Current-induced guiding and beam steering in active semiconductor planar waveguide

We propose a novel method of achieving beam steering in active GaAs-AlGaAs materials. Carrier-induced refractive index change effect is applied to form a channel waveguide in a slab structure. Current injection is used as a means to control, guide, and steer an optical beam between two active stripes. In a structure that was 710 μm long, we have experimentally demonstrated waveguiding of an externally coupled optical beam and electrically induced steering of the beam over a 17-μm lateral distance at the output facet. The results of theoretical analysis and modeling of the beam shift fit the experimental data well.