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

We propose a novel method of achieving beam steering in active GaAs-A1GaAs materials. Carrier-induced refractive index change effect is applied to for m a channel waveguide in a slab structure, Current injection is used as a m eans to control, guide, and steer an optical beam between two active stripe s. In a structure that was 710 mu m long, we have experimentally demonstrat ed waveguiding of an externally coupled optical beam and electrically induc ed steering of the beam over a 17-mu m lateral distance at the output facet . The results of theoretical analysis and modeling of the beam shift fit th e experimental data well.