Vertical-cavity surface-emitting phase shifter

Abstract

This study proposes a novel technique for a 2D beam steering system using hybrid plasmonic phase shifters with a cylindrical configuration in a 2D periodic array suitable for LIDAR applications. A nanoscale VCSEP design facilitates a sub-wavelength spacing between individual phase shifters, yielding an expanded field of view and side lobes suppression. The proposed design includes a highly doped sub-micron silicon pillar covered by a thin layer of nonlinear material and an additional conductive metal layer. Characterization of a single VCSEP demonstrated a Free Spectral Range (FSR) of 53.28 ± 2.5 nm and a transmission variation of 3 dB, with V_πL equal to 0.075 V-mm.