current and non-current assets and liabilities, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014, respectively. The financial results of the Photovoltaics Business and the Digital Products Business are presented as "discontinued operations" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. See also Note 3 - Discontinued Operations. The notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements relates to our continuing operations only, unless otherwise indicated. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, the Company operates as a single reportable segment. Interim Financial Statements The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim information, and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. In our opinion, the interim financial statements reflect all normal adjustments that are necessary to provide a fair presentation of the financial results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for an entire fiscal year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2014 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of such date as adjusted for discontinued operations. Also see Note 3 - Discontinued Operations. For a more complete understanding of our business, financial position, operating results, cash flows, risk factors and other matters, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We are not the primary beneficiary of, nor do we hold a significant variable interest in, any variable interest entity. We have evaluated subsequent events through the date that the financial statements were issued. Sale of Fiber Optics-related Assets On March 27, 2012, we entered into a Master Purchase Agreement with a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries, LTD (SEI), pursuant to which we agreed to sell certain assets and transfer certain obligations associated with our Fiber Optics segment. On May 7, 2012, we completed the sale of these assets to SEI and recorded a gain of approximately $2.8 million. Under the terms of the Master Purchase Agreement, we have agreed to indemnify SEI for up to $3.4 million of potential claims and expenses for the two-year period following the sale and we have recorded this amount as a deferred gain on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014 as a result of these contingencies. SEI paid $13.1 million in cash and deposited approximately $2.6 million into escrow as security for indemnification obligations and any purchase price adjustments. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, we resolved the purchase price contingencies resulting in the reduction of the purchase price by $1.1 million. The reduced purchase price is recorded as an offset to the escrow receivable of $2.6 million. There remains a deferred gain of $3.4 million related to our indemnification obligation to SEI and an escrow receivable of $1.5 million as of December 31, 2014 as claims have been made under the Master Purchase Agreement against these balances prior to the end of the indemnification period in May 2014. We are not able to determine at this time the outcome of any potential settlements associated with the remaining claims and as a result have not recorded any related adjustments to the deferred gain amount.

Description of Business

Business Overview

EMCORE Corporation and its subsidiaries (referred to herein as the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “EMCORE”) offers a broad portfolio of compound semiconductor-based products for the fiber optics market. We were established in 1984 as a New Jersey corporation and we have one reporting segment: Fiber Optics. EMCORE's Fiber Optics business provides optical components, subsystems and systems for high-speed telecommunications, Cable Television (CATV), Wireless and Fiber-To-The-Premises (FTTP) networks, as well as products for satellite communications, video transport and specialty photonics technologies for defense and homeland security applications. EMCORE's Solar Photovoltaics business, which was sold in December 2014, provided products for space power applications including high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells, Covered Interconnect Cells (CICs) and complete satellite solar panels. In addition to organic growth and development of our existing Fiber Optics market, we intend to pursue other strategies to enhance shareholder value, which may include acquisitions, investments in joint ventures, partnerships, and other strategic alternatives, such as dispositions, reorganizations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions. Accordingly, the Strategy Committee of the Board and our management may from time to time be engaged in evaluating potential strategic opportunities and may enter into definitive agreements with respect to, such transactions or other strategic alternatives.

Basis of Presentation

On September 17, 2014, EMCORE entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Photovoltaics Agreement”) with SolAero Technologies Corporation ("SolAero") (formerly known as Photon Acquisition Corporation) pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell the Photovoltaics Business ("Photovoltaics Asset Sale") for $150.0 million in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment pursuant to the Photovoltaics Agreement. On December 10, 2014, EMCORE completed the Photovoltaics Asset Sale.

On October 22, 2014, EMCORE entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Digital Products Agreement") with NeoPhotonics Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("NeoPhotonics") pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell certain assets, and transfer certain liabilities of the Company's telecommunications business (collectively, the "Digital Products Business" and, the sale of the Digital Products Business, the "Digital Products Assets Sale") to NeoPhotonics for an aggregate purchase price of $17.5 million, subject to certain adjustments, consisting of $1.5 million in cash at closing and a promissory note in the principal amount of $16.0 million (the "Promissory Note").

On January 2, 2015, EMCORE and NeoPhotonics entered into Amendment No. 1 (the "APA Amendment") to the Digital Products Agreement dated October 22, 2014. Among other things, the APA Amendment revised the nature and timing of the financial deliverable requirements of the Company to NeoPhotonics under the original Digital Products Agreement. The assets sold pursuant to the Digital Products Agreement included certain fixed assets, inventory and intellectual property for the ITLA, micro-ITLA, T-TOSA and T-XFP product lines within the Company’s telecommunications business. On January 2, 2015, EMCORE completed the sale of the Digital Products Business.

These Asset Sales are reported as discontinued operations, which require retrospective restatement of prior periods to classify the results of operations as discontinued operations. We have also reclassified the assets and liabilities that were sold within the descriptions "assets of discontinued operations" and "liabilities of discontinued operations" within current and non-current assets and liabilities, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014, respectively. The financial results of the Photovoltaics Business and the Digital Products Business are presented as "discontinued operations" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. See also Note 3 - Discontinued Operations. The notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements relates to our continuing operations only, unless otherwise indicated.

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, the Company operates as a single reportable segment.

Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim information, and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. In our opinion, the interim financial statements reflect all normal adjustments that are necessary to provide a fair presentation of the financial results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for an entire fiscal year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2014 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of such date as adjusted for discontinued operations. Also see Note 3 - Discontinued Operations. For a more complete understanding of our business, financial position, operating results, cash flows, risk factors and other matters, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We are not the primary beneficiary of, nor do we hold a significant variable interest in, any variable interest entity. We have evaluated subsequent events through the date that the financial statements were issued.

Sale of Fiber Optics-related Assets

On March 27, 2012, we entered into a Master Purchase Agreement with a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries, LTD (SEI), pursuant to which we agreed to sell certain assets and transfer certain obligations associated with our Fiber Optics segment. On May 7, 2012, we completed the sale of these assets to SEI and recorded a gain of approximately $2.8 million. Under the terms of the Master Purchase Agreement, we have agreed to indemnify SEI for up to $3.4 million of potential claims and expenses for the two-year period following the sale and we have recorded this amount as a deferred gain on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014 as a result of these contingencies. SEI paid $13.1 million in cash and deposited approximately $2.6 million into escrow as security for indemnification obligations and any purchase price adjustments. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, we resolved the purchase price contingencies resulting in the reduction of the purchase price by $1.1 million. The reduced purchase price is recorded as an offset to the escrow receivable of $2.6 million. There remains a deferred gain of $3.4 million related to our indemnification obligation to SEI and an escrow receivable of $1.5 million as of December 31, 2014 as claims have been made under the Master Purchase Agreement against these balances prior to the end of the indemnification period in May 2014. We are not able to determine at this time the outcome of any potential settlements associated with the remaining claims and as a result have not recorded any related adjustments to the deferred gain amount.