Butler matrix enabled multi-beam optical phased array for two-dimensional beam-steering and ranging

Abstract

Based on the wavelength transparency of the Butler matrix (BM) beamforming network, we demonstrate a multi-beam optical phased array (MOPA) with an emitting aperture composed of grating couplers at a 1.55 μm pitch for wavelength-assisted two-dimensional beam-steering. The device is capable of simultaneous multi-beam operation in a field of view (FOV) of 60° × 8° in the phased-array scanning axis and the wavelength-tuning scanning axis, respectively. The typical beam divergence is about 4° on both axes. Using multiple linearly chirped lasers, multi-beam frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) ranging is realized with an average ranging error of 4 cm. A C-shaped target is imaged for proof-of-concept 2D scanning and ranging.