Polarization-independent two-dimensional beam steering using liquid crystal optical phased arrays

Liang Wu; Xiangru Wang; Caidong Xiong; Ziqiang Huang; Rusheng Zhuo; Jiarui Rao; Qinggui Tan

doi:10.3788/COL201715.101601

Journals >Chinese Optics Letters >Volume 15 >Issue 10 >Page 101601 > Article

Chinese Optics Letters
Vol. 15, Issue 10, 101601 (2017)

Polarization-independent two-dimensional beam steering using liquid crystal optical phased arrays

Liang Wu^1、2, Xiangru Wang^2、*, Caidong Xiong¹, Ziqiang Huang³, Rusheng Zhuo², Jiarui Rao², and Qinggui Tan⁴

Author Affiliations

¹School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China

²School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China

³Research Institute of Electronic Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China

⁴National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Space Microwave, Xi’an 710100, China

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DOI: 10.3788/COL201715.101601 Cite this Article Set citation alerts

Liang Wu, Xiangru Wang, Caidong Xiong, Ziqiang Huang, Rusheng Zhuo, Jiarui Rao, Qinggui Tan. Polarization-independent two-dimensional beam steering using liquid crystal optical phased arrays[J]. Chinese Optics Letters, 2017, 15(10): 101601 Copy Citation Text

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Abstract

A polarization-independent nonmechanical laser beam steering scheme is proposed to realize continuous two-dimensional (2D) scanning with high efficiency, where the core components are two polarization-dependent devices, which are called liquid crystal optical phased arrays (LC-OPAs). These two one-dimensional (1D) devices are orthogonally cascaded to work on the state of azimuthal and elevation steering, respectively. Properties of polarization independence as well as 2D beam steering are mathematically and experimentally verified with a good agreement. Based on the experimental setup, linearly polarized beams with different polarization angles are steered with high accuracy. The measured angular deviations are less than 5 μrad, which is on the same order of the accuracy of the measurement system. This polarization-independent 2D laser beam steering scheme has potential application for nonmechanical laser communication, lidar, and other LC-based systems.