Construction of EO polymer plasmonic optical phased array and dynamic optical wavefront control function

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K04193
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 21060:Electron device and electronic equipment-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Kuwamura Yuji 金沢大学, 電子情報通信学系, 准教授 (10195612)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 光フェーズドアレー / プラズモニック位相変調器 / プラズモニクス / 電気光学ポリマー / 光ピンセット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have proposed and designed a new type of plasmonic optical phased array consisting of an array of electro-optic polymer-based plasmonic phase modulation elements. The proposed device has only one optical peak at a wavelength of 1.55um, and the output light can be deflected and scanned over a range of more than 100 degrees by voltage control, which is confirmed by numerical calculations using the 2-D FDTD method. We were able to design a compact (70*26um2), low-voltage (<10V), high-speed, low-power optical phased array. This device can freely manipulate the shape of the optical wavefront by controlling the voltage. By adjusting the wavefront to a circular arc shape, as in a condenser lens, light can be focused at a focal point, and the focal point can also be moved by voltage. We have designed a device with an optical tweezer function that can trap and move underwater particles at the focal point of the light using light pressure.

Free Research Field

光エレクトロニクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

電気信号で光ビームの出力方向を高速に走査できる光フェーズドアレー(OPA)は，自動運転支援システム，レーザ計測など多岐にわたる光技術分野で利用できる基本的な光デバイスである．本研究で設計したOPAは，出力光ピームを100°以上広い範囲で走査でき，小型，高速で，かつ消費電力が低い特徴があり，従来型OPAに比べ，高い性能があることが確認された．また，新たに設計した光ピンセット機能を有するOPAは，水などの液体中の微粒子や細胞などを自由に移動させることができるため，医療やバイオ関係の分野で活用できると予想される．