Continuous True-Time-Delay System Employing a Novel Tunable Chirped Fiber Grating Delay Line and a Sampled Grating Based Multiwavelength Fiber Laser

A photonics true-time-delay system for phased array antenna beam steering employing a novel tunable chirped fiber grating delay line and a multi-wavelength erbium-doped fiber ring laser source based on a sampled grating filter is proposed. The tunable chirped fiber grating, which act as a continuous time-delay element, is achieved by bending a uniform fiber Bragg grating bonded at a slant onto the lateral surface of a simply supported beam. This technique allows the dynamic control of the chirp rate and spectral width of the grating without center wavelength shift. By adjusting the chirp rate of the fiber grating via bend strain, this kind of tunable chirped fiber grating could achieve very low and adjustable delay times, therefore provides higher angle resolution for scanning microwave beam, even the wavelengths of laser source are fixed and un-tunable. The true-time-delay system using proposed tunable chirped fiber grating delay element and sampled grating based laser source is constructed and demonstrated experimentally.     

Stable wavelength tunable fiber ring laser for true-time delay system

In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel wavelength tunable fiber ring laser source for a photonic beamforming system to control phased-array antenna. In this fabrication, a Sagnac loop composed of a polarization-maintaining (PM) coupler and a piece of high-birefringence (Hi-Bi) PM fiber is acted as a comb filter to make the frequency spacing equal. The wavelength of the output signal is controlled by the tunable filter outside the Sagnac loop. The intensities of the output signals with different wavelengths increased or decreased at the same frequency spacing are equal. A five-channel true-time delay system consisting of this tunable fiber source and five grating delay lines for discrete beamsteering has been demonstrated. In the experiment, the output signals of the tunable fiber ring with the equal frequency spacing have the same intensity of about 5.9 dBm and the same high signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 40 dB. If the tunable filter in this laser is replaced by a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) tunable filter, the speed of switching wavelength will increase rapidly.     

Frequency Downconverting Fiber Grating-Based Beamformers for High-Capacity Phased Arrays

A technique is presented to remove the beat noise limitation in multibeam beam formers using a simple all-optical microwave frequency downconversion technique prior to performing the true-time delay equalization in the optical domain. The frequency conversion concept enables a significant increase in beam-number capac ity to be achieved due to the elimination of beat noise limits, and also effectively removes the power penalty due to chromatic dispersion limitations of the chirped grating units in the beamformer. The Bragg grating requirements for the frequency converting beamforming network are analyzed and show that tanh-profile apodized gratings can meet the isolation, reflectivity, and narrow bandwidth requirements. For an X-band phased array, more than a twofold increase in beam capacity is shown through the use of the frequency conversion technique with the grating-based beamformer, and the resulting beamformer has the minimum number of optical interconnects with true-time delay operation.     

Frequency Downconverting Fiber Grating-Based Beamformers for High-Capacity Phased Arrays

A technique is presented to remove the beat noise limitation in multibeam beam formers using a simple all-optical microwave frequency downconversion technique prior to performing the true-time delay equalization in the optical domain. The frequency conversion concept enables a significant increase in beam-number capac ity to be achieved due to the elimination of beat noise limits, and also effectively removes the power penalty due to chromatic dispersion limitations of the chirped grating units in the beamformer. The Bragg grating requirements for the frequency converting beamforming network are analyzed and show that tanh-profile apodized gratings can meet the isolation, reflectivity, and narrow bandwidth requirements. For an X-band phased array, more than a twofold increase in beam capacity is shown through the use of the frequency conversion technique with the grating-based beamformer, and the resulting beamformer has the minimum number of optical interconnects with true-time delay operation.     

Wideband tunable linear-cavity fiber laser source using strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating

A novel wideband tunable linear-cavity fiber laser source using strain-induced chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and erbium–ytterbium co-doped fibers is proposed and demonstrated for the first time. The strain-induced chirped FBG, which acts as a partial-reflecting mirror, is achieved by bending a uniform FBG bonded at a slant onto the lateral surface of a simply supported beam. A single wavelength lasing with a maximum wavelength tuning range of 17 nm has been achieved experimentally.     

All chirped fiber grating based true-time delay for phased-array antenna beam forming

We have demonstrated a continuous phased-array antenna beam former based on a variable photonics true-timedelay unit consisting of four chirped gratings. The system is suitable for the phased-array antenna beam forming at frequencies up to 20 GHz.This revised version was published online in August 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

A novel wavelength switchable fiber laser source and its application in photonics beamforming for optically controlled phased array antenna

