Photonic crossbar switch architecture for phased array beam-forming applications

Henry Zmuda; Richard A. Soref; Edward N. Toughlian; Paul M. Payson; Steven T. Johns

doi:10.1117/12.277623

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1 July 1997 Photonic crossbar switch architecture for phased array beam-forming applications

Henry Zmuda, Richard A. Soref, Edward N. Toughlian, Paul M. Payson, Steven T. Johns

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Proceedings Volume 3075, Photonic Processing Technology and Applications; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.277623
Event: AeroSense '97, 1997, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Several relatively new photonic components have recently come to the forefront in applications related to the photonic processing of broadband microwave signals. Included in this set of photonic elements are the wavelength tunable laser, high dispersion optical fiber, and the Bragg reflection grating. Because of the efficiency and potential cost effectiveness offered by these components they hold the promise of revolutionizing the field of broadband photonic processing. Practical commercial photonic processors are likely to become viable in the near term as a result of these new components. This paper presents a brief overview of the performance characteristics of these components and shows how they can be used for two broadband phased array beamforming applications. A technical overview is presented for each system with experimental data provided to specifically demonstrate the performance of a discrete true time delay beamformer. The second configuration introduced has the capability of providing continuous beamsteering; an essential characteristic for null steering applications. Both systems shown take maximum advantage of component reuse and fully integrate the transmit and receive modes in one efficient hardware compressive topology.

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Henry Zmuda, Richard A. Soref, Edward N. Toughlian, Paul M. Payson, and Steven T. Johns "Photonic crossbar switch architecture for phased array beam-forming applications", Proc. SPIE 3075, Photonic Processing Technology and Applications, (1 July 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.277623

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