Title :
Conformal Wideband Optically Addressed Transmitting Phased Array With Photonic Receiver
Author :
Shi, S. ; Bai, Jie ; Schneider, Garrett J. ; Zhang, Ye ; Nelson, Robert ; Wilson, James ; Schuetz, Christopher ; Grund, D.W. ; Prather, Dennis W.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
Abstract :
In this paper we present a wideband optically addressed transmitting phased array antenna, consisting of an ultra-wideband tunable RF synthesizer, an optical phase-feed network, and a high-speed photodetector-integrated conformal array antenna. RF source generation and the optical feed network are capable of covering a frequency range of up to 50 GHz. A conformal 4 × 4 Ka-band patch array antenna is designed, fabricated and characterized. The array is designed to sweep over ±40° from the broadside. An optically based detector is implemented to measure the far-field of the transmitting phased array. Embedded electronic control is developed for the RF synthesizer, optical feed network control, and photonic receiver. This system is consolidated into a portable cart for field testing. Extensive studies of the subsystems have been performed. Electrically controlled optical beam steering is demonstrated and characterized, and far-fields are measured, and compared with simulation results, showing excellent agreement.
Keywords :
antenna phased arrays; electro-optical modulation; high-speed optical techniques; integrated optics; laser tuning; laser variables measurement; light sources; microwave generation; microwave photonics; optical beam splitters; optical control; optical design techniques; optical fabrication; optical receivers; optical testing; optical transmitters; photodetectors; conformal Ka-band patch array antenna characterization; conformal Ka-band patch array antenna design; conformal Ka-band patch array antenna fabrication; conformal wideband optically addressed transmitting phased array; electrically controlled optical beam steering; frequency 50 GHz; high-speed photodetector-integrated conformal array antenna; optical feed network control; optical phase-feed network; optical testing; photonic receiver; radiofrequency source generation; ultrawideband tunable radiofrequency synthesizer; Arrays; High-speed optical techniques; Optical fiber networks; Optical fibers; Optical polarization; Radio frequency; Conformal patch array; EO modulator; RF photonics; optical feed network; phased array; photomixing; ultra-wideband;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JLT.2014.2317191