A novel wavelength-switchable fiber laser source that can individually scan 14 required wavelengths within 40 ms, and its application in photonics true time delay beamforming is presented in this paper. The laser source is constructed using a unidirectional fiber ring cavity, a tunable fiber Fabry–Perot filter and two cascaded sampled fiber Bragg gratings with the wavelength spacing of 1.6 nm. A five-channel true-time-delay system using the proposed fiber laser source cooperating with a single-mode fiber and four chirped-grating-based is constructed and demonstrated for the application of phased array antenna beam steering. Continuous beam steering at the microwave frequency up to 20 GHz has been achieved. PACS 42.55.Wd; 42.81.Wg; 84.40.Ba     

Photonic true-time delay unit for broadband adaptive nulling in antenna arrays

An Opto-VLSI-based (VLSI: very-large-scale-integration) tunable true-time delay (TTD) generation unit used for adaptive null steering in phased array antennas is presented. The system is based on continuous tunable optical TTD technique. Arbitrary multiple true-time delays to generate multiple broadband nulls can simultaneously be synthesised for each antenna element. The proposed structured are characterised both theoretically and experimentally. Experimental results demonstrating the principle of the true-time delay for null generations are presented. The maximum time delay measured for a wavelength tuning from 1530 to 1560 nm is 9.5 ns.     

啁啾光纤光栅延迟线在光控相控阵雷达中的应用研究

介绍了啁啾光纤光栅延迟线在光控相控阵雷达中的两种应用系统及其工作原理，即基于单波长激光器和多个可调啁啾光纤光栅延迟线的系统以及基于多波长激光器和一个可调啁啾光纤光栅延迟线的系统。介绍了这两种系统的光控相控阵雷达扫描角要实现连续变化时，啁啾光纤光栅延迟线的调谐原理。分析结果表明，若啁啾光纤光栅的长度长而反射谱窄，则啁啾光纤光栅较小的调谐量就能使光控相控阵雷达天线实现较大的扫描范围。     

应用在相控阵雷达上的光学实时延迟线

相控阵天线是雷达技术的重要发展方向之一。电子相控阵雷达所遇到的问题是天线阵列孔径效应限制了雷达信号的瞬时带宽,使其不能满足通信和雷达技术的发展需要。光学实时延迟技术,可以解决这一问题。介绍了相控阵天线光实时延迟控制原理。并对几种典型的光实时延迟线的工作原理和技术特点作了简要的分析。     

Analytical performance evaluation of an adjustable PMD compensator using high-birefringence linearly chirped FBG

System performance of a high-speed WDM transmission system in the presence of PMD can be improved significantly by using an adjustable PMD compensator. We have analytically evaluated the performance of a tunable PMD compensator based on high-birefringence linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating. The device can adjust differential group delay in a linearly continuous way without affecting the wavelength outside the bandwidth. Various properties of the device such as relative group delay, differential group delay, reflectivity, etc. are investigated in terms of wavelength and grating length. Results show that under stretched condition the device generates a time delay between fast and slow polarization axes, which is adjustable from 0 to 55 ps and is tunable within 2.4 nm wavelength range.     

Improving the performance of chirped fiber grating with cladding being etched as sinusoidal function

A new grating structure of cladding being etched as sinusoidal function along the grating length is introduced to improve their performance. When a tension is applied to it, the fiber grating not only exhibits a flattop spectrum with steep edges and high reflectivity, but also has a smoothly time delay curve. The bandwidth utilization defined as the ratio of −1:−30 could be achieved a larger value (>0.90). The −3 dB bandwidth and the bandwidth utilization could be tunable with the increment of tension applied to the grating and the linearly chirped modulus.     

Fiber grating prism for true time delay beamsteering

This article presents theoretical designs for a beamsteerer that uses one laser source whose wavelength is electrically tuned. Transmit/receive beamsteering of a phased-array antenna is obtained with prism-shaped arrays of fiber Bragg gratings or with waveguided gratings integrated in a semiconductor chip. An analysis of chirped and uniform grating requirements is given.     

Multiple-element photonic microwave true-time-delay beamforming incorporating a tunable chirped fiber Bragg grating with symmetrical bending technique

We experimentally demonstrate a novel scheme for a multiple-element photonic microwave true-time-delay device with high tunability based on a tunable chirped fiber Bragg grating without center wavelength shift. We achieve the different true time delay by controlling the grating period of a chirped fiber Bragg grating based on the symmetrical bending technique as a multiwavelength signal source is applied to carry microwave signals. The proposed method does not require the complex structure of systems, wavelength tuning, and synchronization of optical devices such as tunable bandpass filters and optical input signals. We achieve the tunabilty of the time delay for a microwave signal carried over an optical signal in a range from 1 to 230 ps.     

Magneto-Optic Fiber Gratings Useful for Dynamic Dispersion Management and Tunable Comb Filtering

Intelligent control of dispersion management and tunable comb filtering in optical network appfications can be performed by using magneto-optic fiber Bragg gratings （MFBGs）. When a nonuniform magnetic field is applied to the MFBG with a constant grating period, the resulting grating response is equivalent to that of a conventional chirped grating. Under a linearly nonuniform magnetic field along the grating, a linear dispersion is achieved in the grating bandgap and the maximal dispersion slope can come to 1260ps/nm2 for a l0-mm-long fiber grating at 1550nm window. Similarly, a Gaussian-apodizing sarnpled MFBG is also useful for magnetically tunable comb filtering, with potential application to clock recovery from return-to-zero optical signals and optical carrier tracking.     

