Distributed Bragg deflector: a multifunctional integrated optical device

The properties of wide-angle integrated optical Bragg deflectors which utilize slab-coupled optical waveguides, are analyzed. Specifically considered is the interaction that occurs, via the intermediary of a periodic waveguide perturbation, between an incident wave guide within the core region of the structure and a Bragg deflected beam guided within the slab region of the structure. The deflection efficiencies and far-field deflected-beam intensity patterns characteristic of this device configuration, which we term a distributed Bragg deflector or DBD, are derived for both T.E.-polarized and T.M.-polarized incident waves and for deflection angles between pi/4 and 3pi/4 rad. Following these derivations, discussion is made of the potential device applications of the basic DBD structure, including its use as an integrated optical modulator, polarizer/analyzer, beam divider, beam deflector, and intrawaveguide beam expander.