Beam steering optical switches using LCOS: the `ROSES´ demonstrator

Author

Crossland, W.A. ; Manolis, I.G. ; Redmond, M.M. ; Tan, K.L. ; Wilkinson, T.D. ; Chu, A. ; Handerek, V.A. ; Holmes, M.J. ; Parker, T. ; Bonas, I.G. ; Robertson, B. ; Warr, S.T. ; Stace, C. ; White, H.J. ; Woolley, R.A. ; Henshall, G.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Eng., Cambridge Univ., UK

fYear

2000

fDate

2000

Firstpage

42370

Lastpage

42376

Abstract

The design, assembly and results of a 1.8 free-space switch demonstration using dynamic holograms are reported. Central to the switch fabric is a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) on silicon spatial light modulator (SLM) deposited with a 540×1 array of highly reflective and planar mirror strips. The input and output ports to the switch are fabricated as a linear array of silica planar waveguides connected to single-mode fibres. The waveguide array and the single Fourier transform lens for the 2f holographic replay system are housed in an optomechanical mount to provide stability. The switch operates at 1.55 μm wavelength and has a designed optical bandwidth of >60 nm. The first measured insertion loss and crosstalk figures are 16.9 dB and -19.1 dB, respectively. Significant improvements in these figures can be expected

Keywords

beam steering; 1.55 micron; 16.9 dB; FLC on silicon SLM; LCOS SLM; ROSES demonstrator; beam steering optical switches; computer generated phase holograms; crosstalk; dynamic holograms; free-space switch demonstration; highly reflective strips; holographic replay system; holographic routing switch; insertion loss; linear array; optomechanical mount; planar mirror strips; silica planar waveguides; single Fourier transform lens; single-mode fibre connected;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

iet

Conference_Titel

Microdisplay and Smart Pixel Technologies (Ref. No. 2000/006), IEE Seminar on

Conference_Location

London

Type

conf

DOI

10.1049/ic:20000020

Filename

846974