SBIR Phase I: Liquid-Crystal Waveguides for Optical Integrated Circuits

这一小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目提出了一种新的平面光波导电光控制方法。目前，硅基二氧化硅平面光波导的光电光控制主要是通过热光效应实现的，热光效应具有速度慢、功耗大、影响小等特点。这种新方法提供了前所未有的光学相位延迟，需要低功率和中等电压，响应时间在10微秒以下。这种方法可以用来引导光束、调谐波导光栅和控制通道之间的耦合，从而实现了一种新型的硅衬底集成电光器件。第一阶段项目将展示大的电光调制指数，并展示一种在波导内具有10度转向能力的波导束定向器。它还将探索使用这种技术制造集成光学电路的方法。第二阶段将设计和制造具有动态跟踪和聚焦功能的集成光学元件，如波导式傅里叶变换光谱仪、条形码扫描仪或CD/DVD拾取器。这项技术的商业应用包括用于化学传感的波导式光谱仪、溶剂和塑料的识别以及移动排放监测。其他商业应用包括条形码扫描仪、CD/DVD光学拾取器、自由空间光学通信、用于角度多路复用全息数据存储的光束操纵以及用于计算机底板的光学互连。

This small business innovative research Phase I project proposes a new method for electro-opticcontrol of light on planar waveguides. Currently, electro-optic control of light on silica-on-siliconplanar optical waveguides is by the thermo-optic effect, which is slow, consumes high power and exhibits a small effect. The new method provides unprecedented levels of optical phase delay, requires low power and moderate voltages, and exhibits response times under 10 microseconds. The method can be used to steer beams, tune waveguide gratings and control coupling between channels, thus enabling a new class of integrated electro-optic devices on silicon substrates. The Phase I project will demonstrate a large electro-optic modulation index and demonstrate a waveguide beamsteer with 10 degrees of steering capability within the waveguide. It will also explore methods of manufacturing integrated optical circuits using this technology. Phase II will design and build an integrated optic such as a waveguide Fourier transform spectrometer, barcode scanner, or CD/DVD pickup with dynamic tracking and focusing.Commercial applications of this technology include waveguide spectrometers for chemical sensing, identification of solvents and plastics, and mobile emissions monitoring. Other commercial applications include barcode scanners, CD/DVD optical pickups, free-space optical communications, beamsteering for angle-multiplex holographic data storage, and optical interconnects for computer backplanes.