Off-chip beam steering with a one-dimensional optical phased array on silicon-on-insulator

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Integrated Optics
• Semiconductor Devices

Background:

• Optical phased arrays (OPAs) are crucial for applications requiring fast and accurate light beam manipulation.
• Existing OPA technologies face challenges in integration, cost, and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel, integrated 1D optical phased array on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform.
• To achieve precise, dual-axis beam steering using a combination of thermo-optical and wavelength tuning techniques.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 1D OPA with 16 parallel grating couplers on SOI.
• Thermo-optical beam steering using an integrated titanium electrode.
• Wavelength tuning for beam steering in the orthogonal direction.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated continuous thermo-optical steering of 2.3 degrees.
• Achieved wavelength steering of 14.1 degrees at 1550 nm.
• Integrated approach enables compact and efficient beam steering.

Conclusions:

• The developed SOI optical phased array offers a versatile platform for precise beam steering.
• The hybrid steering mechanism (thermo-optical and wavelength) provides enhanced control and functionality.
• This technology holds promise for advanced optical systems and communication.