Development of a high-speed modulator for a W-band millimetre-wave imaging system

Peng Yao; Christopher A. Schuetz; Shouyuan Shi; Julien Macario; Rownak Shireen; Dennis W. Prather

doi:10.1117/12.819039

29 April 2009 Development of a high-speed modulator for a W-band millimetre-wave imaging system

Peng Yao, Christopher A. Schuetz, Shouyuan Shi, Julien Macario, Rownak Shireen, Dennis W. Prather

Proceedings Volume 7309, Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology XII; 73090L (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.819039
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2009, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Millimetre-wave (mmW) imaging has attracted significant research interests for the promises of allweather imaging and security scanning for military applications. Recently, we have developed a highsensitivity mmW imaging system based on photonic devices, which relies on optical up-conversion of the received mmW signal to generate detectable sidebands. For system with lower detector reponsivity, higher resolution and wider separation between sidebands and optical carrier, a high efficiency EO modulator that works in W-band is required. Since such system does not exist commercially, we were motivated to develop our own 94GHz phase modulator. In our previous publications, we have presented design, fabrication and preliminary characterization of Lithium Niobate (LN) based devices. We continue in this paper with our post-processing techniques, updated characterization results and the packaging method between antenna and modulator. Modulation efficiency >1W^-1 has been achieved over W-band. Using a fin-coupler for antenna integration, we have obtained insertion loss less than 3dB. The packaged modulator has been installed in our imager. Initial scanning showed high-quality images of various objects.

Citation Download Citation

Peng Yao, Christopher A. Schuetz, Shouyuan Shi, Julien Macario, Rownak Shireen, and Dennis W. Prather "Development of a high-speed modulator for a W-band millimetre-wave imaging system", Proc. SPIE 7309, Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology XII, 73090L (29 April 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.819039

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