Polymeric waveguide prism-based electro-optic beam deflector

Beam steering devices without moving parts are highly desirable for their potential application in emerging optical technologies such as holographic optical storage systems, all optical networks, and optical switches. We demonstrate a thin-film waveguide beam deflector device that consists of an electro-optic prism array within a polymer waveguide. An electrode structure defines the prism array within the planar waveguide. The deflection efficiency of 28 mrad/kV and the maximum deflection angle of +/-8.4 mrad at +/- 300 V are obtained for this demonstration device. Further optimization of electrode-field poling and processing is likely to improve these results by at least an order of magnitude. (C) 2001 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.