Design, implementation, and characterization of a kinematically aligned, cascaded spot- array generator for a modulator-based free-space optical interconnect

The design and the implementation of a modular spot-array generator for a modulator-based free-space optical interconnect is presented. Two cascaded diffractive optical elements produce 4 x 8 clusters on a 1600 mum x 800 mum pitch, where each cluster is a 4 x 4 array of (1/e(2)) 13.1-mum-radius spots on a 90-mum pitch. The spot-array generator is kinematically aligned to the interconnect system such that no realignment is necessary between removal and reinsertion. Characterization results are presented.