Proof-of-concept model of a coherent optical beam-forming network

An optical beam-forming network with coherent optical phase shifting was designed for a telecommunications satellite with a 160-subarray phased-array antenna. The antenna generates 15 spot beams for simultaneous transmit (12.5-12.75 GHz) and receive (14-14.5 GHz) with up to twenty 33 or 72 MBit QPSK modulated carriers. The proof-of-concept model (PCM) for the transmit part is realised with two QPSK channels. The phase and amplitude weighting section can control five subarrays. The links to two subarrays are included. The optical phase shift technique offers many advantages over electronic implementation, including savings in mass and power consumption