Microwave phase shifter based on fibre Bragg grating

A variable delay line is presented for phased array antennas based on a fibre Bragg grating which has a uniform period and operates at constant optical wavelength. The Bragg wavelength of a localised part of the fibre grating is modified by straining the fibre, the optical carrier is reflected by the strained part of the grating and the time delay of the microwave modulating signal is determined by the position where the strain has been applied. In this initial experiment time delay variations up to 330ps in the frequency range 1-14 GHz have been achieved