Title :
A Multi-Channel Multi-Bit Programmable Photonic Beamformer Based on Cascaded DWDM
Author :
Anliang Yu ; Weiwen Zou ; Shuguang Li ; Jianping Chen
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electron. Eng., Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ., Shanghai, China
Abstract :
We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel multi-channel multi-bit programmable photonic beamformer, which consists of multiple parallel photonic true-time delay (PTTD) subnetworks based on cascaded DWDMs. Each PTTD subnetwork can provide multi-bit true-time delays (TTDs) for a multi-channel modulated RF signal of a phased array antenna (PAA) and operate over a wide RF range from 10 MHz to 12 GHz. The RF signal is modulated to a spectrally separated laser array combined by a DWDM to form a multi-channel spatially separated PAA. The multi-bit TTDs for scanning PAA angles are rapidly programmed by means of a control circuit of optical switches in the PTTD subnetwork. By using an optical splitter, multiple parallel PTTD subnetworks can be topologically configured out for a PAA with a large number of elements. The obtained radiation patterns demonstrate that the proof-of-concept experimental result agrees well with the theoretical analysis, verifying the feasibility of the proposed photonic beamformer.
Keywords :
antenna phased arrays; array signal processing; delays; optical beam splitters; optical switches; wavelength division multiplexing; cascaded DWDM; control circuit; frequency 10 MHz to 12 GHz; multichannel modulated RF signal; multichannel multibit programmable photonic beamformer; multiple parallel photonic true-time delay subnetworks; optical splitter; optical switches; phased array antenna; radiation patterns; Delays; Optical fibers; Optical switches; Photonics; Radio frequency; Wavelength division multiplexing; Microwave photonics; dense wavelength division multiplexer; phased array antenna; photonic beamformer; radiation pattern; true-time delay;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Journal, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/JPHOT.2014.2344007
