Adaptive Optical Splitter Employing an Opto-VLSI Processor and a 4-$f$ Imaging System

Abstract

A novel adaptive optical splitter structure employing an Opto-VLSI processor and 4-f imaging system is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. By driving the Opto-VLSI processor with computer generated multicasting phase holograms, an input optical signal launched into an input optical fiber port can be split and coupled into many output optical fiber ports with arbitrary splitting ratios. A proof-of-principle 1 × 2 adaptive optical splitter structure driven by optimized multicasting phase holograms uploaded onto the Opto-VLSI processor is developed, demonstrating an arbitrary splitting ratio over a wavelength range exceeding 50 nm.