Reprogrammable optical phase array.

A novel reprogrammable optical phase array (ROPA) device is presented as a reconfigurable electro-optic element. One specific application of the ROPA, a 1 x 6 electro-optic space switch, is fully described. Switching angles are within 2 degrees , and switching is achieved through a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) controlled, diffraction based, optical phase array in a bulk BaTiO3 crystal. The crystal is flip-chipped to the CMOS chip, creating a compact fully integrated device. The design, optical simulation, and fabrication of the device are described, and preliminary experimental results are presented.