Photonic time-delay beam-forming architectures using polarization switching arrays

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Date
1996-06-12
Authors
Riza, Nabeel A.
Madamopoulos, Nicholas
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Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)
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Abstract
Photonic time delay line (PTDL) architectures have been proposed for transmit/receive mode antenna applications. These architectures are based on two dimensional pixelated optical arrays that act as optical polarization switching elements. Such elements can be nematic liquid crystal (NLC) arrays, ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) arrays, and magneto-optic arrays. Optical delay lines can be formed using either free space or solid optics propagation, as well as non-polarization maintaining fiber propagation for the case of long time delays. In this paper, various optical array based optical beamformer architectures are presented and compared. These different architectures are based on Thompson polarization beamsplitters, and polarizing cube beamsplitters, for both transmissive and reflective geometries. A novel ternary time delay architecture is also introduced that can give 3N different time delay settings. In addition, a novel wavelength multiplexing architecture using a single channel dispersive fiber PTDL in cascade with multichannel PTDL is proposed for further hardware size and weight reduction.
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Keywords
Optical beamforming , Phased array antennas , Photonic time delay lines , Wavelength multiplexing , Polarization , Antennas , Phased array optics , Multiplexing , Optical components , Prisms , Reflectivity
Citation
Riza, N. A. and Madamopoulos, N. (1996) 'Photonic time-delay beam-forming architectures using polarization switching arrays', Proceedings of SPIE, 2754, Advances in Optical Information Processing VII; Aerospace/Defense Sensing and Controls Orlando, Florida, United States, pp. 186-197. doi: 10.1117/12.243127
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© 1996 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.