Mid-infrared optical phased array beam steering on an InP-based platform

Over the past decade, in the near-infrared spectral region, optical phased array (OPA) technology has advanced from basic concepts to demonstrations in efficient, high-resolution, wide-angle systems. Extension to the mid-infrared spectral region has only recently begun. In this work, at λ = 4.6 μm, on an InGaAs/InP platform, we demonstrate the operation of a 32-channel OPA beam steering device. Through thermo-optic tuning we steer the beam laterally within a ±11.5° field-of-view.