Laser Beam Steering with SIMOX Waveguide

The ability to rapidly and randomly steer a laser beam is critical to the success of free-space satellite-based laser radar systems for missile defense and target tracking. By extending SIMOX waveguide technology, Spire will demonstrate multi-dimensional, all-electronic laser beam steering. Parallel arrays of electronically phase-modulated waveguide structures will be fabricated, configured to spatially dissect an incident coherent planar waveform, and used to rotate the output light beam through constructive interference effects in the field. A two-dimensional array of phase-control channels would allow scanning the beam over the entire image plane. Initial efforts will focus on fabrication and test of a two channel, vertically situated set of waveguides featuring two buried SiO2 layers. Integration of two sets of guides into a two dimensional structure will allow rapid agile steering.