Integrated optical phased array with on-chip amplification enabling programmable beam shaping

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Optical Engineering
• Integrated Optics

Background:

• Optical phased arrays (OPAs) are crucial for beam steering and shaping.
• Active OPAs with integrated amplification are needed for higher performance.
• Existing OPAs often lack significant on-chip gain and advanced beam control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an integrated optical phased array (OPA) with embedded optical amplifiers and phase modulators.
• To demonstrate high on-chip gain and optical output power.
• To showcase programmable beam shaping capabilities, including sidelobe suppression and Hermite-Gaussian beam generation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an InP-based photonic integrated circuit for the OPA.
• Integration of in-line optical amplifiers and phase modulators within the OPA.
• Characterization of gain, output power, and beamforming performance across the 1465-1590 nm wavelength range.
• Demonstration of Gaussian apodization for sidelobe suppression and generation of 1D Hermite-Gaussian beams.

Main Results:

• Achieved up to 21.5 dB net on-chip gain and 35.5 mW optical output power.
• Demonstrated the highest measured on-chip gain and output power for an active OPA to date.
• Attained 19.8 dB sidelobe suppression via Gaussian apodization, a record for active OPAs.
• Successfully formed 0th, 1st, and 2nd order 1D Hermite-Gaussian beams in free-space.

Conclusions:

• The developed active OPA offers unprecedented gain and output power on a photonic chip.
• The device enables precise control over amplitude and phase for advanced beam shaping.
• This integrated OPA platform paves the way for next-generation optical beam steering and free-space communication systems.