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 language | English |
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Title of host publication | Optical Interconnects XXIV |
Subtitle of host publication | Proceedings |
Editors | Ray T. Chen, Henning Schroder |
Publisher | International Society for Optics and Photonics SPIE |
ISBN (Electronic) | 978-1-5106-7044-0 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
MoE publication type | A4 Article in a conference publication |
Event | Optical Interconnects XXIV 2024 - San Francisco, United States Duration: 29 Jan 2024 → 31 Jan 2024 |
Publication series
Series | Proceedings of SPIE |
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Volume | 12892 |
ISSN | 0277-786X |
Conference
Conference | Optical Interconnects XXIV 2024 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | San Francisco |
Period | 29/01/24 → 31/01/24 |
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