We propose an imaging system with scanning feedback of an optical phased array (OPA) for moving targets with unknown speed. The system combines OPA scanning velocimetry capability with OPA-based ghost imaging to enable trajectory tracking of targets moving within the field-of-view of the system while accomplishing image reconstruction. The proposed system can perform image reconstruction for millimeter-scale moving targets placed up to 20 m away from the camera. The system can be applied in areas such as autonomous driving and high-resolution imaging.
The beam quality of coherent beam combing (CBC) is significantly affected by the beam array schemes, which are regular hexagon arrays in most research. Here, we propose a bio-inspired Fermat spiral array (FSA) for large-array CBC, for the first time to our knowledge. The far-field distribution and beam quality of CBC with various designed FSAs was investigated numerically and experimentally; the simulated and experimental results agreed with each other. The power in the bucket (PIB) increased with the central space density of the FSA, accompanying by the weakening of the far-field sidelobes. In addition, for the FSA with constant space density, the PIB increased, and sidelobes weakened with the increase of the array filling factor. The FSA could effectively improve the PIB and weaken the sidelobe of the CBC far field by the aperiodic and nonuniform space density arrangement, compared to the regular arrays. These results provide a new approach for the beam arrangement of large-array CBC.
Self-steepening (SS) is enhanced by slow-light effects in photonic crystal waveguides (PhCWs), with coefficients as large as hundreds of femtoseconds, and it plays an important role in temporally compressed solitons with narrow widths. Here, we investigate the soliton evolution in silicon PhCWs through experiments and numerical simulations; the simulated results agree well with the experimental measurements and help in revealing the physical mechanism of high-order soliton evolution. The dual opposite effects of giant anomalous SS on temporal soliton compression are demonstrated for the first time, i.e., the SS weakens or improves the compression competing with the effects of third-order dispersion (TOD) through two different physical mechanisms. It is also found that SS flattens or steepens the pulse leading edge depending on the strength of the positive TOD perturbation. These results promote the understanding of high-order solitons and can help with the design of suitable dispersion engineered silicon waveguides for superior on-chip temporal pulse compression for optical interconnects, data processing, and microwave photonics.
Digital holographic imaging has emerged as a transformative technology with significant implications for AR/VR devices. However, existing techniques often suffer from limitations such as restricted field of view (FOV), high power consumption, and contrast distortion. This paper introduces an innovative optical phased array (OPA)-based chip, integrating polarization, amplitude, and phase multiplexing for enhanced complex amplitude holographic imaging. A checkerboard-style staggered array is employed in the control strategy, substantially reducing power consumption and enabling the potential for large-scale array integration. To further enhance imaging quality, we introduce what we believe are two novel calibration strategies: one is to achieve super-resolution through block imaging methods, and the other is to image using sparse aperture methods. These advancements not only provide a robust foundation for high-quality holographic imaging, but also present a new paradigm for overcoming the inherent limitations of current active holographic imaging devices. Due to challenges in chip fabrication, the research is primarily simulation-based. Nevertheless, this work presents meaningful advancements in digital holographic imaging for AR/VR applications and provides a foundation for future experimental validations.
We design a novel slow-light silicon photonic crystal waveguide which can operate over an extremely wide flat band for ultrafast integrated nonlinear photonics. By conveniently adjusting the radii and positions of the second air-holes rows, a flat slow-light low-dispersion band of 50 nm is achieved numerically. Such a slow-light photonic crystal waveguide with large flat low-dispersion wideband will pave the way for governing the femtosecond pulses in integrated nonlinear photonic platforms based on CMOS technology.
High-order temporal soliton compression in dispersion-engineered silicon photonic crystal waveguides will play an important role in future integrated photonic circuits compatible with complementary metal–oxide–semiconductors. Here, we report the physical mechanisms of high-order temporal soliton compression affected by third-order dispersion (TOD) combined with free carrier dispersion (FCD) in a dispersion engineered silicon photonic crystal waveguide with wideband low anomalous dispersion. Through numerical temporal soliton evolution analysis, we report what we believe is the first demonstration of the dual opposite effects of TOD on temporal soliton compression, which are strengthening or weakening through two different physical mechanisms, not only depending on the sign of TOD but also the relative magnitude of TOD-induced equivalent group velocity dispersion (GVD) to the original GVD . We further find that FCD counteracts the effects of negative TOD on the soliton compression, while it reinforces the effects of positive TOD on the soliton compression. These results will help to design suitable dispersion-engineered silicon waveguides for superior on-chip temporal pulse compression in optical communications and processing application fields.