In Applied optics
We report a two-dimensional Si photonic optical phased array (OPA) optimized for a large optical aperture with a minimal number of antennas while maintaining single-lobe far field. The OPA chip has an optical aperture of ∼200µm by 150 µm comprising a 9×9 antenna array. The two-dimensional spacings between these antennas are much larger than the wavelength and are highly non-uniform optimized by the genetic deep learning algorithm. The phase of each antenna is independently tunable by a thermo-optical phase shifter. The experimental results validate the design and exhibit a 0.39∘×0.41∘ beamwidth within the 3 dB steering range of 14∘×11∘ limited by the numerical aperture of the far-field camera system. The method can be easily extended to a larger aperture for narrower beamwidth and wider steering range.
Xue Yulong, Zhang Qihao, Ren Yangming, Lei Yufang, Sun Xiaochen, Zhang Lingxuan
2022-Aug-20
