Abstract
We demonstrate significantly improved performance of a microwave true time delay line based on an integrated optical frequency comb source. The broadband micro-comb (over 100 nm wide) features a record low free spectral range of 49GHz, resulting in an unprecedented record high channel number (81 over the C band) – the highest number of channels for an integrated comb source used for microwave signal processing. We theoretically analyze the performance of a phased array antenna and show that this large channel count results in a high angular resolution and wide beam steering tunable range. This demonstrates the feasibility of our approach as a competitive solution towards implementing integrated photonic true time delays in radar and communications systems.
Photonic microwave and RF programmable true time delays for phased array antennas using a soliton crystal Kerr micro-comb source
