Wavefront synthesizer systems

摘要

Wavefront synthesizers and optical switches implemented with wavefront synthesizers are disclosed. In one aspect, a wavefront synthesizer includes a waveguide tree composed a root waveguide that branches into at least two terminus waveguides. The root waveguide is integrated with a source to inject light into the waveguide tree via the root waveguide. The synthesizer includes output couplers located at the ends of the terminus waveguides. Each output coupler outputs a wavefront associated with a portion of the light injected with at least two of the wavefronts overlapping to form at least one beam of light via constructive interference. The synthesizer also includes microring resonators disposed adjacent to the terminus waveguides. Each microring is independently tunable to apply a phase shift in the wavefront output from one of the output couplers to steer the direction of the beam and the at least two wavefronts.

主权项

1. A wavefront synthesizer comprising:
a waveguide tree disposed on a planar surface of a substrate, the waveguide tree including a root waveguide that branches via intermediate waveguides into at least two terminus waveguides, the root waveguide optically integrated with a source to inject light into the waveguide tree via the root waveguide; output couplers disposed on the planar surface and located at the ends of the terminus waveguides, each output coupler to output a wavefront directed away from the planar surface and composed of a portion of the light to be injected by the source, wherein at least two of the wavefronts overlap to form at least one beam of light via constructive interference; and microring resonators disposed on the planar surface adjacent to the terminus waveguides, each microring independently tunable to apply a phase shift to the wavefront output from one of the output couplers to steer the direction of the beam and the at least two wavefronts.