Two-Dimensional Optical Beam Steering With InP-Based Photonic Integrated Circuits

Two-dimensional optical beam steering using an InP photonic integrated circuit has been demonstrated. Lateral beam steering controlled by a 1-D phased array has been made easier through on-chip interferometer monitors. Longitudinal beam steering controlled by the input wavelength has demonstrated an efficiency of 0.14 degrees/nm. Very fast beam steering (>10(7) degrees/s) in both dimensions has been demonstrated as well. As the latest development, a widely tunable sampled-grating distributed Bragg reflector laser has been monolithically integrated and 2-D beam steering has been demonstrated with this on-chip tunable laser source.