Optically controlled millimeter wave antenna

Author

Webb, George W. ; Vernon, Wayne ; Sanchez, Mario S. ; Rose, Stephen C. ; Angello, Susan

Author_Institution

Innova Labs. Inc., San Diego, CA, USA

fYear

1999

fDate

1999

Firstpage

275

Abstract

We have developed an optically-controlled, millimeter wave (MMW) scanning antenna. A computer controlled light source photo-injects a spatially varying plasma into a photoconducting wafer. The light-modified wafer forms MMW beams from 20 to 100 GHz and scans them ±30° in two-dimensions. Beam scan rates are greater than 1000 beams per second with excellent beam control in software. Scanning antennas based on this approach promise to be fast, inexpensive, and easily controlled

Keywords

Fresnel diffraction; microwave photonics; millimetre wave antennas; optical control; scanning antennas; zone plates; 20 to 100 GHz; EHF; Fresnel zone plates; MM-wave scanning antenna; beam control; beam scan rates; computer controlled light source; light-modified wafer; millimeter wave antenna; optically controlled antenna; photoconducting wafer; spatially varying plasma; Apertures; Fresnel reflection; Millimeter wave communication; Millimeter wave radar; Millimeter wave technology; Optical attenuators; Optical control; Optical refraction; Phase detection; Radiation detectors;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Microwave Photonics, 1999. MWP '99. International Topical Meeting on

Conference_Location

Melbourne, Vic.

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5558-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MWP.1999.819702

Filename

819702