Requirements for true time delay imaging systems with photonic components

In this paper, we generalize the phase and amplitude requirements of microwave components, within true time delay imaging systems, to include photonic devices. An analytic expression for the relationship between the optical and RF transfer functions is suggested for double sideband modulation and the effect of optical phase ripple on RF transfer function is simulated for an optical component such as a chirped Bragg grating. The effect of phase ripple on the system impulse response is considered.