Photonic True-Time Delay for Phased-Array Antenna System using Dispersion Compensating Module and a Multiwavelength Fiber Laser

Abstract

An optical true-time delay beam-forming system using a tunable dispersion compensating module (DCM) for dense-wavelength division modulation (DWDM) and a multiwavelength fiber ring laser for a phased array antenna is proposed. The multiwavelength fiber ring laser has one output that includes four wavelengths; and four outputs that include only single-wavelength. The advantage of such a multiwavelength fiber ring laser is that it minimizes the number of devices in the phased array antenna system. The time delays according to wavelengths, which are assigned for each antenna element, are obtained from the tunable DCM. The tunable DCM based on a temperature adjustable Fabry-Perot etalon is used. As an experimental result, a DCM could be used to obtain the change of the beam angle by adjusting the dispersion value of the DCM at the fixed lasing wavelengths of the fiber ring laser in the proposed optical true-time delay.

Photonic Delay Processing With Centralized Etalon Cascade for Radio Beamsteering in Simplified 2 × 5 Phased-Array Radio Heads

“…However, the tuning mechanism can become complex and bandwidth limitations might arise. An option to reduce the complexity in tuning is provided through Gires-Tournois or Fabry-Pérot type etalons [20][21][22][23]. In this work, we extend our initial findings on shared delay dissemination through a Gires-Tournois etalon [23], by incorporating a second C-band wavelength set that is processed through the centralized etalon for the purpose of real-time radio signal transmission involving a high-definition video feed.…”

Tunable Brillouin-Raman multi-wavelength fiber laser with a linear cavity configuration

“…Considering the DWDM system needs multiple light sources, a multi-wavelength fiber laser is an ideal light source for it. Additionally, multi-wavelength fiber laser can be applied in other fields like spectroscopy [2], phased array antenna systems [3], fiber optic sensing systems [4], microwave signal generation [5], and laser plasma instability suppress [6].…”

Spectral optimization of Stokes channels for multi-wavelength Brillouin fiber lasers

“…Multi-wavelength laser sources have developed significantly over the past two decades. Part of this rapid progress has taken place due to their potential applications such as in coherent light source for wavelength division multiplexing schemes [1][2][3], phased array antennas [4], microwave generation [5], gas spectroscopy [6], and fiber sensors [7]. Among other important features, multi-wavelength fiber laser sources are especially exploited mainly due to their considerable signal-to-noise ratios [8], elevated long-term stability [9], and adjustable wavelength tuning capabilities [10,11].…”