Photonic implementation of Phased Array Antennas (RF scanning)

Phased Array Antennas (PAA) provided angular scanning (beam steering) from fixed antenna structures. Photonics can accomplish the beam steering with improvements in size and weight along with the remoting benefits utilizing fiber optics. Photonic advantages include True Time Delay (TTD) beam steering eliminating the beam squint imposed by phase shifted signals produced in an electronic implementation. Another benefit of beam steering is the ability to position nulls in the spacial pattern to reduce the interference signals. Hybrid circuits utilizing both photonic and electronic components take advantages of the best aspects of each technology. Various types of photonic implementations are included.