Self-adaptive photonic integrated processors for free space communication

A programmable photonic integrated processor is used to perform processing on free-space optical beams. Specifically, a free-space transmitter and receiver capable of handling multiple channels is implemented, realizing an adaptive MIMO system. The processors allow the mitigation of atmospheric turbulence in a Free Space Optical communication link. A system with two photonic processors is demonstrated to automatically find and shape the beams required for establishing orthogonal channels, also in presence of path perturbations and obstacles. The processors are realized in silicon photonics and are implemented by a self-configuring binary mesh of integrated Mach-Zehnder Interferometers (MZIs). Integrated Optical Phased Array antennas with 16 elements generate and receive suitable optical beams. 10 Gbit/s OOK signals are successfully transmitted on an indoor setup emulating hundreds of meters link.