Electro-Optic Modulated Phase Array in Hexagonally Poled Lithium Niobate for Flexible Array Illuminator Device

Abstract

We present an adaptive and dynamic hexagonal electro-optic phase array. The proposed device consists of a 2-dimensional hexagonal array of periodically inverted ferroelectric domains, along the z-axis, in lithium niobate crystals. The phase step is achieved via the application of an external electric field, along the z-axis, through transparent electrodes. Thanks to the electro-optic effect the phase step can changed with continuity over all the 0 to 2π by applying a variable voltage. In this way different patterns can be generated. In fact, one important property of this new proposed configuration of array iluminator is the intrinsic flexibility.

Acknowledgments

This research was partially funded by the Ministero dell'Istruzione dell'Università e della Ricerca within the Fondo per gli Investimenti della Ricerca di Base project “Microdispositivi Fotonici in Niobato di Litio n. RBNE01KZ94 and partially by the project MIUR n.77 DD N.1105/2002 “Circuiti fotonici integrati per le telecomunicazioni ottiche e la sensoristica.”