| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To obtain the element which has no mechanically moving parts, is small in size and make space modulation of the light controllable from the outside by providing a carrier density distribution control means which can form carriers of the density distribution of the prescribed pattern nonuniform along the transverse direction orthogonal with a light propagation direction. CONSTITUTION:The density distribution of the carriers generated in a light guide 13 to allow the passage of the light to be space-modulated by using a stock capable of generating the carriers is controlled to control the phase distribution of the light propagating in the waveguide. The optical phase distribution control element 10 is formed by using an n-GaAs substrate as a substrate 11, and laminating an n-AIxGa1-xAs layer 12 having a low refractive index as a lower light confining layer, an AIyGa1-yAs layer 13 having a high refractive index as the light guide, and p-AIzGa1-zAs layer 14 having a low refractive index as an upper light confining layer. The deflection angle is controllable by the current ratio to be impressed to a pair of control electrodes 21-1, 21-2 in this case. The light phase distribution control element with which the high- speed operation can be expected and which allows the easy control from the outside while the size is small is obtd. in this way. |
