Phase shifter for low optical loss in optical communications systems

A system comprising:

• a first communications terminal comprising:
• an optical phased array (OPA) architecture including a plurality of phase shifters configured to receive an optical communications beam from a second communications terminal, wherein the plurality of phase shifters includes a first phase shifter consisting of silicon, the first phase shifter having:
• a slab-contacted NPN junction scheme geometry;
• a PN junction distance from waveguide center within a range 100 nm to 2 μm, inclusive;
• and
• a waveguide core width dimension within a range 500 nm to 2 μm, inclusive

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a first communications terminal, light through an aperture;
• passing the received light to a phase shifter of an OPA architecture, the phase shifter consisting of silicon and having (1) a slab-contacted NPN junction scheme geometry, (2) a PN junction distance from waveguide center within a range 100 nm to 2 μm, inclusive, and (3) a waveguide core width dimension within a range 500 nm to 2 μm, inclusive;
• providing, using the phase shifter, the received light to receiver components including a sensor;
• receiving, using the phase shifter, light to be transmitted;
• and
• transmitting the light to be transmitted through the aperture and to a second communications terminal.