Title :
Optically controlled phased array radar receiver using SLM switched real time delays
Author :
Fetterman, H.R. ; Chang, Y. ; Scott, D.C. ; Forrest, S.R. ; Espiau, F.M. ; Wu, M. ; Plant, D.V. ; Kelly, J.R. ; Mather, A. ; Steier, W.H. ; Osgood, R.M., Jr. ; Haus, H.A. ; Simonis, G.J.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., California Univ., Los Angeles, CA, USA
Abstract :
We report the results of a demonstration of a real time delay, optically controlled phased array radar receiver. This implementation employed a free space configuration based upon an optical switching network using liquid crystal spatial light modulators (SLM\´s). A three-delay unit, two-antenna array receiver was implemented at an optical wavelength of 1.3 μm and demonstrated "squint-free" operation over the entire X-band (8-12 GHz) with an angular accuracy of 1.4/spl deg/. Finally, a novel configuration for the two-antenna element SLM architecture was proposed and demonstrated equivalent system performance with a reduction in the number of components.
Keywords :
delays; liquid crystal devices; phased array radar; radar receivers; spatial light modulators; 1.3 micron; 8 to 12 GHz; SLM switched real time delays; X-band; free space configuration; liquid crystal spatial light modulators; optical switching network; optically controlled phased array radar receiver; squint-free operation; three-delay unit; two-antenna element; Delay effects; Laser radar; Liquid crystals; Optical arrays; Optical control; Optical fiber networks; Optical modulation; Optical network units; Optical receivers; Phased arrays;
Journal_Title :
Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, IEEE
