Electronically controlled optical beam-steering by an active phased array of metallic nanoantennas

Opt Express. 2013 Feb 25;21(4):5198-208. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.005198.

Abstract

An optical phased array of nanoantenna fabricated in a CMOS compatible silicon photonics process is presented. The optical phased array is fed by low loss silicon waveguides with integrated ohmic thermo-optic phase shifters capable of 2π phase shift with ∼ 15 mW of applied electrical power. By controlling the electrical power to the individual integrated phase shifters fixed wavelength steering of the beam emitted normal to the surface of the wafer of 8° is demonstrated for 1 × 8 phased arrays with periods of both 6 and 9 μm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Lenses*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / radiation effects
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Semiconductors*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*