Fibre-optic illumination of GaAs MESFETs for use in phased-array antennas

Author

Campos, L.A. ; Ames, E.E.

Author_Institution

GTE Lab. Inc., Waltham, MA, USA

fYear

1990

fDate

23-25 July 1990

Firstpage

54

Lastpage

55

Abstract

Experimental and theoretical results are reported for fiber-optic links using MESFETs as light detectors for application in monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC)-based phased-array antennas. Since MESFETs are compatible with MMICs, it is easy to implement a MESFET receiver in MMIC transmit-and-receive (T/R) modules. A receiver design using MESFET detection is less complicated and occupies less area than a PINFET receiver. The use of single-mode (SM) and multimode graded-index (MMGI) fiber to illuminate microwave devices is examined. The keys to this investigation are the high responsivity (R) values obtained by illuminating MESFETS with fibers (R/sub SM/=1.87 mA/mW; R/sub MMGI/=1.18 mA/mW) and the phase coherency demonstration of MESFET fiber-optic links at microwave frequencies using an antenna array and measuring its radiation pattern RF link loss improvements of 9 to 13 dB with respect to links using p-i-n photodiodes were measured.<>

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; MMIC; Schottky gate field effect transistors; antenna phased arrays; gallium arsenide; microwave antenna arrays; optical communication equipment; optical links; photodetectors; receivers; GaAs; MESFET receiver; MESFETs; MMIC transmit/receive modules; RF link loss improvements; fiber-optic links; fibre optic illumination; light detectors; microwave frequencies; monolithic microwave integrated circuit; multimode graded index fibre; phase coherency; phased-array antennas; radiation pattern; responsivity; single mode fibre; Antenna measurements; Gallium arsenide; Lighting; MESFETs; MMICs; Microwave antenna arrays; Microwave measurements; Optical fiber devices; Phased arrays; Samarium;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Broadband Analog Optoelectronics: Devices and Systems, 1990. Conference Digest., LEOS Summer Topical on

Conference_Location

Monterey, CA, USA

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/BAODS.1990.205512

Filename

205512