A two-step optimization algorithm for enhanced sidelobe suppression ratio and robust beamforming in optical phased arrays

Jian Lin; Jiachang Liang; Xiaoping Liu; Mingda Huang; Feihu Wang; Yuanfeng Wang; Xiaopeng Hu; Xiaoshan Wu; Hongling Cai; Qi Qin

doi:10.1016/j.optcom.2026.133379

A two-step optimization algorithm for enhanced sidelobe suppression ratio and robust beamforming in optical phased arrays

Jian Lin
, Jiachang Liang
, Xiaoping Liu
, Mingda Huang
, Feihu Wang
, Yuanfeng Wang
, Xiaopeng Hu
, Xiaoshan Wu
, Hongling Cai^*
, Qi Qin^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Systems Engineering

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

As a compact integrated alternative to traditional microwave phased arrays, optical phased arrays (OPAs) have demonstrated great potential across a wide range of applications. Beamforming performance, particularly the sidelobe suppression ratio (SLSR), is crucial for signal quality and interference immunity. To enhance SLSR, we propose a hybrid two-step optimization algorithm that combines adaptive moment estimation (Adam) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Using a composite variable splitter (VS), we achieve average SLSRs over a ±70° scanning range >20.14 dB for Bayliss difference patterns and >22.23 dB for Dolph-Chebyshev patterns. For asymmetric multi-beam patterns, the achieved average SLSRs are 20.14 dB, 19.10 dB, and 18.11 dB for the four-, six-, and eight-beam patterns, respectively. Robustness to VS splitting-ratio (SR) imbalance is further demonstrated using a traditional VS with SR constrained to ±13.80 dB, where the average SLSRs remain >19.07 dB and >20.87 dB for the Bayliss difference and Dolph-Chebyshev patterns and 18.42 dB, 17.12 dB, and 16.83 dB for the four-, six-, and eight-beam patterns, respectively. These results show that the proposed algorithm improves OPA beamforming quality while relaxing the VS precision required to support a wide SR tuning range, facilitating chip-level integration of large-scale, high-performance OPAs. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

Original language	English
Article number	133379
Number of pages	10
Journal	Optics Communications
Volume	616
Online published	15 May 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2026.133379
Publication status	Published - Oct 2026

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, China (12474014), the National Nature Science Foundations of Jiangsu province, China (BK20241843), the Guangdong Provincial Quantum Science Strategic Initiative, China (GDZX2306001, GDZX2303001), the Shenzhen Fundamental research project, China (Grant No. JCYJ20241202123903005), the Nantong Natural Science Foundations, China (JCZ2023021, JCZ2024016), the Top-Notch Young Talents Program of China, China, the Dengfeng Project B of Nanjing University, China, the startup funding of City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China, and the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, China (Nos. 2024B1515020117 and 2023A1515012793).

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title = "A two-step optimization algorithm for enhanced sidelobe suppression ratio and robust beamforming in optical phased arrays",

abstract = "As a compact integrated alternative to traditional microwave phased arrays, optical phased arrays (OPAs) have demonstrated great potential across a wide range of applications. Beamforming performance, particularly the sidelobe suppression ratio (SLSR), is crucial for signal quality and interference immunity. To enhance SLSR, we propose a hybrid two-step optimization algorithm that combines adaptive moment estimation (Adam) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Using a composite variable splitter (VS), we achieve average SLSRs over a ±70° scanning range >20.14 dB for Bayliss difference patterns and >22.23 dB for Dolph-Chebyshev patterns. For asymmetric multi-beam patterns, the achieved average SLSRs are 20.14 dB, 19.10 dB, and 18.11 dB for the four-, six-, and eight-beam patterns, respectively. Robustness to VS splitting-ratio (SR) imbalance is further demonstrated using a traditional VS with SR constrained to ±13.80 dB, where the average SLSRs remain >19.07 dB and >20.87 dB for the Bayliss difference and Dolph-Chebyshev patterns and 18.42 dB, 17.12 dB, and 16.83 dB for the four-, six-, and eight-beam patterns, respectively. These results show that the proposed algorithm improves OPA beamforming quality while relaxing the VS precision required to support a wide SR tuning range, facilitating chip-level integration of large-scale, high-performance OPAs. {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier B.V.",

