LiDAR demonstration using an InP-based optical phased array with a 3D-printed beam-shaping element

We demonstrate an InP-based optical phased array (OPA) that combines on-chip semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) and p-i-n phase shifters with 3D-printed facet-attached optical elements to shape the emitted beam and to redirect it to the surface-normal direction of the photonic integrated circuit (PIC). We demonstrate the viability of the OPA by combining it with a receiver in a light-detection-and-ranging (LiDAR) experiment and by performing a laboratory ranging experiment. To the best of our knowledge, our experiments represent the first demonstration of an InP-based OPA that combines optical ranging with beam steering.