Phase-change material assisted on-chip wavefront shaping for optical switching and beam splitting

• Published in: Optics communications 2023-01, Vol.527, p.128974, Article 128974
• Main Authors: Wang, Tao, Jia, Hao, Chen, Haoxiang, Yang, Jianhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: On-chip wavefront shaping; Optical beam splitter; Optical switch; Phase-change material
• ISSN: 0030-4018; 1873-0310
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2022.128974

On-chip wavefront shaping is indispensable for implementing optical routing and signal processing. By referring to the concept of metasurface used in free space, we can realize the on-chip wavefront shaping to manipulate the guided wave. In this paper, we combine the phase-change material Sb2S3 nanorods with 1D on-chip meta-lens to manipulate the optical routing direction. We use the 1550 nm TE0 mode to realize the functions of 1 × 2 and 1 × 3 optical switching, and then the 1 × 2 and 1 × 3 beam splitting. By combining the function of beam deflection and beam splitting, we can realize tunable beam steering and complex optical flow control. •We combine the phase-change material Sb2S3 nanorods with 1D on-chip meta-lens to manipulate the optical routing direction.•We realized the 1 × 2 and 1 × 3 optical switches, and the 1 × 2 and 1 × 3 beam splitters.•The solution provides a new option to design widely used optical devices and offers larger geometric assignment flexibility.