Investigations of Linearly Chirped Fiber Bragg Gratings for Time-Steered Array Antennas

The use of linearly chirped fiber Bragg gratings as dispersive delay line elements in optical true time-delay beamformers is investigated. Two different dispersive prism beamforming architectures are considered as is their impact on the grating specifications. Microwave double-sideband and single-sideband characterization is carried out on gratings suitable for both architectures with an emphasis on the group delay ripple of single and cascaded gratings. Results indicate that commercially available gratings are suitable for beamforming applications.     

Investigations of Linearly Chirped Fiber Bragg Gratings for Time-Steered Array Antennas

The use of linearly chirped fiber Bragg gratings as dispersive delay line elements in optical true time-delay beamformers is investigated. Two different dispersive prism beamforming architectures are considered as is their impact on the grating specifications. Microwave double-sideband and single-sideband characterization is carried out on gratings suitable for both architectures with an emphasis on the group delay ripple of single and cascaded gratings. Results indicate that commercially available gratings are suitable for beamforming applications.     

利用均匀相位掩模板制作线性啁啾光纤光栅

理论上分析并从实验上验证了一种利用均匀相位掩模板写入啁啾光纤光栅的方法:将光纤弯曲,由于光纤离掩模板的距离不同从而使光纤光栅的周期轴向渐变,由此产生啁啾。分析了这种啁啾光纤光栅的谱特性和时延特性,同时也分析了由于光纤离掩模板的距离不同而引起的折射率调制变化给光纤光栅特性带来的影响。设计了一种石英曲面,利用其使光纤按照弯曲函数进行弯曲,然后进行紫外曝光制成了线性的啁啾光纤光栅。实验中制作的啁啾光纤光栅色散值为-1102 ps/nm,纹波为17ps。通过改变弯曲函数就可以实现利用一块均匀相位掩模板制作不同啁啾量的啁啾光纤光栅的目的,降低了啁啾光纤光栅的制作成本。     

High-Accuracy Measurement of the Dispersion of Chirped Fiber Gratings

1　Ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎ　　Ｆｉｂｅｒｇｒａｔｉｎｇｓａｒｅｐｒｏｖｅｄｔｏｂｅｏｎｅｏｆｔｈｅｍｏｓｔｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｒｅｃｅｎｔｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔｓｉｎｔｈｅｆｉｅｌｄｏｆｏｐｔｉｃａｌｆｉｂｅｒｔｅｌｅｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｉｏｎｓａｎｄｓｅｎｓｉｎｇ .Ｔｈｅｙａｒｅｌｉｋｅｌｙｔｏｈａｖｅａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎｉｎｔｗｏｍａｉｎａｒｅａｓ:ｄｉｓｐｅｒｓｉｏｎｃｏｍｐｅｎｓａｔｉｏｎｉｎｌｏｎｇ ｈａｕｌｆｉｂｅｒｎｅｔｗｏｒｋｓ[1,2 ]ａｎｄｗａｖｅｌｅｎｇｔｈｒｏｕｔｉｎｇｉｎｗ…     

采用光纤光栅级联结构实现光纤延迟线

在使用光纤光栅实现皮秒级别时延的基础上,提出一种光纤光栅与单模光纤相结合的微秒级别级联结构,该结构可以实现中心波长1 550～1 553 nm范围内,间距为1 nm的窄波长反射型时延线,共1, 1.5, 2和2.5μs四种不同的时延。将单波长反射的啁啾布拉格光纤光栅与103 m单模光纤连接构成延迟单元,再利用光环形器将4个延迟单元级联并使用内半径为3 cm的光纤绕线盘,将四种延时单元的传输光纤进行整合。借助光纤光栅的反射镜作用,控制不同波长光信号通过不同的传输距离,从而达到时延目的。本文通过对啁啾布拉格光纤光栅的反射谱进行仿真分析,发现相邻反射谱的旁瓣会出现交叠现象,因此使用六个切趾函数对旁瓣滤除。结果显示：不同切趾函数的滤除效果也不同,能够完全滤除旁瓣并且对反射谱包络影响最小的是柯西切趾函数,经柯西切趾后能使不同波长光信号在对应中心波长1 nm范围内反射率达到1,而其他位置均为0。由于使用光纤绕线盘整合延迟单元传输光纤会产生一定损耗,因此对弯曲损耗进行仿真分析,结果表明：弯曲半径相同时,损耗与工作波长成正比;工作波长相同时,弯曲损耗与弯曲半径成反比。当弯曲半径大于2.9 cm时,弯曲...