Two-dimensional optical phased array antenna on silicon-on-insulator.
Optical wireless links can offer a very large bandwidth and can act as a complementary technology to radiofrequency links. Optical components nowadays are however rather bulky. Therefore, we have investigated the potential of silicon photonics to fabricated integrated components for wireless optical communication. This paper presents a two-dimensional phased array antenna consisting of grating couplers that couple light off-chip. Wavelength steering of $0.24 degrees /nm is presented reducing the need of active phase modulators. The needed steering range is $1.5 degrees . The 3dB angular coverage range of these antennas is about $0.007pi sr with a directivity of more than 38dBi and antenna losses smaller than 3dB.
Van Acoleyen
Karel
K
Department of Information Technology (INTEC) - Photonics Research Group, Ghent University - imec, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, Ghent, Belgium. karel.vanacoleyen@intec.ugent.be
Rogier
Hendrik
H
Baets
Roel
R
D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011845:Radio; D012825:Silicon
D012825:Silicon