Patent ID: 6385353
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
A device for receiving a primary beam of radiation (35) and for spatially separating components of frequency in the primary radiation beam (35) comprising;means (31;40) for separating the primary radiation beam into a plurality of secondary radiation beams, each secondary radiation beam having a respective phase, &thgr;i, a plurality of electrically biasable waveguides (32; 41) forming a waveguide array, each for transmitting a secondary radiation beam to an output, wherein each waveguide (32; 41) has an associated optical delay line (33; 43) having a corresponding optical delay time, wherein each of the optical delay times is different, means (42) for applying a variable electric field across each of the waveguides (32; 41) such that the phase, &thgr;i, of each of the secondary radiation beams transmitted through the respective waveguide (32; 41) may be varied by varying the electric field, the waveguides (32; 41) being arranged such that the secondary radiation beams output from each of the waveguides (32; 41) interfere with a secondary radiation beam output from at least one of the other waveguides so as to form an interference pattern in a propagation region, the interference pattern comprising one or more maximum at various positions in the propagation region, and such that the device provides at least two outputs, characterised in that the device further comprises means (36,50) for applying an RF modulation to the primary beam of radiation (35).