Two optical-control techniques for phased array: interferometric and dispersive-fiber true time delay

Ronald D. Esman; Michael Y. Frankel; J. L. Dexter; Lew Goldberg; Mark G. Parent; Denzil Stilwell

doi:10.1117/12.157123

17 September 1993 Two optical-control techniques for phased array: interferometric and dispersive-fiber true time delay

Ronald D. Esman, Michael Y. Frankel, J. L. Dexter, Lew Goldberg, Mark G. Parent, Denzil Stilwell

Proceedings Volume 1958, Transition of Optical Processors into Systems 1993; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.157123
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

We describe and present experimental results for two optical control techniques for phased array antennas. The first technique is based on interferometric heterodyning of two narrow- linewidth YAG lasers for the generation of required microwave signal and for simultaneous steering of the radiated beam. The constructed system is simple and well-suited for narrowband applications, and it may be built without any active mechanical components. The measured radiated antenna patterns are in close agreement with the predicted ones. The second technique is a novel and elegant method for implementing a true time-delay function for optical control. It relies on using a wavelength-tunable laser to provide the optical carrier for the microwave signal and a fiber-optic prism--a set of equal delay fibers with differing net dispersion. The relative interelement time-delay (beam angle) adjustment is accomplished by tuning the optical carrier wavelength. The experimental results obtained on a compact antenna range clearly demonstrate beam-steering and true time-delay operation over a two-octave bandwidth.

Citation Download Citation

Ronald D. Esman, Michael Y. Frankel, J. L. Dexter, Lew Goldberg, Mark G. Parent, and Denzil Stilwell "Two optical-control techniques for phased array: interferometric and dispersive-fiber true time delay", Proc. SPIE 1958, Transition of Optical Processors into Systems 1993, (17 September 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.157123

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