Characterization of an Optical Phased Array for use in Free Space Optical Communication Antennas

Liquid Crystal Optical Phased Arrays (LCOPA) capable of steering optical beams over large angles require very large number of individually addressable electrodes that can be reduced by grouping the electrodes into periodic pattern to modulate phase profiles with consequent stepwise phase corrections made by an additional LCOPA. Such phase ramp-corrector configuration allows for reductions in the total number of the addressed electrodes and results in lower costs of development and manufacturing of LCOPA devices. Characterization of the device made by Teledyne Scientific for an experimental RF/EO antenna has been accomplished. Issues concerning optical beam steering efficiency, incident angle dependency and transparent electrodes alignment were investigated.