Free-space power combining and beam steering of ultra-wideband radiation using an array of laser-triggered antennas

Author

Funk, Eric E. ; Lee, Chi H.

Author_Institution

Weapons Technol. Directorate, Army Res. Lab., Adelphi, MD, USA

Volume

44

Issue

11

fYear

1996

fDate

11/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2039

Lastpage

2044

Abstract

A mode-locked laser is used to synchronize jitter-free ultrawideband (UWB) pulse generation at an array of UWB antenna elements. The jitter-free pulses radiated by each element add together in free space to produce a radiated field pattern that is steerable via optical true-time-delay techniques. The results from a three element array experiment are presented and used to develop a model for an N-element phased array. A transmission-line model is presented for a single array element, which includes the functions of energy storage, as well as UWB pulse generation and radiation

Keywords

antenna phased arrays; laser beam applications; laser mode locking; microwave antenna arrays; photoconducting switches; spread spectrum communication; synchronisation; transmission line theory; N-element phased array model; beam steering; energy storage function; free-space power combining; jitter-free pulses; laser-triggered antenna array; mode-locked laser; optical true-time-delay techniques; steerable radiated field pattern; three element array experiment; transmission-line model; ultra-wideband radiation; ultrawideband pulse generation; Antenna arrays; Beam steering; Laser mode locking; Optical arrays; Optical pulse generation; Optical pulses; Phased arrays; Pulse generation; Ultra wideband antennas; Ultra wideband technology;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.543960

Filename

543960