Electro-optic high-speed optical beam shifting based on a lithium niobate tapered waveguide

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Electro-optics
• Nanofabrication

Background:

• Integrated photonic devices are crucial for advanced optical systems.
• Electro-optic control offers high-speed modulation and switching capabilities.
• Lithium niobate (LN) is a key material for electro-optic applications due to its excellent properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate an electro-optic on-chip beam shifting device.
• To utilize gradient microstructured electrodes for tailored refractive index control.
• To leverage tapered optical waveguides for beam manipulation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an 18 mm long beam shifting device using lithium niobate (LN).
• Integration of gradient microstructured electrodes to define refractive index variations.
• Design of a tapered optical waveguide with a width increasing from 8 μm to 80 μm.
• Experimental validation of the device's functionality at a wavelength of 1310 nm.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of electro-optic beam shifting on-chip.
• Achieved electro-optic tunability of 0.41 μm/V.
• Observed a high-speed response time of 19 ns.
• Verified the device's functionality for beam steering applications.

Conclusions:

• The proposed device enables efficient electro-optic beam shifting on a chip.
• The gradient electrode design allows for precise control over beam propagation.
• This technology holds promise for optical switching, modulation, and spatial communications.