Self-heterodyning optical waveguide beam forming and steering network integrated on Lithium Niobate substrate

A novel self-heterodyning optical waveguide beam forming and steering network (BFN) integrated on a Lithium Niobate (LN) substrate is introduced to realize optically controlled active phased array antennas. This integrated LN-BFN can simultaneously control eight array elements and is demonstrated for the first time. The key component in the self-heterodyning system, an optical frequency shifter (OFS), is composed of phase-and amplitude-balanced four parallel optical phase modulators. An optical signal processing circuit equipped with a weighted electrode structure simplifies the beam steering operation. A fully integrated LN-BFN connected by optical fibers can steer beam direction with the sensitivity of 1.5 degrees per volt