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Visible-light optical phased array on a thin-film lithium niobate platform for high-speed beam steering
Optics Letters
|May 1, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a visible-light optical phased array (OPA) on a thin-film lithium niobate platform. This 32-channel device offers rapid electro-optic modulation and a wide field of view for advanced optical applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Integrated Optics
Background:
- Optical phased arrays (OPAs) are crucial for beam steering and optical manipulation.
- Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) is a promising platform for integrated photonic devices due to its electro-optic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a visible-light OPA on a TFLN platform.
- To achieve independent phase modulation with rapid response times.
- To enhance the field of view (FOV) and reduce beam divergence.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a 32-channel OPA on a TFLN chip.
- Utilizing electro-optic phase shifters for independent channel modulation.
- Employing non-periodic arrays and a slab grating to suppress grating lobes.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a TFLN-based visible-light OPA with 32 independently modulated channels.
- Achieved rapid electro-optic response times: 12 ns (rising edge) and 14 ns (falling edge).
- Obtained a large FOV of 40° and a small beam divergence of 0.41° at 633 nm.
Conclusions:
- The TFLN platform enables high-performance visible-light OPAs with fast modulation.
- The integrated OPA design successfully suppresses grating lobes, improving optical performance.
- This work paves the way for advanced applications in optical communication, sensing, and imaging.
