Optical power splitters achieving Gaussian RF beam profiles

Mikko Harjanne*, Katherine Bryant, Sidra Tul Muntaha, Mikko Karppinen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Optical beamforming for satellite-based phased-array antenna systems can help reduce the payload weight and footprint by replacing the RF hardware with photonic integrated circuits. In this paper, simulation and measurement results are provided for 1×12 optical power splitters that provide a non-uniform Gaussian radio-frequency beam profile, thus eliminating the need for a separate amplitude modulation stage in the beamforming network. This both simplifies the optical beamforming network and reduces the total optical losses. Two splitter designs were studied: a star-coupler with non-uniform output waveguides and a cascade of tapered MMI couplers with unconstrained splitting ratios. These two designs are shown to achieve the target output power profile with insertion losses of 1.7 dB and 0.5 dB, respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOptical Interconnects XXIV
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings
EditorsRay T. Chen, Henning Schroder
PublisherInternational Society for Optics and Photonics SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-5106-7044-0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
EventOptical Interconnects XXIV 2024 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 29 Jan 202431 Jan 2024

Publication series

SeriesProceedings of SPIE
Volume12892
ISSN0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceOptical Interconnects XXIV 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period29/01/2431/01/24

Funding

This work was carried out under a programme of, and funded by, the European Space Agency (ESA). However, this paper does in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency. Additional contributions were made within the framework of the Business Finland project PICAP, and the EU-funded project DYNAMOS (Grant 101070342). The work is also part of the Academy of Finland Flagship Programme, Photonics Research and Innovation (PREIN).

Keywords

  • optical beamforming
  • photonic integrated circuits
  • Silicon photonics

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