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IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Volume 48 Number 8, August 2000

Variable Delay Line for Phased-Array Antenna Based on a Chirped Fiber Grating

Page 1352.

Abstract:

We present a theoretical and experimental analysis of the performance of phased-array antennas steered by a single chirped fiber grating. Two approaches consisting of conventional and single-sideband (SSB) modulation techniques of the optical signal are presented in order to compare their performance and suitability for beamforming applications in microwave antennas. By using a 40-cm-long chirped grating, we measure the phase and amplitude response and calculate the corresponding radiation patterns to demonstrate wide-band operation and continuous spatial scanning properties of both configurations. SSB modulation is presented as a real alternative to the first one offering broader operation band (4-18 GHz) for a given chirped grating and being less demanding on the fiber grating characteristics.

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