Photonic systems for antenna applications

For well over a decade, research groups around the world have been investigating photonic devices for use in antenna, phased array, and electromagnetic field sensor systems. Applications have included shipboard EMC monitoring, EMP measurements, anechoic chamber calibration, novel antenna and array designs, antenna remoting, and smart skins. Photonic antenna links allow immunity from electromagnetic interference, provide an extremely wide working bandwidth, and allow long cable runs with a minimum of loss. Recent developments in laser technology allow photonic-based links to have very low noise figure and high dynamic range. Optoelectronic devices are now being built in III-V semiconductors (GaAs, InP) and polymers which will ultimately lead to opto-electronic integration with MMIC devices. Photonic systems will revolutionize the way in which electromagnetic measurement and antenna systems will be designed and built in the future. This paper presents an overview to the different types of photonic links and modulator systems available to the antenna engineer