author = "Jian Lin and Jiachang Liang and Xiaoping Liu and Mingda Huang and Feihu Wang and Yuanfeng Wang and Xiaopeng Hu and Xiaoshan Wu and Hongling Cai and Qi Qin",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1016/j.optcom.2026.133379",

language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A two-step optimization algorithm for enhanced sidelobe suppression ratio and robust beamforming in optical phased arrays

AU - Lin, Jian

AU - Liang, Jiachang

AU - Liu, Xiaoping

AU - Huang, Mingda

AU - Wang, Feihu

AU - Wang, Yuanfeng

AU - Hu, Xiaopeng

AU - Wu, Xiaoshan

AU - Cai, Hongling

AU - Qin, Qi

PY - 2026/10

Y1 - 2026/10

N2 - As a compact integrated alternative to traditional microwave phased arrays, optical phased arrays (OPAs) have demonstrated great potential across a wide range of applications. Beamforming performance, particularly the sidelobe suppression ratio (SLSR), is crucial for signal quality and interference immunity. To enhance SLSR, we propose a hybrid two-step optimization algorithm that combines adaptive moment estimation (Adam) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Using a composite variable splitter (VS), we achieve average SLSRs over a ±70° scanning range >20.14 dB for Bayliss difference patterns and >22.23 dB for Dolph-Chebyshev patterns. For asymmetric multi-beam patterns, the achieved average SLSRs are 20.14 dB, 19.10 dB, and 18.11 dB for the four-, six-, and eight-beam patterns, respectively. Robustness to VS splitting-ratio (SR) imbalance is further demonstrated using a traditional VS with SR constrained to ±13.80 dB, where the average SLSRs remain >19.07 dB and >20.87 dB for the Bayliss difference and Dolph-Chebyshev patterns and 18.42 dB, 17.12 dB, and 16.83 dB for the four-, six-, and eight-beam patterns, respectively. These results show that the proposed algorithm improves OPA beamforming quality while relaxing the VS precision required to support a wide SR tuning range, facilitating chip-level integration of large-scale, high-performance OPAs. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

AB - As a compact integrated alternative to traditional microwave phased arrays, optical phased arrays (OPAs) have demonstrated great potential across a wide range of applications. Beamforming performance, particularly the sidelobe suppression ratio (SLSR), is crucial for signal quality and interference immunity. To enhance SLSR, we propose a hybrid two-step optimization algorithm that combines adaptive moment estimation (Adam) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Using a composite variable splitter (VS), we achieve average SLSRs over a ±70° scanning range >20.14 dB for Bayliss difference patterns and >22.23 dB for Dolph-Chebyshev patterns. For asymmetric multi-beam patterns, the achieved average SLSRs are 20.14 dB, 19.10 dB, and 18.11 dB for the four-, six-, and eight-beam patterns, respectively. Robustness to VS splitting-ratio (SR) imbalance is further demonstrated using a traditional VS with SR constrained to ±13.80 dB, where the average SLSRs remain >19.07 dB and >20.87 dB for the Bayliss difference and Dolph-Chebyshev patterns and 18.42 dB, 17.12 dB, and 16.83 dB for the four-, six-, and eight-beam patterns, respectively. These results show that the proposed algorithm improves OPA beamforming quality while relaxing the VS precision required to support a wide SR tuning range, facilitating chip-level integration of large-scale, high-performance OPAs. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039122376

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039122376#tab=impact

U2 - 10.1016/j.optcom.2026.133379

DO - 10.1016/j.optcom.2026.133379

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0030-4018

VL - 616

JO - Optics Communications

JF - Optics Communications

M1 - 133379

ER -

A two-step optimization algorithm for enhanced sidelobe suppression ratio and robust beamforming in optical phased arrays

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