The Design and Analysis of a Novel Optical Delay line Based on Ring Resonators and Microcomb laser Source for Beamforming in a Phased Array Radar

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD student, Amirkabir University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The phased array radars are a favourable type in the group of radars due to their agility in
scanning the space and their highly flexible radiation patterns. However, due to their
dependence on the phase to frequency shifters, these radars suffer from “beam squint”, which
limits the radar bandwidth. Using the true time delay (TTD) technique is one of the suggested
solutions to this problem. Due to their unique features, the optical circuits have been widely
used for the implementation of the TTD method but these circuits have problems such as high
complexity, high cost, and the large size of structures. For example, fiber delay lines can only
generate a certain and limited amount of delay, they are difficult to maintain, and they take up a
lot of space. Conversely, the delay lines based on ring resonators create continuous delay and
occupy little volume. However, because of the very small size of the rings, these lines face the
challenge of complexity in construction. In this paper, a delay line based on ring resonators and
microcomb laser source, with a new structure is presented that while enjoying the conventional
advantages of these rings, is simpler in structure and requires fewer rings than other
conventional configurations.

Keywords

Smiley face

References

[1]     R. Rotman, M. Tur, and  L. Yaron, “True Time Delay in Phased Arrays”, Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 104, no. 3, March 2016.
[2]       C. T. Rodenbeck, et al., “Ultra-wideband low-cost phased-array radars,” IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., vol. 53, no. 12, pp. 3697–3703,Dec. 2005.
[3]     M. Bolhasani, S. Imani,  and S.  A. Ghorashi, “Covariance matrix design to increase SINR in presense of signaldependent interference,”   Iranian Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE).  vol.16, no.2, pp. 129-134 (In Persian), 2018.
[4]       Y. Norouzi and   Kashani, E. S. “Radar Performance Estimation Using ELINT Gathered Data,”   Passive Defence Sci. and Tech., vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 339-347 (In Persian), 2013.
[5]       X. Xue et al, “Microcomb-based true-time-delay network for microwave beamforming”, Journal of lightwave technology, vol. 36, issue 12, p. 2312-2321, June 2018.
[6]       I. Visscher et al., “Broadband True Time Delay Microwave Photonic Beamformer for Phased Array Antennas,” 2019 13th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), Krakow, Poland, 2019, pp. 1-5.
[7]       M. A. Piqueras et al., “Optically beamformed beam-switched adaptive antennas for fixed and mobile broad-band wireless access networks,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 887–899, Feb. 2006.
[8]       A. Kabiri, Q. He, M. H. Kermani, and O. M. Ramahi, “Design of a controllable delay line,” IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., vol. 33, no.4, pp. 1080-1087, Nov. 2010.
[9]      Y. Liu et al, “93-GHz Signal Beam Steering with True Time Delayed Integrated Optical Beamforming Network”, 2019 optical fiber communications conference and exhibition (OFC), vol. 53, no. 13, March 2019.
[10]   M. A. Piqueras et al., “Optically beamformed beam-switched adaptive antennas for fixed and mobile broad-band wireless access networks,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 887–899, Feb. 2006.
[11]    R. A. Soref, “Fiber grating prism for true time delay beamsteering,” Fiber Integr. Opt., vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 325–333, Oct. 1996.
[12]   H. Zmuda, R. A. Soref, P. Payson, S. Johns, and
E. N. Toughlian, “Photonic beamformer for phased array antennas using a fiber grating prism,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 241–243, Feb. 1997.
[13]    J. L. Corral, J. Marti, J. M. Fuster, and R. I. Laming, “Dispersion induced bandwidth limitation of variable true time delay lines based on linearly chirped fibre gratings,” Electron. Lett., vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 209–211, Jan. 1998.
[14]   B. Ortega, J.  L. Cruz, J. Capmany, M. V. Andrés, and D. Pastor, “Variable delay line for phased-array antenna based on a chirped fiber grating,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 48, no. 8, pp. 1352–1360, Aug. 2000.
[15]   C. Y. Lin, H. Subbaraman, A. Hosseini, A. X. Wang,
 L. Zhu, and R. T. Chen, “Silicon nanomembrane based photonic crystal waveguide array for wavelength-tunable true-time-delay lines,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 101, no. 5, Jul. 2012, Art. no. 051101.
[16]   M. Y. Chen, H. Subbaraman, and R. T. Chen, “Photonic crystal fiber beamformer for multiple X-band phased-array antenna transmissions,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 375–377, Mar. 2008.
[17]  H. Tian, F. Long,W. Liu, and Y. Ji, “Tunable slow light and buffer capability in photonic crystal coupled-cavity waveguides based on electro-optic effect,” Opt. Commun., vol. 285, no. 10–11, pp. 2760–2764, May. 2012.
[18]   L. Zhuang et al., “Novel ring resonator-based integrated photonic beamformer for broadband phased array receive antennas—Part II: Experimental prototype,” J. Lightw. Technol., vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 19–31, Jan. 2010.
[19]   S. Zheng, H. Chen, and A. W. Poon, “Microring-resonator cross-connect filters in silicon nitride: Rib waveguide dimensions dependence,” IEEE J. Sel. Topics Quantum Electron., vol. 12, no. 6, pt. 2, pp. 1380–1387, Nov./Dec. 2006.
[20]   “Low modal birefringent waveguides and methods of fabrication”, U. S. patent application nr. 10/756627-001, vol. 67, no. 8 Jan. 2004.
[21]   R. Heideman, A. Melloni, M. Hoekman, A. Borreman, A. Leinse, and F. Morichetti, “Low loss, high conrast optical waveguides based on CMOS Chapter 5 109 compatible LPCVD processing: technology and experimental results”, Proceedings IEEE/LEOS Symposium Benelux Chapter, vol. 98, no. 3 p.71-74, Dec. 2005.
[22]  R. Heideman, A. Leinse, and W. Hoving, “Large-scale integrated optics using TriPleXTM waveguide technology: from UV to IR”, SPIE Photonics West, San Jose, California, 24-29 Jan. 2009, pp. 7221-7226.
[23]  Se-Young Seo, Jinku Lee, Jung H. Shin， Eun-Seok Kang, and Byeong-Soo Bae, “The thermo-optic effect of Si nanocrystals in silicon-rich silicon oxide thin films”, Applied Physics Letters, vol. 85, no. 13, Sep. 27, 2004, pp. 2526-2528
[24]   A. Meijerink et al., “Novel ring resonator-based integrated photonic beamformer for broadband phased array receive antennas—Part I: Design and performance analysis,” J. Lightw. Technol., vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 3–18, Jan. 2010.
[25]  G. Lenz, B. J. Eggleton, C. K. Madsen and R. E. Slusher, "Optical delay lines based on optical filters," in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 525-532, April 2001.
Radar
Volume 9, Issue 1 - Serial Number 25
September 2021
Pages 83-96

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 28 April 2021
  • Revise Date: 20 July 2021
  • Accept Date: 12 December 2021
  • Publish Date: 23 August 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics